MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 203, 10 August 1928, Page 5

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

SPECIAL SITTING IN HASTINGS. SE’uQEL TO MOTOR COLLISION. At the Magistrate’s Court sitting in Hastings this morning, before Mr A. W. Mowlem, S.M.. Gladys Freeman was charged with failing to give ivay to a vehicle approaching on the right; also, with driving a car in a manner dangerous to Commandant Conk. Mr F. J. W. Hallett on behalf of the defendant, pleaded not guilty to both charges Senior-Sergeant Dempsey stated that the defendant was driving a motor van and struck Cook on a cycle at an intersection and carried him some 39 feet. The police contended that the defendant took too sharp a turn. When the first charge was read in Court in the first instance, the Magistrate (Mr. H. A. Young, S.M.) then sitting on ths Bench, had suggested the second charge. It was on this account that the senior-sergeant had laid the second charge. Sergeant Doggett gave evidence a» to measurements he bad taken. He read a statement made by the defendant, who attributed the accident to Cook being on the wrong side of the road and also to the fact that a willow tree obstructed the view.

To Mr. Hallett, witness stated that the defendant followed the usual hen ten track made by traffic. The willows had since been cut down. She had apparently kept well to the left of the track and had made a sudden turn to the right to avoid the smash. Commandant H. C. Cook, who was injured, said he could not remember anything that happened on the day in question after having morning tea at 11 o’clock. He did not remember getting on the bicycle. John Henry Pearson deposed Seeing Cook in front of the car and seeing him knocked off the cycle. At the time of the impact the oar was at a half-right angle. As far as' witness could tell the van was in no unusual position for a van coming round the corner Witness saw Cook carried across the road and on to the grass. Ho could not estimate the speed. Carl I. Monrad stated that he arrived on the scene after the accident. His own deductions were that the van had come round the corner about five feet from a telegraph pole. There were signs of a skid that would indicate the application of brakes. Apparently the van followed the usual course adopted by traffic., This concluded the evidence for the prosecution and the case was adjourned until next Wednesday.