COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 17 May 1938, Page 7

COURT NEWS

MOTORIST’S TRIAL Outcome of Fatality [Per Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. Twenty-two witnesses are being called by the Crown in the trial of Kaspar Aray Webley, who appeared before Mr Justice Northcroft, in the Supreme Court, this morning, charged that he negligently drove a car causing the death of Joseph Quinn. The fatality occurred, said the Crown Prosecutor (Mr W. U. Brown) on practically a straight road, running from Shirley to the Main North Road. Quinn was coming south cycling home from work, when a catdriven by accused, and travelling north, collided with him, killing him practically instantaneously.

Of five witnesses who were in the vicinity, said Mr Brown, none apparently actually saw the collision, but a family nearby had their attention drawn by the noise of the car, and i estimated its speed at between sixty I and sixty-five miles an hour. After the collision, the car stopped in the gutter on the correct side, but skid marks for 160 feet indicated that the car had been on its wrong side. Hvid- , ence of Webley’s movements would be to the effect that at 3 p.m., a constable warned him he was too drunk to drive the car, that his wife, from whom he was separated, saw him between 4 and 4.30, and considered him intoxicated, and that a man who saw him at 4.30 p.m., had some liquor with him, and saw him drive away. [After the accident at 6.15 p.m., Webley was examined by a doctor. At 8 p.m., the doctor would say Webley was sufficiently sober to drive a car, but showed signs of drinking during the day. CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. Webley pleaaed not guilty. Twentytwo witnesses gave evidence for the Crown, and ten were called for the defence. The hearing was adjourn ed late in the afternoon. The addresses of counsel and. the summing up of Mr. Justice Northcroft, are remaining to be heard to-morrow morning. Extraordinary interest was taken in the evidence to-day, a large number of persons occupying the galleries. FIJI OPIUM FINE. SUVA, May 16. Horace Malfathi, a member of the crew of the Eridan, was fined £l5O, or in default six months’ imprisonment, for smuggling five pounds of opium.