FOUR LIVES LOST

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 234, 4 May 1933, Page 6

FOUR LIVES LOST

Enquiry Into Island Bay Tragedy CAR NOT REGISTERED Press Association- —Copyright Wellington, May 3An inquestin connection with the Island Bay tragedy on April 1, as the result of which four lives wore lost through a car driven by Frederick Hooker falling over a 40-foot bank, is proceeding to-day. Those killed were James Henry Wood and Marjorie, his wife, Olga Beryl Barbedes and Ernest Joseph Dickson. Another occupant, Marjorie Morris, is still in hospital. The inquest was not concluded and was adjourned until morrowEunice Dickson, mother of Ernest Dickson, said he did not say where he was going, but she knew he was going out dancing with Miss Barbedes. They had been keeping company for some time and there was an understanding between them of which witness approved. Her son was not in the habit of drinking and she saw no sign of drink on him or any other member of the party before they left. Katherine Barbedes, mother of Olga Barbedes, said she knew they were going to a dance and also knew of the understanding between Olga and Dickson. Dr. R. B. Martin said he was called to the scone of the accident shortly after it occurred. Three were dead on the roadway and Dickson was obviously dying. Miss Morris and Hooker were sent to hospital. Hooker was suffering from shock and abrasions. The doctor saw no signs of alcohol on him. Horace T. T. Carter said that he first saw the car it was upside down on the roadway. He and others lifted it on its side. The six occupants had been pinned underneath. One extricated himself without assistance.

To counsel Carter said ho was the first on the scene. The car appeared to have fallen squarely on the hood, which was completely crushed in. So far as Carter could remember, the man who appeared to be uninjured crawled out without assistance. He was definitely underneath the car and came from either the middle or back of the car.

Departure From Cabaret Gerald Fitzgerald, tyre dealer, said he drove a car with a party of nine to the cabaret. It was a seven-seater tourer with left-hand steering lent to him by his father. The party remained at the cabaret till 11,30 when it was suggested that they go home. Fitzgerald brought his car to the main entrance. Frank Hoare, a member of the party, accompanied him. No arrangement had been made to meet the others there.

Fitzgerald left the car in low gear and with the brakes on and went with Hoare to get his party together-. They passed four members of the party going out. Neither Fitzgerald nor Hoare could find Mr. and Mrs. Wood and they returned to find the car gone. They walked down the hill and on not seeing the car decided that the others had left them behind. Then they heard there had been an accident and they went to investigate. Hooker told him, Fitzgerald said, that they had been sitting in the car and the others had jeered at him to drive. Hookerhad asked Fitzgerald earlier if he could have the car to take some of the girls home and Fitzgerald refused. It was understood that he was to drive the carhomo. The brakes were in good condition. He had not inquired if Hookerhad a driver’s license, but he knew from experience that Hooker was not a good driver. For that reason he had refused to allow him to drive.

To counsel Fitzgerald said the car had been driven down the hill under compression and with the brakes available there was no reason why it should have got out of control. He had tested it in low gear when bringing it down to the main entrance and found it perfectly safe. It was never agreed that the party should split up. Hooker expected him to come out to the car again and drive them home. There was no need for Hooker to take the car down the hill. But for the difficulty experienced by Fitzgerald in starting the car, the whole party would have left together well before midnight. They had supper at the cabaret, drinking coffee. They had no drink, and no drink was taken out to the car. Frank Leo Hoarc, who was with Fitzgerald, was left behind at the cabaret when the others departed, he said. His statement made to the police might not hove been wholly true. When the car was left it was parked facing downhill. Norman Meyers, a motor mechanic, said he had driven the car on hills and the brakes were in good order. The car’s number plates belonged to another. It was not registered for 1933.