JURY DISAGREE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12476, 12 February 1935, Page 5

JURY DISAGREE

SEQUEL TO DEATH GF TWO

CHILDREN

FATHER ALLEGEDLY • j INTOXICATED OR NEGLIGENT-;

xPre’.B Asstiojabm l *. NAPIER, Feb. 11

Charges a’i’isihg out ’the Tosultj oif a car crashing through the failing of .a. small bridge, and into tho stream on the Tukituki road on January 19, were heard in the Supreme Court at Napier today, when- the father of the children concerned, George Leslie ifoultom pleaded not guilty To the following counts: (1): That while in a state of intoxication ho was in charge of a. car, and by an act in relation thereto, caused, the deaths*of George Keithi Walter Houlton and Annie Laura Boulton; and (2) That he negligently drove a cai' so causing the deaths of two children.

The prosecution alleged that accused was in an advanced state of intoxication), and, when driving from Napier to liis home iii the country at night, procured’more liquor. While crossing a- bridge the chi* ’suddenly swerved from one side to the otliei, and struck the rails practically at right angles, pluging into the stream below, two children being drowned and another daughter and his wife escaping. It was also alleged that tho car in a &ad and shameful condition mechanically, and should nob have been on the orad.

The defence was that there was no direct evidence to. show that accused had partaken of liquor' and attributed’ the accident to the fact that there was a flaw in the steering , arm of the car, and tension on the wheel when the car started shortly before the accident. To giving- way to another car, th?s had completed the: damage, taking control of . the cifcy.j Completely out of the driver’s hands.

Tho jure wore, unable to agree. '■ a i their verdict.