CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16555, 14 October 1921, Page 8

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.

DONALD SCOTT'S TRIAL. HEARINC IN MAGISTRATE’S COURT. • A charge of manslaughter against Donald Scott, a traveller employed by Cooper and Prvee, . motor body builders, was heard by Air H. Langford. J.P. and Afr H. H. Smith, J.P.,. in the Magistrate's Court to-day. Air W. F. Tracy represented the accused. Sub-Ipspector Simpson conducted the case on behalf of. the police. The charge arose out. of an accident which occurred at the corner of Oxford Terrace and Armagh Street on September 14. A motor-car drivbn by accused ■ struck an. elderly man named James Nathan Abraham, wlioso death ensued. William Joseph Wilson, journalist, said that the motor-car coming along Oxford Terrace attracted his attention i because of the speed at which it was ' travelling. He estimated the speed at about. 2o miles an hour. He heard a crash after the car liad passed out of his, view behind the carrier’s office. The car did not seem to slacken speed while lie was watching it. It pulled up a chain awev from the front of the carrier’s office. Peter Carmichael, 165, Victoria Street, a bagmaker, estimated the speed of accused’s car at from 20 to 25 miles an hour. He said he thought tho corner where the ..accident.,’occurred a dangerous one. The car travelled about twice as fast, as a cyclist would under ordinary circumstance*. John Byfield said that on Septemlsor 14 he was standing by the carriers’ stand at the corner of Armagh Street and Oxford Terrace. Accused’s car was travelling “well over fifteen miles an boar,” at the time of the accident. The cyclist was travelling between seven and nine miles an hour. The motor-car pushed the cyclist and his bicycle about fifteen yards after the collision. There was no obstruction on the road and plenty of room for. the driver to turn up Armagh Street. James Watts, of 40, Sea view Road, New Brighton, a motor carrier, said Scott’s car approached at fourteen miles an hour, slightly cjn the off-side. It swerved to Lhe off-side to avoid the accident. The car travelled seven or eight yards after the accident. Sam'uel Ernest ‘M’Car thy, a stipendiary magistrate, ana coroner, gave evidence regarding the inquest on Abraham. Dr A. B. Pearson, who conducted a j post-mortem examination, gave evi- j dence regarding his injuries. He said » that death was due to compression fol- j lowing on haemorrhage and laceration j of the brain. The injuries were con 1 sis tent with tho accident Nathan had suffered. J>r G. H. Thompson, a surgeon at the Christchurch Hospital, said that deceased was admitted at 11.5.5 a.m. on September 14, in an unconscious condition, showing concussion of tbo brain and slight signs of compression. %At 3.30 p.m. an operation was performed, but it was found that nothing could be done to alleviate the condition of the patient, which steadily became worse, and he died at 5.30 p.m. Hume Douglas Christie, manager of tho Southern Alotor and Trading Company, Christchurch, said that on September 14, at. about 11.30. he spoke to Scott, who was' driving a. car in Victoria Street, on the north side of the Victoria Street bridge. The car was stationary. Afterwards Scott started his car off in the ordinary manner. Herbert M’lntosh, City Council motel* inspector, produced a map of tlio scene of tho accident, and gave measurements. He said that the foot brake of Scott’s' car. .was. effective,-.and the Iqind brake was effective when held firmly. Scott, had admitted having.ha,d no certificate of ability as a driver. Travelling at fifteen miles an hour, accused should have been able to pull up Ids car in a .length and a half to two lengths at the scene of the accident. Travelling, at eight miles an hour, ho should have been able to pull up in loss than the length of his car. It would be possible to attain a speed of thirty miles an hour travelling from Victoria Street bridge to Armagh Street. The speed limit over the Armagh Street-Oxford Terraco intersection vas eight miles an hour. Sarah Ann Rebecca Abraham, wife of deceased, said that her husband had been in excellent health. He was fortysix Tears of age, and had been riding a bicydle for several years in the course of his work without meeting with an accident. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being allowed, m self £IOO and one surety of £IOO.