ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 28 July 1927, Page 5

ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER

CAR OVER A BANK. DEATH OF A PASSENGER CHARGE AGAINST MOTORIST. (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, July 27. At the Supreme Court the hearing of changes 'of manslaughter and .negligently driving a car so as to cause the death of Helen Telfer' in the motor tragedy on June 3, at Taiva Flat, Avere preferred against William John Walling. The hearing occupied all of yesterday and the case was adjourned until 10.30 o ’clock this morning. The evidence Avas similar to that gtoen in the loAver court. As stated by the CroAvn Prosecutor, the accusation is that Avliile returning from Otaki races the accused passed a car driven by Alex Coleman at a dangerous spot on the narroAv road betAveen Taiva Flat an JohnsonA’ille, pulled '3A r er to the side and forced Coleman’s car OA-er a bank, Avliere it fell 67 feet, Mrs. Telfer had aer neck broken and another passenger had an ankle broken. Evidence Avas gi\'en by Coleman in support of the CroAvn’s statement; by another Avitness avlio said that, he suav a Hudson ear cut, across Coleman’s and driA'e it over a bank. He chased it and secured the number, Avhich Avas that of the accused’s ear. Constable Morrison gave oA'idenee as to inteivieAviug the accused at tAvo a.m. after the accident, at his residence. In a signed statement lie said that he Avas the oAvner of ear 77 —358; that it could not liaA'e been his car that caused the accident. He had dr Wen from the races at Otaki and. had stopped before reaching the scene of the accident and had helped to bring Mrs Telford’s body up. In a signed statement, Mrs Wailing said that in Ngahauranga gorge they Avere informed of the accident and turned back. This statement Avas read in the accused’s presence. In an unsigned statement Mrs Walling said that they stopped before- the scene of the accident. His Honour remarked that only the signed statement could go before the .jury.

To Counsel Avitness said that it was easy for a car traA r clling near the crumbling edge of the road at the spot to go OA'er. A lorry had gone over not far from the spot. Walling, in his e\'idence. said the first lie heard of the accident was when he stopped about a mile and a quarter past the scene. A passing motor cyclist asked him if he aauss all right; then a passing ear informed him,of the accident and he turned back and ga\’C assistance. The accused accounted for the mark on his mudguard by the fact that he had grazed, a telegraph post at Garrett Street. In giving evidence in bis oivn defence, Walling said that the news of his arrest Avas published in the Saturday inoring’s paper, and this was lioav hisi friends knew of it. The Crown Prosecutor produced a “Dominion,” and the accused could find 1 no such statement. One of the witnesses for the defence, aalio denied the truth of some of the evidence for the prosecution, was asked if he had been declared an habitual criminal, and admitted that be had. When asked if a list of his urevious comdctions Avas a correct one, he, said that they AA-ere too numerous to memorise. His HonoAir: Don’t you know whether they are right or Avrong ? Witness: There are so many of them. I dare say they are all right.