"CALLOUS" ACTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 22, 25 July 1936, Page 7

"CALLOUS" ACTION

motorist and.dying ; ' man . .

VICTIM OF ACCIDENT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

FALMERSTON N., July 25,

The inquest regarding the death. of Sue Dick Kee, a Chinaman, aged 75, who was found dying on the highway between Otaki and Te Horo on June 6. apparently from injuries sustained through being struck by a motor vehicle, was concluded betore Mr. A. J. Graham, Coroner

Frank Leonard Aakew said that h? discovered Kee outside his bakers shop supporting himself against a verandah pole with blood all over his face and dazed. How he reached the shop was not known to witness. Even a^ casual observer would realise that Kee was badly hurt, and anyone bringing him to the shop could also have easily taken him to a chemist nearby. Fred Kume, a market- gardener, stated that the deceased told him in Chinese that he had bsen knocked down by a car in which there was only one man, who had gone.

William White Scott, aged 56, a school teacher, of Te Horo, stated that on June 6 he spent the day at the Otaki races, , leaving at 5 p.m. He went to a garage to repair a nickering light, and had drinks with friends at a hotel. He left for home about 6.30. Anyone stating that he left at 7 p.m. was labouring under a misapprehension. On the way home he saw some? thing dark on the road, and perceived it was a body. He stopped and found Kee knocked out. He cent for a dot? tor. While he was waiting Kee got up.- Witness assisted him to walk to the car. Kee did not appear to be in a serious condition. Witness decided to take him to Otaki to a chemist. Kee got out of the car-unaided, having ten or fifteen yards to walk to the chemist's.

To the Coroner, witness said that if Kee had been a white man he would have done just the same. It did not occur to him to .toll the police. He had not had more than five drinks that day.

The Coroner: Remembering again that you are on oath, will you assure the Court that you are telling everything you know and that you are keeping nothing back? • :

Witness: I have told everything I know.

I The. Coroner: You left . an injured ! man without assistance. You thought Ino more about the man but went to the pictures and enjoyed yourself, forgetting about him. Witness: To put. it crudely, I- suppose that is about it. The Coroner: I am going to put a very pointed question. Do you think your car hit the Chinaman? Witness: I do not. The verdict was that Kee's death followed his being knocked down by a car1. "I am bound to say that lam far from satisfied with the evidence of Scott," added the Coroner. ■ "It is quite probable, I think, that he has not told the Court all he knows." The Coroner said.Scott was callous in the extreme to a man found seriously injured on the road. His conduct in removing the man" from the ■ scene of | the accident and dumping him unattended while he himself went to the pictures called for most severe condemnation. .