MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18710, 16 May 1924, Page 11

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

THE HUTT ROAD CASE.

WITNESS AVERS HIGH SPEED

RACING ANOTHER CAR.

Thy telegraph.— association.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. . The hearing began in the Magistrate's Court yesterday of a manslaughter charge against Frank McDevitt, motor mechanic, in connection with the death of William Cross, traffic inspector, on the Hutt Road, on April 26, due to being knocked down by a car driven .by accused. Medical evidence was given that deceased was admitted to the hospital with fractured legs, a scalp wound and bruised arms, and that he died on April 29 from delayed shock. Fracture of the skull was revealed by a post-mtortem examination.

John Joseph Hunter, an eye-witness of the accident, said deceased signalled to the car, which was leading a number of others, and which was travelling at a speed of at least 25 miles an hour. The car did not stop and went right over deceased.

A passenger in the car, Harold Shotlander, giving evidence to-day, said it was racing another. At one time on the bitumen track the speedometer showed 45 miles an hour.

. Another passenger, Lawrence Cummins, said he thought the car was going too f/hst, and appealed to the driver "to cut it out." They passed dozens of cars. When the car struck Cross it was travelling at from 20 to 25 miles an hour. The case was adjourned till Monday.