MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19658, 9 June 1927, Page 14

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE.

FATAL MOTOR COLLISION. TWO MEN TO STAND TRIAL. SERVICE CAR DRIVER'S DEATH. SMASH ON HUTT ROAD. piY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] YTELIiINGTON. Wednesday. The Hutt Road smash on May 24, when an Essex sedan car violently collided with a service motor-car travelling from Masterton, resulting in the death of Henry Bryan Kenny and serious injury to Miss Madge Williams, was investigated in the Magistrate's Court to-day before Mr. E. Page, S.M. After numerous witnesses had given evidence, Ernest George Reid. a labourer, aged 20, and Henry Stacey, a labourer, aged 33, occupants of the sedan car at the time of the collision, were committed -to the Supreme Court for trial on a charge of manslaughter, in that by unlawfully using and recklessly driving a motor-car owned by Bertie Somerville Lyon, they killed Henfy Bryan Kenny, driver of the service car. They were also committed on * charge of doing bodily harm to Madge JVilliams. Bail was not applied for. After hearing all the evidence, the magistrate sat as coroner in an inquest concerning Mr, Kenny's death. He found thai, a motor-car, occupied by Harper and Stacey and driven at a high rate of speed, came into violent collision with the service caf driven by deceased, and in that collision the deceased was killed. Erratic Course ol Car. The evidence was unanimous on the point that the speed of the sedan car did not fall below 35 miles an hour at any stage of its journey on the Hutt Road, and rose at times to between 50 and 55 miles an hour. It was travelling «t one of the latter speeds when it struck the service car on the right-hand side of the radiator. Witnesses were-uncertain as to which of the two accused was driving the sedan car, which pursued "a most erratic course at a reckless pace" along the road. Witnesses were certain on the point that an accident could not long be avoided if the sedan car continued in the same manner in whfch they saw it. ~ Patrol Constable Ruddell said he overtook an Essex car at Ngahauranga and signalled it to stop. It did not, so he roae in front of it, but had to pull 00 the road to avoid being run over by it. As the car went on, its speed increased. Although he was travelling at 48 miles an hour, he was not gaining on the car, when it suddenly went to the ■wrong side of the road and crashed into the service car, which was on its right Bide of the road, coming toward Wellington. "Other Vehicles Missed by Inches.' 1 Witness estimated that the Essex car, at the time of the collision, was travelling at 50 mile 3an hour. It missed several other vehicles by inche_s only. At no time was its speed below 35 miles an hour. After the collision he found a small flask of whisky and a broken tumbler in the sedan car. Sidney Daniel Waters, who was a passenger in the service car, said he. first noticed the approaching Essex car when it was about 100 yards away, It was approaching at a very high speed ana being driven in an erratic manner. A second or two later the sedan hit the service car, striking with terrific force the right-hand side ol the radiator. Witness estimated the service car was travelling at about 30 miles an hour at the ' time —certainly not faster. Statements by both accused, in which the one accused the other of being the driver, were read by the police. Each admitted having had drink.