ACCIDENTS AND TRAGEDIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 July 1936, Page 9

ACCIDENTS AND TRAGEDIES

DEATH AFTER DANCE

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

PALMERSTON NORTH, July 2

The inquest was opened on Irene Marie Campbell, 16, of Awahuri, who was killed shortly after midnight on April 17, when a motor-cycle allegedly carrying three men, ran into a party of four returning from a dance.

In conjunction with the inquest, a charge is being heard against William Richard Paul, 21, factory hand, of recklessly or negligently driving a motor-cycle, thereby causing the death of Miss Campbell. W. Ward, who was M.C. at the dance at Awahuri, on the night of the fatality said the accused and three other men. arrived at 10 p.m. Accused showed signs of liquor. Witness would say he was drunk. Witness had occasion to warn the accused and his friends about their conduct. When witness was proceeding home, he passed Miss Campbell and her friends, who appeared to be in single file. Before he entered his home, he heard a motor-cycle coming round the bend. It appeared to be travelling very fast. Witness was inside the house when informed that something had happened. Witness found Miss Campbell in the middle of the road, the motorcycle on the left hand side, and the three men, Paul, Telford and Ewart, were lying alongside the machine. Telford, on sitting up, asked where they were. The night was line and the bitumen was dry. W. J. Penn said he heard a scream and a crash. He hurried to the scene and saw deceased lying in the middle of the road. Lifting her head he could see she was dead. Off the bitumen was a motor-cycle with three men astride, as if riding it, as it lay on the side. As the accident -occurred at a bend in the road, the motorcycle light would to a certain extent shine off the bitumen. John Bracken, recalled, said that Paul, on arriving at a dance with two others, was a little merry, showing signs of liquor. Witness left the dance with the three Campbell girls. They walked in pairs. Merle and Dorothy together, and he with Dulcie. Cars passed them and when a motorcycle was heard approaching, they got off the bitumen on to the gravel, but the next minute the motor-cycle crashed into them. Witness was struck in the leg and the middle of the back, then knew nothing more. Dorothy Campbell, 19, corroborated, stating that she was the only one unhurt. Dulcie Campbell, 17, said that Bracken and Merle were behind her and Dorothy. She was also knocked down and had no recollection of the motorcycle' running into them. Her injuries kept her in bed for three weeks. William Candy stated that when he heard the motor-cycle coming, he took the precaution to pull to the side of the road as he knew the three young men at the dance might be on it, and that they might have had drink. Ernest Ross Bond stated that at the dance, the condition of the three men was not such as to cause him to pay particular attention to them, but he admitted to Detective Sergeant Bickerdike that he gave a statement to the police that “these three young men seemed to have been drinking. They were not drunk. They were merry, but their manner showed they had been having a few drinks.” Detective Sergeant Bickerdike: Is that true? Witness: Yes.

Jack Rollo told of a party that had been held the same night as the dance. The men named Stewart, Telford and Harrowfield, were there, and later when Paul arrived, further drinks had been purchased. These consisted of a glass jar full, and three or four quart bottles. All was consumed. The Court adjourned till to-morrow.

CORONER’S COMMENT.

PALMERSTON N„ July 2.

Further evidence was heard in the Magistrate’s Court in the charge against Wiliam Richard Paul, 21, of recklessly or negligently driving a motor-cycle, thereby causing the death of Irene Merle Campbell at Awahuri on April 17. Lauritz Ewart, 20, farm hand, gave evidence that he attended Jack Eelford’s birthday party on the night of April 16. There, was a half-gallon' jar containing beer, also one bottle The company included accused', who as far as witness knew, had only one drink. Later, Paul Telford and witness came to^Palmerston North and visited' the family hotel, where they had thre drinks each. After they came out, Paul went back with another man for ten minutes. They then went to the Awahuri dance. Witness described the homeward journey before the crash, stating that Paul was driving the motor-cycle, Telford was sitting next to him, and witness was at the back. The speed ’was 25 or 30 miles an hour. The Coroner here intimated 1 that he had heard sufficient evidence to enable him to determine the circumstances and arrive at a definite decision concerning the cause of death. “In view of the proceedings now being taken, I make no comment on the evidence other than to say the sudden tragic death of this you,ng girl occurred under circumstances which I am definitely of opinion necessitate the fullest investigation.” The Coroner said he returned a verdict of death due to injuries sustained through being struck by a motorcycle driven by Paul. Further evidence is now being heard on the criminal charge.

KILLED BY CAR.

DANNEVIRKE, July 1

When returning from Dannevirke after the Hunt Club races, yesterday, a car driven by Mrs. S. E. Harris, of Waipawa, collided, in Rawhiti Street, with a pedestrian, William John Suiliyan, 59, labourer, married, with a ‘family of six, residing in the locality.

Sullivan subsequently died in the hospital without regaining consciousness.

Visibility was bad at the time of the accident.

FATAL INJURIES.

WANGANUI. July 1

Without regaining consciousness. Henry Hooker, 78. r/lio was admitted to ths hospital on Tuesday suffering from severe injuries to his head, legs

and body, died this evening. Hooker was discovered in a seriously injured condition last night, lying in a street. At one stage the theory was that he had been the victim of an assault, but subsequent medical investigation suggests that he was knocked down and run over by a motor vehicle of some' kind. ANOTHER VICTIM. HAMILTON, July 2. Herbert Hartle, 72, of Hamilton, who was knocked down by a motorcar at the corner of Victoria and Hood Streets, on Friday, and who since has been in a serious condition at the hospital, died last night. DROWNED IN BATH. WELLINGTON, July 1. ,A verdict that John Arthur Meek died of accidental asphyxiation, by carbon monoxide, and drowning, in a bath, was returned at the conclusion of the inquest on the deceased. He was found lying in the bath on June 28. The Coroner said that it was quite plain that the accident was caused through a defective pipe in a type ot caliphont that was not approved by the Wellington Gas Company. There were breaks in the pipe, and the fact that the deceased’s mother had, on a previous occasion, been overcome, indicated the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Medical evidence. was given that the deceased had apparently been overcome by fumes, had fallen into the bath, and been drowned.

GRAFTON BRIDGE FALL.

AUCKLAND, July 1

A broken leg and a bad cut oyer the left eye were the only injuries suffered by Cyril Pauling, married, of Pitt Street, who fell 150 feet from Grafton Bridge, into the gully, this afternoon. He was conscious when picked up. Constables were called, and with St. John Ambulance men, they went down the gully to the assistance of Pauling. They were amazed to find him conscious. He was carried up the gully on a stretcher, and was taken in an ambulance to the hospital. His condition is not serious.

YOUTH SHOT.

CHRISTCHURCH, July 1.

Mervyn Thomas Bishop, aged 16. of Brougham Street, Sydenham, was found last evening with a wound in his head and a pea-rifle lying beside him. He died on the way to hospital. He was found about 8.50 lying on the floor of his brother’s bedroom, bleeding from a wound behind his right ear. A St. John ambulance was called about 9.30. He was then unconscious.