BURNHAM FATALITY

Grey River Argus, 22 November 1939, Page 4

BURNHAM FATALITY

Death of Officer CHRISTCHURCH, November 21. The death of an officer at the Burnham Camp, Captain Andrew Henderson Maciver, when he was knocked down by a horsefloat on the Main South road near Burnham on October 7, was the basis of a charge heard in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The accused was StanleyRichardson, a motor-driver, of Ashburton, who was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. He was represented by Mr P. H. T. Alpers. The charge against Richardson was that while intoxicated in charge of a motor-truck by an act of omission in relation thereto, he caused the death of Maciver. He was further charged with being intoxicated in charge of the vehicle.

Dr. W. G. Rich, a medical practitioner stationed at Burnham, described his visit to the scene of the accident, half a mile north of the Burnham crossing, at 8.15 p.m. He had found Maciver being attended to by Major F. Cameron and Mr Fulton. He had seen Richardson and had a conversation with him. Richardson had said he had been at the New Brighton trotting meeting and gave a non-committal answer when asked what sort of a day he had had. The only conclusion l Dr. Rich had made after the conversation was that Richardson was dull.

Constable Peter Fallon, of Lincoln, said that in conversation with the accused at Burham he could see that he was intoxicated and not fit to be in charge of a motor-car, and he had told him so. Witness said that the accused had admitted seeing the two pedestrians ahead just before striking them and he said that instead of going to the left, Maciver had moved to the right, and it was then too late. Seargeant J. Crowley said that at 9.20 p.m. the accused had been brought into the Central Police Station by Constable Fallon. Witness said that the accused’s gait was unsteady, his speech thick, and his breat smelling strongly of liquor. The accused had admitted having four beers at New Brighton between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Accused had been put into a cell at 10.5 p.m. after a medical examination. At 11 p.m. he was asleep, witness said. Sydney Keith Aldridge, a stable hand, said that at Rolleston when he was in the back of the horse-float he saw no one get out of the front of the vehicle.

When Sub-Inspector W. E. Packer produced a statement made by witness at Ashburton, witness said that it was correct, and then admitted having seen three men leave the front of the truck, and go into the hotel for 15 minutes. Four members of one family— Irene Dillon, James Dillon, and their two young children—gave evidence of seeing the truck at Rolleston, near the hotel. David Bennett, a horse-trainer, said he was in the front seat from New Brighton as far as Templeton, said he noticed nothing unusual about the driver. James Banbury Cliver Geere-Wat-son, who was walking with Maciver when they were struck by the horsefloat, said that both Maciver and

himself were walking zon the shingle off the bitumen. It was their invariable practice, he said to edge further away from the bitumen when they heard traffic approaching. He detailed the injuries he had received. The adjutant at the Burnham Camp, Captain Eric Elliott Lloyd, said that he was called from the camp to the scene of the accident. The accused told him that the two men his vehicle had struck had suddenly appeared in front of him. He had tried to swerve but it was too late. Accused was nervous and his speech was thick and slow. At the time accused made the statement, witness did not think he was in a fit state to be in charge of a motor' vehicle.

After further police evidence had been called, the accused was committed for trial. He pleaded not guilty. The inquest into the death of Andrew Henderson Maciver was heard after the hearing in the Magistrate’s Court of the charges against Richardson. A verdict was returned by the Coroner (Mr E. C. Levvey) that death was due to concussion of the brain, caused when he was struck from behind by a motor-truck driven by Richardson on the Main South road on October 7.