Margaret R«idrs Death

NZ Truth, Issue 725, 10 May 1919, Page 2

Margaret R«id r s Death

Another Viotim tq the Motor ' Menace. The Coroner's Court m Wellington •has had an all too busy time during the past week m Wellington. On Wednesday, Mr.Frazer, S.M., held an inquiry into the death of Mrs. Margaret Reid; 58 years of age, who was killed In Upper Adelaide-road on Monday eyiening last, through being knocked down by a motor-car driven by Samuel Ernest Williams, clerk, of Island Bay. Williams, giving evidence, said that he was 'driving up Adelaide -road m the direction of the city at about 6.20 p.m. Near the corner of John-street he had occasion to sound his horn, and swerved to avoid some pedestrians. He, then . crossed over to the left-hand side of Upper Adelaideroad. His head lights were burning, ■ and he reckoned he was proceeding at about nine miles per hour. After •he had gone seven or eight yards up Adelaide-road he felt a sudden bump, and afterwards saw deceased lying between the' car and the pavement. The headlight oh the left-hand side of the car was damaged as a result of the collision, and witness could, give no other reason for not seeing deceased, other than that she must have stepped off the footpath and struck the headlight.. Robert McNalr, brother of the deceased, stated that at daylight- on the morning following the accident he. visited the scene of the* fatality, and on examining- the roadway b&w unmistakable signs of something having been .dragged Up the road for about five or six paces from the crossing. He visited the hospital on Monday evening and noticed that deceased's clothing was torn on the right side. The Coroner said that the fatality was certainly ■ accidental; and there was no evidence to show that the cat 1 was being driven negligently or at' an excessive speed. . The lighting of the road at that particular spot might have had sdmething to do with those m the car not seeing deceased. No blame was, therefore, attachable to the driver of the • car.