AWAHURI FATALITY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 182, 3 July 1936, Page 2

AWAHURI FATALITY

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. STATEAIENT BY ACCUSED. Tho hearing of tho charge against William Richard Paul, factorv hand, of Rangitikei Line, of recklessly or negligently driving a motor cycle at Awahuri on April 17, thereby causing the death of Irene Alerle Campbell, aged 16 years, was resumed in the Alagistrate’s Court, yesterday, afternoon, before Alessrs W, Low Black and J. A. Cruickshank, J.P.’s, when the final evidence was called.

Constable W. R. Miller, the last of the 21 witnesses, stated in evidence that he had taken measurements, with Constable Shields, at the scene of the accident. On May 19, witness had interviewed Paul aixmt four or five days after his discharge from hospital. Accused. in his statement to the police, said that on the evening of April 16, in response to an invitation by Jack Telford, he went to Air It. A. Bennett’s place at Awahuri to celebrate Telford’s birthday. Beer had been procured, and Telford, Ewart, Harrowfield and Rollo were there. Accused was late in arriving. During the evening ho had only two drinks of beer out of a glass, He did not drink liquor at all usually, as he did not care for it. The others drank the rest of the beer, hut would not have had more than three rounds while he was there. After that he played ping-pong and suggested that they go to Palmerston North to get benzine. Ewart and Telford accompanied him. He knew that three persons were not supposed to ride on the one motor cycle. It was in good order and the headlight was fairly good. There was no pillion seat, hut one set of foot rests. They stopped in Palmerston North, but did not go to an hotel. They decided to go to adance which Cecil Baker, whom they had met, said was being held at Awahuri. Telford got on the hack of Baker’s machine to go out. He (r aul) travelled at about 40 miles an hour, a.nd they arrived at Awahuri after supper. He had a dance with Telford, and an “excuse-me” dance with a young lady. Telford spoke to a Alaori and dug a finger in his ribs, hut the Alaori still kept his partner. The Alaori later accused Teltord of punching him, and Telford denied this. The Alaon asked him (Paul) to come outside. He took it as an invitation to fight and went. Ewart and lie took off their coats, hut the Alaori stopped at the door. They were still standing outside the hall when most of the people left. While at the dance, he was not spoken to by the AI.C. or warned by him or any others about his conduct. Baker had left early, so they all had to go back on the one motor-cycle. He was travelling at 25 or 30 miles an hour. He did not remember slackening speed on the bridge, hut thought he would do so, as the bourds runiiing along it were very awkward for a motor-cycle. The engine was functioning perfectly, and the light was good enough for him to see objects or people thirty yards ahead. “1 do not remember getting to the bend over the bridge,” continued the statement. “There was no reason to slacken speed, or to be anywhere but on my correct side of the road. I did not see anything or any persons on the road in front* of me. I do not remember my motor-cycle crashing into anything, or falling. 1 remember nothing until I woke up in hospital threo weeks later. I have no idea how the motor-cycle came to crash into pcoplo who were walking. I was keeping a good look-out. The two other people on the back of the machine did not affect the steering. The light was good enough to pick up people soon enough to enable me to avoid them by steering to the right or left, or by stopping. I had two drinks of beer that evening, and these did not affect my driving or vision. Telford and I were liappy and merry on account of it being Telford’s birthday. We were very likely laughing and talking loudly at the dance, but in my opinion the beer we had did not cause this. Neither Telford nor I showed signs of having had too much liquor. I was not driving carelessly at Die time of the accident, and I am positive that the lamp was alight- 1 have been riding a motor cycle for the past three years, and have owned five different motor cycles. I sustained a broken left wrist aud injuries to the side of my head as a result of the accident.” Constable Aiilier stated that anyone driving from the Awahuri bridge at night would have the headlights falling directly on any object at the scene of the accident. Hie motor-cycle headlight had been pushed back and the glass broken, and the front mudguard bent to the left, where a stay was broken. The speedometer cable on the right of the front wheel was displaced ; the handlebars were loose, and the left bar bent hack. The exhaust lift lever on it was snapped off. The right foot-rest was bent upwards and backwards, and had been in contact with the in-euil. The front of the exhaust pipe on the right of the machine was dented. The handlebars were 27 inches wide. When questioned about his movements 0n...' the night of the accident, accused said h» had not been to either the Family Hotel or the Vwahuri Hotel. This concluded the evidence for the Air Ougiey intimated that he did not propose to call evidence for the defence, and entered a plea of not guilty. Accused was committed to the next session of the Supreme Court at Palnverston North for tria-1, hail being fixed in accused’s own recognisance of £l5O and one other surety of £loQ.