ON TRIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 9 May 1936, Page 5

ON TRIAL

MANY CHARGES

ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER, t

(Per Press Association—Copyright),

WELLINGTON, May 8.

The trial of William Mcßeynolds, . aged 28,* a ship’ firenianj on a charge of negligently ’driving a motor car thereby; causing the deaths of Charles Bradshaw and Ernest Mar,ston, was >, continued in the Wellington Supreme Court yesterday. Yln the • afternoon \a v start was ■ma de, with the defence. Mr ' Justice Blair presided,.'' -y - > ‘ The accident occurred on the Hutfc. Road on the evening of February 29 last, when Bradshaw, a grocer’s assistant, aged\2l‘' of fPatea, was riding a motor-cycla arid Marstoif, aged 43, a painter and paperhanger, .of Petone, % was pillion riding'. They ivere travelling from Petone to Wellington. The case fojr the , , CrOwri’whioli was represented -by Mr C- Scott, opened on Thuisdal^hiiorning" find concluded shortly , after the Tuncheon - adjournmerit yesterday. , J ' -\ , ' Mr M. G iNeal appeared for s McRevnolds, who l pleaded not guilty. The defence raised was ■ that j;he collision was caused by the'negligence of Bradshaw, if being contended that Mcßeynolds was forced-into a 'position .-.on the wrong side of ,the road through trie' action■ of.. the driver of* ’car iri ■ accelerating : as .'. Mcßeynolds attempted to - , pass'.- -Bradshaw, it was submitted, knew the source of danger already ''created, but’ nevertheless, .' pulled out ’suddenly ; frqm ’ behind an-' : other cat and accelerated. v v ’’ •- The hearing was interrupted by the : adjournment. The ( .case' was continued • ; ou-Monday. ;

; JURY’S. DAM AGES AWARD !

‘ May 8. ' Tn the Solomon case; the jury found in favour of plaintiff,' after a retirement of, nearly rive hoqrs, .for .£982 general and special damages. The. ver-< f diet was a majority one. ; •

THEFT CHARGE

WELLINGTON. May 7.., • A verdict of guilty jyas found-by'the, ‘ jury in the Supreme .Court; in'a case in. which Samuel Alien, railway caritenterY‘Wfl charged'-with ' stealing • from a dwelling a wallet and ? £l2 in. money. 1 Alleri f £waß remanded - for. sentence; ;-• : . ' YYb'Y. : :.'' ■ A, young man was . fined £2 at .

Lower Hutt- to-day-'for a ifirelfesit : aet4g Hd was uot : licensed. N The; seriousness of' such an offence* was' pointed’but, the. Act providing for a fine of £SCO. •• ,

A ROAD HOG”:'

WELLINGTON, May 8. j Ninian Scott Elliot, Lieutenant of H.M.S. Leith, was fined £lO and hisj driving; license was cancelled -till thd end of the month, for driving at a, speed and in',"a' manner' thht might , have’ been dangerous *td the The. evidence sKofved that he had bedn followed at a speed of over 70 tn.p.'h. on,the road beyond tipper Hutt, but - he could not -be overtaken. ’ ?

Elliot did not appear but... it was stated that; when' interviewed, he said he thought the ;other car wanted; a race. - .’ \y-- ' . * It. also appeared from the evidence that a watch i was; set ; ipr ; ■ his car about which there bad - been • a complaint. The’ accused had stated that he was in the. habit of/ renting cars f at 'each port of call. 5 yt 1 ' If was admitted ..that he was “another case of a- nautical road hog.”

FORGERY ADMITTED f

INVERCARGILL,' May 8., , .

In the .Magistrate’s .Court tins afternoon, Joseph • O’Ponnel; aged 24,. a farm- labourer,’ pleaded guilty to several charges of’ forgery:'and .was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. ; - - * 1 " ’ ’ ’'' The police, stated .that accused was, employed by, M rs ’ MacDonald on her farm at Hokoinij. All. the cheques involved had been drawn in ■ her name were • for wages Qwing.tO the accused. .The fatter had’filled in -.the and butts and Mrs" MacDonald had signed them. . Later, the accused had altered - the . cheqbes to varying amounts. . ’ •• .’

DRUNKEN DRIVER

DUNEDtN, May 8.

Heriare Te Rohu, charged with being intoxicated, while in charge.of a car, .was sentenced tOvfqurteens .days imprisonment. 1-His:, license 'yas cancelled, and he was ‘ prohibited from driving for two years. A few years ago .accused lost, his license for ten years, but was granted permission to drive again last year.

.MISSIONARY GAOLED

SYDNEY, May 8.

A Rabaul message states: . Father Anthony Cranssen, a’ Roman Catholic priest, pleaded guilty to burning down Lutheran native teachers’ houses. He was sentenced by Judge Wanliss to five years’ imprisonment. .Tndee Wanliss said Father Cranssen had besmirched the Mission. He hod been a. traitor to. Lis Church, hia Bishop and his co-workers.