MIDNIGHT SMASH

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 102, 3 May 1933, Page 10

MIDNIGHT SMASH

ISLAND BAY TRAGEDY

INQUEST ON VICTIMS

A DANCE PARTY

An inquest on tho four victims of the tragic accident which occurred at midnight on April 1, when a motorcar plunged over a 40 feet drop at Island Bay, was held today before tho Coroner (Mr. E. Gilbertson, J.P.). The victims were Olga Boryl Bardebes, aged 18, Ernest Joseph Dickson, aged 22, James Henry Wood, aged 34, and his wife, Margaret Gilmour Wood, aged 34. Chief-Detective Carroll conducted tho inquest. Mr. W. E. Leicester appeared for the relatives of Mr. Dickson and Miss Bardebes; Mr. P. E. Baldwin for Frederick Hooker, who was said to have been driving the car at the time of the accident; Mr. E. L. A. Cresswell for Gerald Fitzgerald, who drove the ear to a dance club at Island Bay earlier in the evening; and Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald for the owners of the car, Meyers Motors. Eunice Dickson, a widow, mother of Ernest Dickson, said.that she last saw her son alive on tho evening before the accident. Ho did not say where ho was going, but she knew ho intended to go out dancing with Miss Bardebes. They had been keeping company for some time, and there was an .understanding between them of which witness approved. Her son was not in the habit of drinking, and witness saw no sign of drink on him or on any other member of the party before they left. Katherine E. M. Bardebes, mother of Olga Bardebes, said that her daughter left home at about 7.15 on the evening of April 1 with Mr. Dickson. She knew that they were going to a dance. She also knew of the understanding between them, and approved of it. So far as witness was aware, the girl was not in the habit of drinking at all, and from what she had heard there was no sign of drink on the young man. Frederick Hooker had not communicated with her since tho accident. NO EVIDENCE OF ALCOHOL. Dr. R. B. Martin said he was called to the scene of the accident shortly after it occurred. Three people were dead on.- tho roadway beside the wrecked car, and another, Mr. Dickson, was obviously dying. All were suffering from head injuries. Mr. Dickson and Miss Morris, who was also injured, were sent to hospital. Hooker, who was said to be the driver of the car, was also sent to hospital suffering from shock and abrasions. Witness saw no evidence of alcohol on him, and thought he was remarkably composed considering the ordeal ho had gone through: ; To Mr. Leicester, witness said that ho noncluded Hooker had been in the car when it fell. Was there anything about his injuries to indicate to you that Hooker was not in the car when it went over? ■—I did not examine him from that point of view. , ' ■ Do you agree with me that if ho was in the car when it went over the precipice, it is. remarkable that his injuries were not greater?— Yes. Witness said that if / the car had kept straight 6n instead of taking tho bend in Milne Terrace it would have run into the gates or fence of Cliff House. In reply to Mr. Fitzgerald, who asked whether it was not remarkable that Hooker was not seriously injured in view of the shattered state of the steering wheel, witness said ho had seen two previous instances of drivers boing" thrown forward and breaking tho steering wheel without receiving serious injury. Dr. Eugene Lynch, of the Wellington Hospital staff, said that Dickson died about an hour and a half after his admission. Nothing could be done for him. . Miss Morris was still in hospital. Mr. Leicester: From your surgical and medical knowledge, would you express an opinion as to whether it was remarkable or not that the driver, if he was in the car, should have only slight abrasions?— Yes, I agree it would be remarkable, but I hesitate to draw any conclusions from that. Witness said it was remarkable that so many people involved in serious accidents escaped severe injuries. Mr. Leicester: One would reasonably expect the driver of a car falling that distance to be rendered unconscious? —One would expect it, but would not be incredulous if he, were not injured. In reply to Mr. Baldwin, witness said that the absence of injuries in rio way indicated ,that. Hooker was not in the car. He was white-faced and shaken when he entered hospital, but he told witness that he was not injured, and /no detailed examination was made. HOW THE CAR FELL. ■ Horace T. T. Carter said that when he first saw the car it was upside down on the roadway. He and others lifted the car on to its side. The six occupants had been pinned underneath. One of them extricated himself without assistance; he appeared to •have come from the back of the car. In. reply to Mr. Leicester, witness said that he was the first on the scene. The car appeared to have fallen squarely on its hood, which was completely crushed in. So far as witness could remember, the man who appeared to be uninjured crawled out without assistance. He was definitely underneath the car, and came from either the middle or the back of tho car. From the way the car had fallen, witness .was astdnished that anyone should be able to get out unassisted an<| uninjured. Questioned by Mr. Baldwin, witness said ho did not think it likely that the ear hit the road front first and then turned over. !. Mr. Fitzgerald suggested that the hole left in. the road was consistent with the rear end of the chassis having hit first. • Gerald Fitzgerald, a tire dealer, said that he drove the car with a party of nine, including the deceased, to the cabaret at Island Bay on the cveniug of April 1. It was a seven-soater touring car, with left-hand steering, lent to witness by his father. It carried number plates, but he did not know whether it was actually registered. The party remained at the cabaret until about 11.30 p.m., when it was suggested that they should go home. , Witness said that owing to a weak battery, it took him some minutes to start the car, after which he drove round to the main entrance at the corner of Knoll .Street and Milne Terrace. Frank L. Hoarc, a member of tho party, accompanied him. No arrangement had been made to meet the others there. He left the car in low gear and with tho brakes on, and went with Hoare to get the party together. They passed four members of the party going out to the car. Neither witness nor Hoare could find Mr. and Mrs. Wood, and they then returned to find, the car gone. They were away about live minutes. They walked down the hill, and, on not seeing the par, dc-

