RACE FOR A WAGER

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 105, 30 October 1931, Page 9

RACE FOR A WAGER

THE TARADAXE SMASH

INQUEST ON VICTIMS

"LAW WAS BROKEN"

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) . NAPIER, 29th : October- " The deaths of three persons—-Aati Whiti Whiti, liis wife, and infant son-H----caused through a motor smash at.Taradalc on 30th August last, were the subject of an .inquest -before the Coroner; Mr. A. M.'Mowlein, to-day. ■ ■'- The ' car collided with .a , telegraph pole when the occupants were travelling from the Waiohiki golf links to Napier, and it was stated by one witness that the accident happpned while the car was racing another.1 Mrs. A. Mapu, who was a passenger in the car at tho' time of the smash, gave.evidence that when she and Airs. Whiti Whiti were waiting at the links Whiti Whiti came out of the club-houso and said: "Just one ; more drink," and re-entered the house. He later re-en-tered the house with four other men, Desha, Stephenson, Matthews, and Campbell, and tbjs time; he was in the club-house for a long time. . Witness later went to the putting green, where she saw Whiti Whiti and. others drinking and singing. Later the. car left; the links with Mrs. Whiti Whiti at, the wheel. • IN CHANGED CARS. ' '. : Stephenson's car pulled up in front of them, she continued; ;■• Stephenson said something about a race for cither .4s. Cd or 5s 6d, being in connection with some maize;Whiti Whiti • said ",'ss 6d or nothing at all.?' ;. Stcphonson said that they1 would have it out in" a race which took place in" changed cats. Whiti Whiti ■ said: "What about my bus if it gets broken? There is no" insurance' on it?"'- Stepherison- said: '' Leave' that to irie. '■' " The"race" was' to be to Tavadale. ' They changed cars/Whiti'Whiti taking the wheel of the car. The car Stephenson was driving was soon' in front; ; both.-wore travelling at a fast speed. ■ Whiti .Whiti'a car did not pass.Stephenson's. Every time, Whiti Whiti tried to. do so Stephenson's car- seemed to .swerve to. theiight and prevent him.from passing. Desha, who was. ia? the car, was- in,citing Whiti * Whiti' to*' go on" and' paraStephenson. Whiti Whiti again tried ito pass. Stephenson's right, but Stephenson's car swerved to the right so.that Whiti Whiti had to pull over further1 to the right, running into thergutter, hitting the culvert, then striking a telegraph pole.' .Witness, stated: the, accident iwould not .have happened,had the car ih f r.pnt kept/to its.correct.side.'. ' : •Luthqr'v Stephenson,'. in. .'answer ,'to Seni<^Berg.cant Pender,. said.there was some!talk in ajovial w,ay about a'race. He Kept to the •left centre of the road, and did^npt think he- exceeded '45.^ihiles an-hour up to the time of the accident. Ho emphatically denied, that ,at.. times he endeavoured to block-th£ car .Whiti Whiti- "was driving* Witness ; said he knew Whiti Whiti was behind' him; en-, deavburing to passi; : ', .; ', ■~,;:■• ■ ■■>~■ JI'DISOBAOEFtII. AFFAIR-'' ■■_ ■i'-"fi say again," said the Corpnerj after reviewing the evidence, ''that.the whole affair is ;disgraceful,:*and I leave it to the police to take, such steps against those interested as theyj think necessary.,. As the evidence has', disclosed, it is plain that. the law was broken to smithereens in more than one instance.,",- - ■■ ■•-.• :., ■■.- . ■■.-■'.■■;•'■ A <y.erdict< was. then givenin... accordance' witi>the reportof ■the:4o>tprj tne (3pi;pner.radding,;the foUowingv-rider; y.l'i4iil the -deceased persons were,injured in'an accident to a motor-car belonging •to -Luther Stephenson1 which was being driven by Aati Whiti Whiti, which car had been changed for the oar belonging to Aati Whiti Whiti, which the said Luther StephensonywasV driving .and which were being raced froml the Waio•hiki golf links to Taradale to settle a ■wager between the. two car owners."