MOTORIST CHARGED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21233, 13 July 1932, Page 12

MOTORIST CHARGED.

recklessness alleged.

DEATH OF TRUCK DRIVER.

SALESMAN TO STAND TRIAL.

[BY TELEGBAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHEISTCHTJRCH, Tuesday.

A charge of recklessly driving a motorcar on tho Main South Road near Ashburlon on June 17, thereby causing the death oi! Frank Major, driver of a truck, was preferred against Alfred William Perrow in the Police Court to-day. Perrow was described as a salesman, aged 32 years, of Arabi Road, Auckland. The inquest on tho death of Frank Major was heard in conjunction with tho charge. Chief-Detective Carroll said that Major, in company with his employer, Boag, was going from Christchurch to Timaru on the night of the accident. There was trouble with the truck four miles on the Christchurch side of Ashburton and it stopped. Tho evidence would show that Major pulled to the side of the road and gofc out to make some adjustments. While Major was there a car came along and knocked him over, and ho received injuries. Boag could not say whose or what car it was that knocked Major over. Death in Hospital. Major was taken to the Ashburton Hospital, where he died. The Ashburton police telephoned to Christchurch, and a car was seen in Christchurch outside a hotel at 1 a.m. with certain marks on it. It was found that accused was the driver of it. When brought from bed, he admitted that it was his car. Tho marks were shown to him and it was also pointed out that on the hinges of tho door was a small piece of flesh. This had sinco been examined by Dr. Pearson, who found it to be human tissue. Accused could not account for tho marks, but denied hitting anything. The chief detective said the police could only fix time by circumstantial evidenco. There would be called two witnesses who could give a rough estimate of when accused's car left Ashburton, and there was also the evidence of Mr. White, who was driving from Ashburton to Christchurch, and was first to arrive on the scene of the accident. Time could bo fixed by that, and there would also be witnesses called to show that accused should have just about been at the scene of the accident when itoccurred. That evidence would be in addition to that of a woman who said in effect that the car driven by Perrow caused the accident. There was, however, said the chief detective, a woman passenger in the car who would say that she was driving with accused from Ashburton and drew his attention to a track which she saw, and which she thought at first, because of the lights, was two bicycles. She saw a man at the side of the truck, and when they were passing felt a bump to which she also drew accused's attention. Half a mile further on they stopped and accused got out to see if there was any damage. He spoke about going back, but decided not to do so. Spead of Passing Car. William Boag, a carrier, running a service between Dunedin and Christchurch, said Major was putting tools in the box after repairing the lorry whon the accident occurred. He found Major lying on the road badly injured. Witness had not seen or heard a car pass while the lorry was pulled up, but after the accident he noticed one going north toward Christchurch. It was 200 yds. away, travelling at over 50 miles an hour. Its engine was right out. Cross-examined, witness said the parking lights of the lorry were on. The right-hand wheels of the lorry would bo about 3ft. on to tho bitumen of the road. Constable C. P. Burns said lje examined a car with the number 741 outside the Excelsior Hotel in Christchurch at 1.25 a.m., following the report of the accident. Ho found, the right mudguard dented, the lamp cracked, and a dent near the running board. Later he noticed what appeared to be a piece of skin and a piece of flesh and hair on tho car. Sergeant Hodgins said when interviewed accused said he had had no accident. When asked to explain the damage to the car he said, "It beats me." He admitted having driven from Ashburton to Christchurch on tho night of the accident, accompanied by a girl. He denied he had seen any lorry parked on the side of the road. Statement by Girl. Later witness interviewed a girl, who said she had noticed the lights of a motor-lorry at the side of a road near Ashburton, and had drawn Perrow's attention to it. She had also felt a bump, to which she had drawn Perrow's attention. Perrow had said it might cause a fuss if he stopped. When this statement by the girl was read to Perrow he said, "It is not true." Later he was arrfested. « Sadie S. Holland, aged 20, said she had first met Perrow at Ashburton on the day of the accident and arranged to come to Christchurch with him that evening. Witness saw tho lorry as they approached it. Perrow's car was travelling at 30 to 35 miles' an hour, directly in the centre of the road. She felt a bump as the car passed the lorry and remarked on this to Perrow, saying that she believed tho car had touched the side of the lorry. Perrow replied, "Yes, I believe we have," but he did not stop. He pulled up half a mile further on and asked her if he should go back. Sho replied, "Pleaso -yourself." Perrow inspected the car and said, "It's only a dent " They eventually drove on. Perrow was committed for trial. _ Bail was fixed at £2OO, with two sureties of £IOO each.