GIRL KILLED

Grey River Argus, 3 July 1936, Page 7

GIRL KILLED

MOTOR CYCLIST CHARGED Manawatu Dance Sequel (Per Press Association.) PALMERSTON NORTH. July 2. Evidence .was hoard in the Magistrate’s Court in a charge against William Richiard Paul, 21, a factory hand, Of' recklessly or negligently driving a motor cycle, thereby causing the death of Irene Merle Camp-, bell, aged 16, at Awahuri 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 charge, the inquest is being held. W. Ward, vvlio was M.C. at the dance at Awahuri 1 on the n’ght of the fatabty, 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 pierced i'n« home, he passed Miss Campbell and her triends, who appeared to he in single fi'e. Before he entered his home, he heard :i motor cycle coming round ‘.he bend. It - appeared to be travelling very fast. Witness was inside the house when informed that something had happened.' W’tness found Miss Campbell in the middle of the road, the motor cycle on the left hand side, find the three men, Pau 1 , Telford and Ewart were lying alongside the machine. Telford, On sitting up, asked where they were. The night was tine and the bitumen was dry. AV. J. Prcnn said he heard a scream and a crash. He hurried to the scene and saw deceased Iy : ng in the middle of the road. Lifting her head he could sec she was dead. Off the bitumen was a motor cycle with three men astride, as if riding if, as it. lay on the side. As the accident occurred at a bend 'n the road, the motor cycle light would to a certain extent shine off the bitumen. -

John Bracken, recalled, su'd that Paul, on arriving at a dance -with two others, was a little merry, showing signs of liquor. W tness left the dance with the iiliree Campbell girls. They walked in pairs’, Alerle and Dorothy together, and he and Dulcie. Cars passed them and when a motor cycle was heard approaching they got. off the bitumen o a to the gravel, bu< th e next minute the motor cycle crashed into them. AV.'tnoss was struck in ho, leg and t'he iriidd'e of the back, then knew nothing more. Dorothy Campbell, 19, corroborated, staling that she was the only one unhurt.

Dulcie Campbell, I'7'. sia'd that Bracken and Aler’e were behind he: and Dorothy. She was also knocked down and had no recoileel ion of the motor cycle running i'n’o them. Her injuries kept her. ’n bed throe weeks. Wiilliiani Candy stated that when he heard the motor eye'e coming, he took the precau ion to pull to the side of the road as he kneav the three young men at the dance might be on it. tintd that they might hav« had drink.

Ernes: Ross Bond stated that at the dance, the cond tion of the three men was not such a s to cause him to pay particular attention to them, bur he admitted to Detective-Sergeant Bicknrdike 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 hail been liav’ng a few drinks. ’ Detective-Sergeant Biekerdike; Is that true? Witness: Yes.

Jack Rollo told of a party that had been held the same n : ght as the dance. The men named Stewart, Telford and Htarrowfileld wtvre there, and later >vhen Paul arrived further drinks had been purchased. These eonsis.ed of a glass jar full, and three or four quart, bottles. Ad was consumed.

Lauritz Ewart, 20. farm Land, gave evidence that he attended Jack Elford’s birthday party on the night of AprXl 16. There wa s 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, Te.lford and wi’ ness came to 1 Palmerston North and visited the family hotel, ,where they had three drinks_each. After they c-a.me out, Pauil went back with another man for ten minutes. Then they went to the Awahuri dance. Witness described the homeward iournov before tlic crash, stating that Paul 'was driving the motor cycle, Telford was sitting nex.i to him, and witness .was at the back. The speed was 25 or 30 miles an hour.

Thc Coroner here int mated that he had heard sufficient evidence to onhim to determine ihe circumstances, and arrive at a dofin te deC'siou concerning the cause of death. “In v'ow of the procced’ngs now being taken, I make no comment on the evidence other than to sa v the sudden tragic death of this young gjrl occurred under circumstances which I am definitely of opinion necessitate the ful'est investigation.” The Coroner said he re'urned a verdict of depth duo to’ injuries sustained through being struck by a motor cycle driven by Paul.