THE BLANKS CASE

Southland Times, Issue 18974, 22 June 1923, Page 6

THE BLANKS CASE

INJURED MAN GIVES EVIDENCE. DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT. An extraordinary sitting of the Magistrate’s Court was held in the Southland Hospital yesterday in connection with the charge against John Christopher Collins for causing bodily harm to Geoffrey Blanks. The evidence of the injured man was taken before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M. De-tective-Sergeant Carrol conducted the case for the police and Mr W. Y. Hall appeared for the accused.

Geoffrey Blanks, motor driver, Centre Bush, said he was in Invercargill on April 28 and left for home at about a quarter to six on a motor cycle, which was lighted. He stopped after passing Stivens’ Hotel to adjust the carburettor. About a quarter of a mile further on he met two girls who were riding bicycles. About fifty yards further on he was struck by a car which he had seen before passing the cyclists. He was then travelling on his left side of the road. The car was on the wrong side of the road. He pulled well to the side of the road and seeing the car swerved out and thought he could pass. However the car pulled in again. The front wheel of his cycle was just past the bonnet of the car when he was struck on the leg. He was thrpwn clear of the cycle on to the side of the road with a broken leg. The car did not stop. After the accident the cycle was lying on the grass' at the side of the road with the engine still running, so witness crawled up to it and stopped the engine. Shortly after the girl cyclists appeared and he told them to go for assistance. A man then appeared going in the direction of Wallacetown and promised to telephone for assistance. He was then removed in a cart. Witness said that the car which struck him was the only one he had seen on the road that evening. He could not swear as to the make of the car which struck him but he thought at the ’time that it was a Ford. Witness said that if the car had been travelling on the correct side of the road no accident would have happened. His speed was about 20 miles an hour. Cross-examined by Mr Hall witness said he usually took the Wallacetown route to Winton. The night was clear and moonlit and it was possible to see without a light. He thought it was the axle of the car that struck his leg. He thought it would be between 6 p.m. and 6.15 p.m. when the accident took place. The Court then adjourned to a later date.