THE OWHANGO TRAGEDY

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4945, 21 January 1937, Page 5

THE OWHANGO TRAGEDY

» —— — VERDICT AT INQUEST. DRIVER IN STATE OF INTOXICATION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Taumarunui, this day. The adjourned inquest to-day concerning the deaths of Gerald Flyrrn, Roy Victor Bishop, and Charles William Farrell, who were burned to death in a motor car which capsized near Owhango at 9.30 p.nvon Saturday, January 16, was held before the Coroner, Mr. H. S. Laird. Charles Alex Nicholl gave evidence that he saw Bishop, the owner of the car, in Taumarunui on Saturday, January 16, at about 4 p.m. Bishop was then well drunk and in no condition to drive a car. Walter Henry Wilson, garage proprietor, gave evidence that Bishop at 8.30 p.m. on January 16 drove his car through the drive on the off side of the benzine pumps at a fast pace. If witness had not stepped back he would have been knocked over by the car. Bishop got out of the car and was obviously under the influence of liquor and not in a fit state to drive a car. There were others in the car, but witness did not know who they were. Witness did not notice whether Bishop drove the car when he left the garage as witness was busy at the time. ~,'■« Constable George Roderick MacLennan described the recovery of the bodies from the ruins of the car and their identification. Robert Innes Whitelaw McKenzie, motor salesman, gave evidence that he saw Bishop intoxicated at a garage about 8.30 p.m. on January 16. Bishop was driving the car when it arrived at the garage and went round to the driver's seat when about to leave, but witness did not see him get into the car. It was possible, but improbable, that he changed seats with the other occupants of the car. The Coroner's verdict was that the three men died through being burnt to death in the car, which was driven by Bishop while not in a fit condition to drive.