HYDE RAILWAY SMASH

Grey River Argus, 21 October 1943, Page 3

HYDE RAILWAY SMASH

TRIAL OF DRIVER. QUESTION LINE’S “KICK-OUT.” P.A. _ DUNEDIN, Oct. 20 . The trial of John Patrick Alphonsus Corcoran, engine driver, aged 51, on a charge bf manslaughter arising our of the railway accident between Hyde and Middlemarch on June 4 last was continued in the Supreme Court to-day before Mr. Justice Kennedy and a jury. Most of the evidence was on the lines of that given at the lower Court hearing. Mr. F. B. Adams represented the Crown, and Mr. E. J. Anderson appeared for the accused. Mr. Adams said it would not be denied by the accused that he had drink before leaving Ranfurly, thought the evidence regarding the amount varied. It was a grave responsibility for one in accused’s position to drink, but drunk or sober, if he had driven the train at an excessive speed, he was guilty of the crime charged. A new point emerged in the crossexamination of William Allison Brown, an engine driver. Brown said that, about one month after the Hyde accident, he (Brown) experienced a “kick-out” on the main line north of Purakanui, when he was the assist-ant-driver on the express, and there was very nearly a smash. Witness stated that it was Known that there was a defect in the line, but, in spite of their reduces speed, it had “kicked out”.

The hearing will be continued tomorrow