MOTORING ACCIDENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 May 1936, Page 6

MOTORING ACCIDENTS

CAR-DRIVER KILLED. [per press association.] WAIMATE, May 7. When a car r. n backwards down a steep hill at W.Uhao Forks, near Waimate, capsizing over a ten-foot bank this afternoon, Richard Sullivan, of Waimate. driver, married, with an adult family, was lulled. It is sur- i mised the car failed in changing gears. The brakes did not function. A companion was unhurt. INFANT KILLED. HAMILTON, May 7. Knocked down by a taxi when returning home from school this afternoon, Beverley Joy Webb, aged five, • received severe head injuries. The girl, who is a daughter of C. L. Webb, of Frankton, fireman employed by the railways, w’as admitted to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition. HAMILTON, May 8 Beverley Joy Webb died late last evening. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. HASTINGS. May 7. Pleas of not guilty to charges of causing the death of Arthur Gordon Perry, through recklessly driving a mctor-car, and causing bodily injury to David Bett, Jessie Simpson Bett, and Arabella Bett, were entered by Moss Wylie, dentist, of Hastings, in the Napier Magistrate’s Court to-day. After hearing evidence brought by the police, the Magistrate, Mr. J. Miller, committed Wylie for trial at the next session of the Supreme Court at Napier, bail being renewed. An inquest into the death of Perry was held in conjunction with the heari”-- the Napier Coroner, Mr. A. E. Bedford, reserving his verdict till after the trial. The proceedings were the sequel to an accident on the NapierHastings Road, near Awatoto, on Easter Saturday night, which resulted in the death of Perry and injuries to other people driving in Perry’s car.

VERDICT OF GUILTY. I AUCKLAND, May 7. i The trial of John Reginald Smith, aged 30, company manager, who was ’ charged with negligently driving a • motor car so as to cause the death of ■ John William Beeston, aged 69, was concluded in the Supreme Court be- ■ fore Mr. Justice Fair. The accident ’ occurred at the intersection of Manu- ! kau Road and the Great South Road on the night of February 23, and Beeston died in Auckland Hospital early on the morning of February 25. His Honor, in summing up, said the main point for the jury to consider was whether the accused had been negeligent or not in failing to see deceased in (he circumstances that existed at the time. The jury returned, after a retirement of four hours, with a verdict of guilty, with a very strong recommendation to mercy. In a written note handed to His Honor, the reason for recommendation, it was stated, was that it was the unanimous opinion of the jury that the deceased had contributed in no small measure to the accident. Accused was remanded for sentence. NEGLIGENCE ALLEGED. WELLINGTON, May 7. In tho Supreme Court, William McReynolds, 28, ship’s fireman, pleaded not guilty to a charge of negligently driving a car and thereby causing the deaths of Charles Bradshaw and Ernest Marston. An accident occur, red near Kaiwarra on February 29, when accused’s car came in contact with a motor-cycle ridden by Bradshaw, with Marston on the pillion. The Corwn outlined its case at length and witnesses are b ?ing called. MAORI IMPRISONED. DUNEDIN. May 8. Tlpnare Te Rehn, charged with being intoxicated, while in charge of a car, was sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment. His license was cancelled, and he was prohibited from driving for two years. A few years ago, accused lost-his ’icense for ten years, but was granted permission to drive again, last year.