MOTOR FATALITIES.

Evening Star, Issue 13002, 22 December 1906, Page 15

MOTOR FATALITIES.

DRIVER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. William Thomafc Felton, who Was the driver of the motor car oil December 5 Which) by colliding with o cart on tho Riccartou rood, caused the death of George Toncred Do Montalk, was yesterday, at Christchurch, charged With manslaughter. The coroners jury fouud that death was caused by the driver’s carelessness, lienee the prosecution. Felton was committed for trial. _ MRS KENSINGTON’S DEATH. 11 Our Own’ 1 at Wellington Wires: The motor fatality Was filially dispdsfed of in the Coroner’s Court yesterday. The proceedings are so suggestive that I send the Press report of the final stage: _ The Coroner, addressing the jury, said the weight of evidence was that the ladies tried to dodge the car. Tho jury had to sea whether, in rounding the corner, those in charge of the engine had used all possible nud reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of the public. As far as ho could ascertain, a car travelling at four miles an hour would coVef Bft a second. That n oant that the Kensingtons had four seconds to get out of tho way from tlio first tune they became aware of tho presence of the car. Tho evidence of Sub-inspector O’Donovan seemed to indicate that the car had made a clean sweep, and did not wobble to any appreciable extent, Mr Ashcroft went oh to point out the difference in the various estimates of the speed at which tho car was travelling, and Said the weight of opinion went to show that tho car was travel ling at a greater rate than eight miles per hour. Under tho circumstances, had the ladies time to got clear of the car? He said Wife driver, when ho saw tho ladies, should have pulled up dead. The driver saw the ladies several yards away, and it was the height of rashness for him to turn into the street when he saw tho ladies were just starting to cross. It was for the jury (if they saw fit) to make suggestions Us to tho general nerd of stringent regulations in regard tb motors, and special regulations in regard to engines. Would it. be unreasonable, he asked, to suggest that when the fire engine wws proceeding! to an outbreak it should bo proceeded by a motor cyclist carrying a red (lag by Some hundred yards, who would warn people of tho route the origin©' would iuko? Sentiment should not stand ill the way of bringing in n strong verdict if the jury saw it was their duty to do to. The measure of blame, if any, would bo apportioned by another Court. The jury, after an hour's deliberation, returned tho following verdict:—“We are muinimaisly of opinion that Sirs Kensington met her death by accident and misadventure by being knocked down by a motor fire engine, and tiiat no blatne it attachable to the driver of the engine, as we are convinced, front tho evidence, that he saw- a clear course when turning into Bowen street. We are of opinion that fire-engine warnings arc not distinct enough from the electric Irani warning bell; that something that should ho recognised as a fire-engine alarm should bo procured; and that stringent regulations should be brought into force regulating the speed of all motor vehicles.” The

jury tendered their sincere sympathy with the bereaved family. Tho Coroner said he was bound to accept the verdict, but he wished to say that he disagreed with it, particularly in view of the evidence tendered regardin'; the rate of speed at which tho engine rounded the Bown street corner.