GUILTY OF NEGLIGENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 50

GUILTY OF NEGLIGENCE.

A MOTORIST CONVICTED. WELLINGTON, July 27. William John Walling was to-day found guilty by a jury in the. Supreme Court before Mr Justice MacGregor of negligently driving a motor car on June 3 at Tawa Flat, so as to cause the death of Mrs Helen Telfer. On a charge of manslaughter he was found not guilty. The Crown’s case was that Walling, overtaking a car driven by Mr Coleman, and containing passengers, including Mrs Telfer, tried to pass on a very narrow road. In doing so lie swung his car across the road so that the back wheel struck the front weel of Mr Coleman’s car, and toppled that car over a steep bank, Mrs Telfer being killed almost, instantly. Walling denied that be had been responsible for the accident, and stated that he was not aware of it until he was informed by other motorists. He had then gone back and rendered assistance. The marks on his car were caused in Eastbourne, and not by contact with Mr Coleman’s car. The prisoner was remanded for sentence. At the Police' Court hearing on June 10 Mr Perry, for (he accused, on account of reports that had appeared in the press, took the unusual step of making a statement before the case was heard. It was t-a the effect that Walling was in no way responsible for the accident. Either the pursuing car had got the wrong number, or the number of Walling’s car by mistake. Walling- did not know anything about the accident until he was informed by another motorist who passed him about a mile |>ast the scene of the occurrence. Walling turned back and helped in the work of rescue. The next thing he knew about the affair was at 4 o’clock next morning, when he was arrested.