OWHANGO TRAGEDY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 17, 21 January 1937, Page 10

OWHANGO TRAGEDY

CAPSIZE AND FIRE

CAR OWNER'S CONDITION

(liy Telegraph—Press Association.) TAUMARUNUI This Day. The inquest concerning the deaths of Gerald Flynn, Roy Victor Bishop, and Charles William Farrell, who were burned to death in a motor-car which capsized near Owhango at about 9.30 p.m. on Saturday last, was concluded before the Coroner, Mr. A. S. Laird, today. Charles Alexander Nicholl gave evidence that he saw Bishop, the owner of the car, in Taumarunui on Saturday about 4 p.m. Bishop was then drunk and in no condition to drive a car.

Walter Henry Wilson, garage attendant, said that Bishop, at 8.30 p.m. on Saturday, drove his car through the drive on the off-side of the benzine pumps at a fast pace. If witness had not stepped back he would have been knocked over. Bishop got out of the car and was obviously under the influence of liquor and not in a fit state to drive. There were others in the car, but witness did not know who they were. Witness did not notice whether Bishop drove the car when he left the garage, as he (witness) was busy.

Constable George Roderick MacLennan described the recovery of the bodies from the ruins of the car and their identification.

Robert Innes Whitelaw MacKenzie, motor salesman, gave evidence that he saw Bishop intoxicated at a garage about 8.30 p.m. on Saturday. Bishop was driving the car when it arrived at the garage and he went round to the driver's side when about to leave, but winesss did not see him get into the car. It was possible, but improbable, that he changed seats with another occupant of the car.

A verdict was returned that the three men died through being burnt to death in the car, which was driven by Bishop while not in a fit condition to drive.