REV. J. J. NORTH

Grey River Argus, 11 May 1935, Page 5

REV. J. J. NORTH

TRIAL AT AUCKLAND — Over Fatal Motor Accident (Per Pre« Association). AUCKLAND, Afay 10. as begun to-day, before R< cd and a jury, of Rev. bvth. on a charge of negligent driving, causing death. driving to church on Suni. February 24. when his k Cossey, 88, who 2 the r.»:i<l on his way to v din.l in hospital short>n Prosecutor said that it ning out but of an old > - rd s owly, walk>ss th.* street, after halting on i the footpath, to allow the traffic to Igo bv. The evidence would show that •is he started to cross the road, a car • s air.me<-hing. and simultaneously cv.sed’s ear overtook it. It was i lear that accused tried to pass the •ar in front, when approaching an in•■•rse<-: i »n. The old man passed in in.* car. but when in the midroad. he was struck by accused's car. The only inference was Gat accused was not looking ahead of <1 that his miml was occupied The Crown Prosecutor said that, an hour afterwards, accused called on the police, and said that he was the driver of the rar. and that he was on his -.ay tn the hospital, to see the injured man. Hr also handed to a ronstable a statement which he had had time to prepare carefn’ly. In this, he said that he thought it was wi«e to pass the other car, but immediately he did •o. ho ran down the old man, whom be did not see till he was hit. The Prosecutor said that the Crown’s suggestion was that no proper look-out was kept. DR. NORTH ACQUITTED. AUCKLAND, May 10. At the hearing of the charge against Rev. Dr J. J. North. Air A. FL KC. for the accused, said that all tho evidence showed that the car was being driven at a rerfcctlv moderate sreed. Hp said that no keeping a look-out wa<? of the slightest avail where an object suddenlv appeared in the path. His Honour said ‘hat a person in p'-. n -rrr n n f n motor ear was under the . sonafcie precautions $o ?' to avoid danger. The Crown mu't .-ati-fv the jury that the had failed to ‘ake prepanD'on*s. and that hL failure had re-

suited in Cossv’s death.- The whole question was: “Ought tho accused to have seen the old man?” / After a retirement of ‘hrop-nuarters or’ an hour, the jury returned a verdict nf not guilty, and Dr. North was AUCKLAND, May 10. A sequel to the fatal accident on Christmas Eve. was the trial to-day, of James Killen, farmer, of Afatangi, driving, causing the death of Rose Morrison. Accused got into his ear which was in f v and it bounded forward ini foot! ■ *b and plunged along for 77 feet. Mrs. Morrison, who was out doing Christmas shopping, was knocked down, as well as others, who had to bp taken to the hospital. Others were knocked down, but not seriously hurt. - - said the main issue was whether accused should have made certain the car was not in gear, when he pressed the seH-starter. It was for the jury to decide, remembering the street was crowded in the busk e-t~ night of the year, whether accused took reasonable care. Police evidence was that accused wa< sober, anj in a statement said he ■ ■ - : drunk intoxicants in his life. ’ He could not remember whether he put the car out of gear when he parked it. Tn the case aga'nst Killen, the jury also found a verdict of not guilty after a brief retirement