BRIGHT INTERLUDES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 225, 3 September 1936, Page 5

BRIGHT INTERLUDES.

STRATFORD COURT Sequel To Collision At Huiroa -mm FAILED TO KEEP TO LEFT? The evidence of Mabel Blair, a witness in a case heard in the Stratford Court yesterday provided many bright interludes. Andrew Thomas Aldridge was charged with failing to keep to the left. The charge arose out of a collision on Waiwiri Road, Huiroa, on May 31, When Aldridge's can and a car driven by a man named Thompson, were involved. Mr W. H. Woodward, S.M., was on the bench.

Sergeant Anni&s prosecuted and Mr Percy Thomson appealed for Aldlidge. One witness, W. R. Tkonibson, the driver of the other car, gave evidence yesterday moTnfcg^ There had Beeri vS»y little -conversation between -the-•■drivers after the accident, said Miss Blair, in evidence. Mr Thomson:, How far was the other car from ycu when you first saw it? ' Witness; About eight or ten yards. Mr .Thomson: How long do you think U was from the time you firstt i;aw Aldr.idge's car and the time of tho collision? Witness. I could not say Only a matter of seconds. •Mr Thomson: Only' a matter of seconds? Witness: Yes. .Mr Thomson: Do you-know what a second is? ' Witness: I have learned' that sixty of "them make a minute. Good Sense of Time. At the request of the Magistrate witness counted a number 01 seconds. "That was the best demonstration I have had ou the Bench," comm-need the Magistrate. "It wan very accurate." Mr Thomson: Did you discuss this case with Thompson or your father? Yv r itness: No, nol at all. Mr Thomson. Then you were, surprised when this charge was brought against Aldridge? Witness: Yes, very surprised. Mr Thomson: So were we. After the accident neither sin- nor Thompson were excited or upset. The Magistrate: Thompson had both his hands engaged in driving the car? (Laughter). Witness: Oh, yes.

Medium Speed

At the time of the accidsnt Thorni> son was driving slower than he would on a straight road, _ said William Blair, a farmer, of Huiroa. While they were turning the bend the other car appeared suddenly in front of their car. Thompson was on his correct side of the road close to the end of the metal. Aldridge's car was travelling at a medium speed. He would not say that his speed was fast, said witness. Aldridge's car swerved to the left in an endeavour to allow Thompson's car to pass. Thompson's car had stopped almout at the point of impact. After the accident he had seen the marks on the 'road'. '^ n

Witness agreed with Mr Thomson that it probably was only a fraction cf a second from the time of sighting Aldridge's car and the time of impact. He estimated Thompson's speed at 20 m.p.h.. .said Rupert iVair, the next witness. Henry Gordon Martin Constable A. G. Beai were the other witnesses called by the police. In a Split Secorici. Mr Thomson, counsel fur Aid ridge, <•■'."-:(' llial fiom evidence, it was apparent that i.Lie accident had taken place in a fraction of a second. it also tseenied that Thompson had rcl^aoe<i

the brake and allowed the car to ruja back into the bank. Had the car" been thrown into the bank by tb« force of the impact the" tear of tijt car would have been damaged. in. evidence it had been revealed that the rear of the car was undamaged. Unable to Hug Banft. > Called by the defence, h. J 3. Uavjs, c; Stratford, said he had had a food deal of experience drawing pJ#Bf. SJe, explained the plan he had drawi apd ; . which was produced in Court. During the time he had been out at tfce' : p!asß~* of the accident preparing thj& plan,., said witness, he observed tra&c tj?a* veiling at a speed of about 25 and no vehicle was *ible' to"keep cloift; to the bank while .nego't.iaf-ing the corner. F. G. Franc id. .in; wharf* of Newton KiiigVgarage; : ttitid : that jj&, response 10 o. telephone call .he M& gone io the, scene of .the Hedeserihed■■Mia positions of both earg. . When he arrived at the. scene ©2 'he accident .Thompson. _had•, asked; him to sign a plan aadiwii'isss dei lined. Two wheel marks; : 'a-

mark where; the running-, bpard had fallen on to xhc-. road were the only l marks; • which were distinct* Witness had suggested to Thompson that if witness' were'he/ he'would, sot talse the matter to, Conn* . »

To Betgpant Aon is- witness ~ sa,W that a heap of debris, on ihe road! gave him the impression tlirff the accident had occurred there. ; lie had, seen no gougedrout road. ...''.'. ' ,

At the scene some of the debris' had been gathered, up," witness told the, Magistrate.

Defendant's* Evidence^

Aldridge, aged 17, employed as a; delivery van driver, sr;'d he had been driving since October, " OSS. ~* : -The*car. which bf>loni',«d to his* father, cc uid not exceed 10 m.p.h in second

He ha.i first seen Thompson's car< sbout ten to fifteen yards away, con-i t.'nued Aldridge. It appeared as if Thompson's car tt.s on tne wrong side and he swerved to tha left in an pndoavouf to avoid an accident. The tinu' he !ii>; saw othW car and] (ho time oi the impac! v.-ire almost simultaneous. Thompson's c#r had iit his behind tbe front mudguardj >aid Vldridge. The rear of Thompson's car sle\\>.u round towards the! bank. Tho cars were interlocked until Thompson released his brakas and ran about three feet towards thei bank. When a car driven by a former witness, Martin, drove up, said Aldridge, he had driven his car up a dia« tance to allow Martin to go past. Francis, the previous witness, had remarked to Aldridge that Thompson's car's marks indicated that bJi car was heading for the bank on the right ha.nd side.

Thompson in Wronfl.

The following morning Rupert Biair, when he had seen Aldridge aud ( another youth, hq had expressed the; opinion that Thompson was to blame: for the accident.

Examined by Sergeant Anniss, Aldridge said he had remajne<| in second gear aftor he had tqgggd the hill^ Eric Raymond Hill and Robert Bell, of Stratford, pas angers in Aldridge'g car, gave corroboratory evidence. Ernest Phillip Aldridgtv father of defendant, described hi? risit to the! accident scene with Bavin,' a former witness. : , The Magistrate reserved his den cision.