SEQUEL TO ACCIDENT

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12247, 19 September 1925, Page 4

SEQUEL TO ACCIDENT

HAROLD BROWN CHARGED ALLEGED DANGEROUS DRIVING “DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE” .Dangerous driving and failure to report an accident to the police were the charges made against Harold Brown at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M. The prosecution was a sequel to an acci-, dent on Thorndon quay on the evening of August 20th. Sub-Inspector Hollis alleged that the defendant had driven in a dangerous manner, and had knocked down a man named William Francis Clark, who was standing on the footpath. The defendant was represented by Mr J. J. McGrath. John Grattan Mackenzie, director of parks and reserves, said that he was returning from KaTwarra on the night in question, when the defendant passed him on the wrong side at the Thorndon terminus. In his opinion, the defendant was travelling between 25 to 30 miles per hour. When witness reached Thorndon station the defendant’s car was on the footpath, and had turned completely round. There was a man lying injured on the footpath. It was raining at the time and faintly dark. Eric Riddiford, a station-owner, said that the defendant had passed him by Dalgety’s store while witness was going between 15 and 20 miles per hour. In his opinion, the putting on of the brakes had made the car skid and turn round. Witness* put the injured man into th 4 defendant’s car and afterwards reDOrted the matter to the police. His Worship: Quite right. DRUNKENNESS ALLEGED Archibald Dockery, a tram conductor, said that ■‘he saw the defendant’s car apnroaching at a fast rate, and also witnessed the accident. The old man was standing on the edge of the footpath. The sub-inspector: What was the condition of the defendant? Witness: I should say drunk. Mr McGrath: Are you certain he was drunk? Witness: I saw him stagger and smelt drink on him. Similar evidence was given by tho mofcorman, Alexander McGuinness, who was attracted to the defendant’s car by the previous witness’s cry. “Look at this coming!” William David Wilson said that he had accomnanied the defendant to the races on tine day in question. They had had a drink at the office before going Out and another one befoye the last race. The defendant was* certainly not drunk. In his opinion, Brown had done all he could to avoid an accident.. Evidence was also brought to show that the car, when the brakes were applied. had a tendency to swerve round, esneeiallv on a greasy road. Harold Brown stated that he had onlv two drinks on the day of the accident. He. had done his best to avoid the accident, and, in fact, had thought that he had missed the man.’ The sub-inspector: You consider yourself a enreful driver? Witness: Yes. . The sub-inspector: Well, look at this list of previous convictions. . After further evidence the case was adjourned till this morning to hear further witnesses.