KILLED BY MOTOR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10716, 9 October 1920, Page 7

KILLED BY MOTOR

RECENT CITY FATALITY DEATH OF MR A. T. AIAILE. INQUEST FURTHER ADJOURNED. The inquest touching the death of Mr Alfred Talbot Maile, fruiterer, of Kelburn, at tho hospital on Scptcmber 29th, following injuries received through being struck down in Courtomiv place by a motor-car, driven by William Arthur Webb, was resumed m tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday by the coroner, Air J. S. Evans, S.AT. Chief-Detective Ward appeared for the police, Mr A. W. Blair for Webb, driver of tlio c<ir. Sir Kcnnctli Dougins for the relatives of the deceased, and Mr H. E. Evans for the Motor Union Insurance Company. Before tho inquest was resumed, the coroner and counsel inspected the scene of the accident at the corner of Courtenay place and Tory street.

MR BARNARD’S EVIDENCE. ON THE BONNET OF THE CAR. Harry Barnard said he and deceased were crossing from the Albion corner in tho direction inr/icated on tho plans (produced), about 11.30 a.m. ou Sopteiuber 29ta. He was crossing towards the Gas Company. Witness and Alailo had just reached tho centre of the road, and noticed a motor-car coming from the direction of Courtenay place. There was no traffic on the street at the time. The car_ was about 28 to 30 feet, away from witness when he first noticed it. Tho car was headfng towards Manners and Alaile and witness quickened their pace to ‘ get out of line with the car. That would allow the car to pass them on the right traffic side of tho street. The next thing he knew was that the car had collided with witness and deceased. To Chief-Detective Ward: : Witness said he heard no', horn sounded; he could not give an opiriion as to the speed of the cor. It was travelling rather fast. ’When he was knocked down by the car ho was picked up on the bonnet of the car and was carried to the Gas Company’s door, a distance of 95 feet. The car when it was pulled up was right in the gutter outside the Gas Company’s door. The coroner: Can you say whether the cur struck Air Alaile or yourself first?—l think it hi: Alailo. first. Alaile was knocked down and was not carried any distance by the car. The witness said he was badly shaken and had tho muscles of his ribs strained. The deceased was removed from the scene of tho accident when witness returned.

Chief-Detective Ward: Could you have avoided the car? —No, I could not. I hung on to tho bonnet of tho car until it stopped. Mr Blair; You had no bruises on your body, but your logs Were bruis-' od ?—Yes; I think the springs on the front of the car caused the bruises.

Mr Blair: You assumed the car was proing at a speed because you were earned a considerable distance on the bonnet? —I judged the car was going fast by what wo saw of it coming towards us. Mr Blair: Where were you. going and where did you come from?—W,e were returning from the* Albion Hotel to the fruit market.' ; *'.*?' ' ‘ A FAST SPEED. John Ernest Kidner, labourer, crossexamined by Chief-Detective Ward, said the speed of the car was undoubtedly accelerated after the car turned the corner, and was travelling at a greater speed than the average' car. When the car had nearly reached Tory street, witness noticed a man named Anderson pushing a handcart about three feet from the footpath. The car swerved to the right to avoid the handcart. The coroner; Was the motor-car close up to the handcart when he swerved?—Witness: Yes; if he had not swerved ho would have collided with the handcart. Witness added that when, without slackening pace, the car swerved to avoid the handcart, it continued on, and struck Maile and Barnard. There was plenty of room, and no traffic about. Maile was struck first. Neither of the two men hesitated, stopped, or caught hold of each other. As the car struck Maile it had the effect of steadying the car up for a second, and then Barnard caught hold of the top of the radiator, and was carried along about a chain. Tlie coroner: Did the car slacken its speed after it had struck the two men. Witness: No; it did not. To Chief-Detective Ward ( Thera was no horn sounded. ’ “HE HAS KILLED THEM BOTH.’ 1

Lewis Brough, a labourer, residing at Cuba street, Alicetown, stated that when ho first noticed the car it swerved across the road towards the Gas Com puny's office. He did not notice a handcart or see the reason for the driver tq swerve across the road. He then heard a man close to him say, “He’s killed them both,” and then ho thought ho heard a horn sounded. Ho did not notice the two men before that, and ho did not see the car strike the deceased. Ho then saw a man crumpled up under the car as it passed over him. Witness rushed out on to tho road, and picked Mailc up, and did not take any notice of the car. The car was travelling at a very fast rate, judging by tho pace of an ordinary car in the street. He thought the horn was sounded at the same time as tho man betddo him made tho remark. While witness and others were engaged in placing deceased in a motor-car by the Albion Hotel to take him to tho hospital, ho noticed tho driver of the car apparently examining the place where tho accident happened. Witness called out to the driver: “I think you. have killed this man.” Tho driver replied: ‘‘You can see my number. Tho car belongs to the A.B.C. Garage.” OTHER EVIDENCE., John Henry Goldsworthy, a carrier, residing at Moxliam avenue, Kilbirnio, stated that when he first saw the car it was “right on top” of the two men. Tho car pulled up ontsido the door of tho Gas Company’s office, with one man on top, of tho bonnpt. The car seamed to ease np after it struck the two men. Ho did not hoar a horn sounded. The only traffic ho saw consisted of a cart drawn up in front of tho Albion Hotel. That would n<jt obstruct the motor-car. Witness did not notice tho two men hesitate. Edward Kerr, a hotel porter, who witnessed the accident, also gave evidence, and stated that the car was going at more than tho ordinary street speed. Michael O’Connell, a labourer, of iT'irori. said tho car was travelling at j;■ verv fast speed, comparing it with , tho speed of an ordinary car travelling

along the street. The oar noticeably swerved towards tho Gas , Company's office. As the car approached the two men witness saw Barnard 'take! 'bald of Mailo by tho shoulder, but both wero hit before they had time to get out of tho road. Up to that time the car bad not slackened its pace. The horn of tho car was sounded just immediately before it struck the deceased. TRAFFIC INSPECTOR'S STORY*. A traffic employed by the City Corporation, said that on tno nay of tho accident he saw Webb and asked (if ho had had an accident that morning, and Webb replied that fie had. Webb drove his car to the Town Hall, where it was examined and tho brakes tested by witness. The steering gear and brakes were in first-class order. Witness applied the foot brake to tho car at a speed of 15 miles an hour, and on that occasion tho carwas pulled up in 24 feet. Applying the hand brake while the car was travelling at the same speed, tho oar was pulled up in 34 feet. On applying both hand and foot brakes at tho same time at 15 miles an hour, the car was pulled up dead, breaking the crown wheel of the car. During tho above tests Webb drove tho car. Accompanied by Webb, witness visited tho scone of the accident about an hour after tho accident had_ occurred. Webb was a very good driver, .and handled his car during the test in a most experienced manner. Webb, who was distressed at the time, gave witness every assistance in obtaining particulars of tho accident. About an hour after the accident witness saw signs on the road about G feet from the scene of the accident, of ■ tho brakes having been applied and then released. The inquiry was then adjourned unLt.il 10 n.m. on Monday, when jWehb, the driver of the car, and sev- ■ eral passengers, will give evidence.