Bided that the others had left them behind. Then they heard that there had been an accident, and went to investigate. BRAKES IN GOOD ORDER. Witness said that Hooker told him they had been sitting in the car, and the others had "jeered" him to drive. Hooker had asked him earlier if he could have the car to take some of the girls home, and he had refused. It was understood that witness was to drive the car home. The brakes were in good condition. He had not inquired whether Hooker had a driver's licence, but he knew from experience that ho was not a good driver, witness continued. For that reason he had refused to allow Hooker to drive. Questioned by Mr. Leicester, witness said that it was the first time' he had driven the car. If the ear had been driven down the hill under compression and with the brakes available, there was no reason why it should have got out of control. He had tested it in low gear when bringing it. down to the main entrance, and had found it perfectly safe. It was not until they reached tho cabaret early in the evening that they knew it was the anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Wood's wedding, said witness. To Mr. Baldwin, witness said it was uover agreed that tho party should split up. Hooker expected him to come out to the car again and to drive them home, so there was no need for Hooker to take the car down the hill. In'reply'to Mr. Crcsswell, Fitzgerald said that he left the car with the wheels facing in towards the kerb, as a safety measure. It was not until 11.30 that any suggestion ,was made about the girls having to be home by midnight, and it was about the same time that Hooker suggested taking the car. No one else mentioned that Hooker should drive. But for the difficulty in starting the car the whole party would have left together well before midnight. • gf> Chief-Detective Carroll asked witness if he knew that there was very Little lining on the brake shoes, and that in places the/ steel was bare. Witness replied that he did not know that, 'and could judge the efflci-. ency of the brakes only from his own experience. The Coroner: What drinks did' you have that night?— None. We had our supper at the cabaret. We had coffee. And no drink ?-^-No. .No drink was taken out to the car? — No. . :■■■■• " , Witness added that the car was not a difficult one for anybody who knew anything about cars to drive, but its left-hand steering gear might make it strange for a driver accustomed to the other type. It was possible: for tho driver to have trodden on the aceelei'ator pedal instead of tho brake, but he himself had had no trouble in that respect: • . , (Proceeding.)