DEATH ON A ROADSIDE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21987, 23 June 1933, Page 12

DEATH ON A ROADSIDE

MOTORISTS GIVE NO AID. Criticism of a woman motorist arid licr passenger for not giving assistance to a youth found ou the roadside was made at an inquest at Wisborough Green, Sussex, recently. The youth, Wilfred Cooper, aged ID, of Midhurst, was found dead beside his motor cycle on a Saturday morning. Reginald Spencer Davies, a barrister, said that he was a passenger in a oar driven by Mrs Nora Nicholls. They noticed a man lying by the roadside as they were going to! a house nearby for a hunt meet. He went 'to Cooper and asked if he wanted help. Ho got no reply and formed the opinion that the man was under the influence of drink, as he seemed asleep and snoring heavily. They went on, but did not give information to the police. Mrs Nicholls said it was suggested to her to let the man lie and “ sleep it off." The coroner: You were looking for your own sport, in fact, when this man was left lying. The jury returned a verdict of “ accidental death ” with no evidence to show how the man fell off his motor cycle, and added that Mr Davies and Mrs Nicholls should be censured. The coroner said he thought the rider was justified. It seemed a matter of humanity not to omit rendering aid or giving information. / Mrs Nicholls: I resent (hat imputation. We were one of many cars, and we were the only one which stopped. We made a tragic mistake as it happens.