TRUCK DRIVER

Grey River Argus, 27 April 1939, Page 6

TRUCK DRIVER

Sent for Trial , CHARGE OF CAUSING TWO DEATHS. [Per Press Association! DUNEDIN, April 26. In the Police Court this morning, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew SM William Alexander Tait, aged 30, ap peared on charges arising from the tragedv which occurred on Dukes Road, Mosgiel, on April 15, wheret y two young people lost their lives. The charges were: (1) That the accused had negligently driven a motor truck, thus causing the deaths of Neil Harris and Vera Thomson; and (2) that the accused, being the driver of a motor truck whereby an accident had occurred involving injury to two persons Vera Jessie Thomson and Neil Harris, did fail to report such accident. It was agreed to take the inquest concurrently with the hearing of the charges. Mr J. G. Warrington appeared for the defence in the Police Court proceedings, and Mr D. A. Solomon for the owner of the truck (David Tait), and Mr C. J. L. White for the relatives of Neil Harris at the inquest. The accused pleaded not guilty to the major charge, and guilty to having failed to report the accident. Evidence was given by the police and Dr. Spedding, of Mosgiel, who said that, in his opinion, death was instantaneous in the case of each of the deceased. Allan McKerrow, jockey, of Wingatui, said that on the evening of April 15, he saw the accused about 8 o’clock. They had had four or five beers each. Accused said he had a motor truck down the street, and witness went for a ride in it. Later, witness was in Duke’s Road about 11.30 in the truck with Tait, who was driving, when Tait had said something about having hit something. The truck was backed, and Tait got out and went back, and as witness got out, he saw a flicker of light, and he heard Tait say: “He is dead!” Witness saw a man Iving on the road, and a motor bicycle. He saw no other body. Before the truck was stopped, witness saw no other motor vehicle coming towards him. He had his head down, and was "sort of dozing.” When they got back on the truck, Tait appeared to be very cut up about it. Witness had said to Tait: "It would be just as well to report it,” and offered to show him the police station. They drove past the old Mosgiel police station. Tait had said that he did not like going away and leaving the bodies there, but he gave no reason then why he did not report to the police. Witness was directing Tait, as the latter did not know the locality. Tait said something, later, about leaving »t|he matter over until he had had time to think about it. They had gone to witness’s home. From the position of the body of the man and the motor cycle, it would be the right-hand side of the I lorry which had struck them, if it did 1 so. Accused called upon him on Sunday and told witness that two people had’ been killed, and he did not know what to do about it. At the time of the accident, witness considered 'the accused had had a few drinks, but was not drunk. After further evidence, the Magis- , trate committed accused for trial on . the charge of causing the deaths of Neil Harris and Vera Thomson. De- . cision in the matter of the second charge, to which the accused had pleaded guilty, and the verdict in the inquest proceedings, were postponed till after the Supreme Court trial.

After protracted negotiations, the Golden Coast Co-operative Dairy Company Ltd., of Reefton, in accordance with the recommendations of the Dairy Commission, as subsequently embodied in the Emergency Powers Act and its amendments has acquired the property and business conducted by tli? Overland Dairy Company, Ltc?., Greymouth, and will take over the business as from Mav I next. It is understood that the Golden Coast Company will operate the factory at Greymouth as well as its present factory in Reefton. Rearrangement of the cream collection routes will be made in order to effect economies in the collection.

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At the annual meeting of the Greymouth Hairdressers’ Association, Mr J. Garth presided over a good attendance of members. A vote of condolence was passed to the relatives of the late Mr W. Musson. The election of officers resulted: President, Mr E. Flood; vice-president, Mr T. Morley; secretary, Mr R. F. Stopforth (re-elected). It was decided to request all patrons to send their children in for haircuts prior to 5 p.m. on Fridays, owing to the fact that children caused congestion in the saloons on Friday nights and Saturday mornings, when many country people have their only opportunity of coming into town. At the conclusion of the meeting, a social evening was held.