KILLED BY CAR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 September 1924, Page 9

KILLED BY CAR.

INQUEST ON VICTIM

(BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 8. An inquest concerning the death of a single man named Henry Gerard, as a result of injuries received in a motor accident on the evening of Saturday, August 23, was resumed to-day. The driver of the car concerned, Walter Frederick Marris. was represented by counsel. The medical evidence was that the immediate cause of death was meningitis, following the injuries. Evidence was given as to the sobriety of deceased.

An electrician deposed that he drove a car into Wellington on the 23rd, at about six o’clock. A light-coloured car, going in -the direction of Petone, passed witness at about 25 miles an hour. Further on witness came upon the body of a man. Witness drove into Wellington and returned with a detective.' Witness was quite certain that when he passed the car it was burning only one light. Similar evidence was given by another witness, a passenger in the car of the previous witness./ Later a lightcoloured car. travelling at about 50 miles an hour, dashed past towards the town. The light on that car was not too good.

Sergeant O’Neill said he had examined deceased’s clothing and found in the hip pocket fragments of a whisky bottle. Deceased’s breath didn’t , smell of whisky. Marris, aged 24, Customs agent, said that bn August 23 he drove a ffve-seater car to Petone. Prior to leaving he had two glasses of stout. Before that,, at about 4 o’clock, he had two drinks of gin squash and soda. The car was oarrving one headlight and a dimmer. The lipinc: of the foot-brake was fairly well worn. He was within five yards of deceased before he saw him. Witness jammed on. the brakes and swung the car hard to. the left. . Witness then seemed to lose his senses and ran on for about 300 yards. He turned round to go back, but on account of the women lie went on to Petone. Having put the girls off, lie returned as: fast as be could at about 45 to 50 miles an hour. He misjudged the distance and the place where the accident occurred. The other occupants of Mairis’ car gave evidence. , • ■ *

Another witness saw Marris have tno drinks in a- hotel. He was sober but witness could tell that lie had previously had liquor. The. City Council inspector gave evidence that the. brake of Marris’ car was absolutely no use. The car was in a very dilapidated state and not fit for the road.