ELDERLY MAN’S DEATH

Evening Star, Issue 26017, 4 February 1947, Page 6

ELDERLY MAN’S DEATH

MANOR PLACE TRAGEDY - OCCUPANTS OF CAR CENSURED An inquest into the death of Stephen Harrington, an elderly man who was struck by a car at the corner of Manor Place and Princes street at 10 p.m. on December 28, was held yesterday, Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., sitting as coroner. . The driver of the car, James Pitcairn Paterson, was represented by Mr C. H. Stevens, and the executors of the deceased by Mr J. P. Ward. George Lake Austin said that he was near Manor Place on the evening of December 28 when he heard a noise and saw a man in a huddled position on the road. As he was bending over him three men came up from the direction of a car which had stopped nearby. Witness then telephoned the police. FELT A-JOLT.' Neil William Barton said that, together with William Alexander Sinclair. he was a passenger in the coupe motor car which was driven by Paterson from Cargill road along Princes street to the city. Paterson was driving carefully, hut visibility was poor. It was not raining, but had been some time before. At the Hanot Place in.terse'etion he heard Sinclair call out and he felt a jolt. He did not see anything on the road. The car would be travelling at about 25 xn.p.h. Paterson then drove on to the next intersection, where he turned and came back. Deceased was then on the road, but Paterson dragged him otf the road, and when the police arrived helped to put him in the police car. Paterson then went with the deceased in the police car to the Hospital, and returned some time later. The three men then got in Paterson’s car and went to the police station, Where they gave their names and addresses. Witness had made no statement to the police as he saw no reason why a statement should be made by him, as Paterson was the driver df the car.

Paterson was driving carefully on the left-hand side of the road at a speed of about 25 rn.p.h., stated William Alexander Sinclair. -At the intersection witness “saw something which appeared just off the left front mudguard.” He called out, and the driver swerved. He did not think it would have been possible for the driver to have avoided the man, Mr Stevens: Were the lights of the car on ?, ■' _ • Witness: Yes.

To Mr Ward witness added that “something seemed to loom up iu front of the left-hand side of the car. It looked like a man, but it all happened so suddenly.” -. Giving evidence, Paterson said that he had been driving for five years, and had had no previous accident. As the car was crossing the intersection he heard Sinclair call out. He tried to pull the car to the right, but- it was too late. He then Ifelt a bump, but did not see what he had struck. He drove on and turned the car at the next intersection. Arriving back at Manor Place, he got out of the car and gaw a. man lying on the road. He then dragged the deceased off the road, and when the poYice arrived soon afterwards helped to place the man in the car and accompanied them in the police car to the Hospital. It was discovered that Harrington was dead, and he came back with the police to the scene, of the accident.: He then drove his own car. to the police station and gave liis name and address .to the police.' Mr Bundle: Did you say anything to the police about the accident? Witness: No, I thought they; connected me with the accident; ; Witness added that when questioned next day by the detectives, .he said lip had not been responsible, but oii the following Monday he wefit to the detective office and stated that it was he who had run over the deceased. Ho realised that he had been foolish in not telling the police at once. Mr Stevens: On the Sunday, you denied to the detectives that you had been implicated. Where did that interview take place—at your home ?

Witness: Yes. ■ ■ Mr Stevens: Was there any special factor influencing you in not telling the police? Witness: Yes, my father was present, and lie gets very worried. Dr E. F. D’Ath, pathologist, described the injuries sustained by - the deceased, and said that death had been caused by an internal haemorrhage caused by a rupture of the main blood vessel of the heart; y Medical evidence was also given by Dr P. M. Stockdill, house surgeon, at the Public Hospital. “ The evidence shows that deceased, a man of 84 years of age, was killed on December 28 by being struck by a car in Princes street south,” said the. Coroner. When the inquest • was opened, deceased’s son gave evidence that lie had left his father at Queen’s Drive. His father had stated that if he did not get a trani he would walk home, added Mr Bundle. “There were no witnesses of the accident, other than the three occupants of Paterson’s car. Apparently the man was walking on the road when the car struck him. It is quite clear from the medical evidence that death was due to being struck by the car. “Each of the three men in the car give? consistent evidence of the conditions on that night, and all agree it was a bad driving night. The three men, thinking to be clever, no doubt, pretended to be strangers _ on the scene. Not until the following Monday did they admit their responsibility. “ This was a very foolish and wrong attitude for any person to adopt. If any question of the driver’s negligence arises, and if lie disclaims responsibility, .that may just turn the. balance against liihi if there is any question of criminal proceedings. “ I can only find that the deceased died as a result of an. internal hemorrhage as a result of the rupture of the main blood vessel of the heart, after being struck by a car in Manor- Place, on December 28.”..