KILLED BY CAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17028, 30 April 1923, Page 7

KILLED BY CAR.

A KARQRI TRAGEDY. As a sequel to the recent fatality at Mansfield’s Corner, Karori, wherein Herbert Reginald Johnson lost his life through being knocked down by a motor-car driven by T. F. Bailey, evidence was heard before the coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The chairman of the By-laws Committee of the City Council, Martin M. F. Luckie, said that it was illegal for a motor-car to pass a stationary tram ; it had previously been legal for a motor to pass on tne offside of a stationary ear, but this particular section had been repealed. Mansfield’s Corner, Karori, was in the city, and was subject to the by-law fixing the maximum speed at which a motor could turn a corner at six miles per hour. The position of certain warning notices to motorists to “ look out for trams,” and “not to exceed six miles per hour ” was described by Lewis Smith Drake, chief motor vehicle inspector for the City Council. “ I consider this rather a dangerous corner,” said witness. “ and one where extreme caution should be exercised by motorists. It is a right angle bend, and one cannot see what is coming.” The coroner- It is obviously a very dangerous corner. That is why all these notices, five within a few hundred yards, are erected. Bryan Edward Ash, a twelve-year-old boy, who was with the deceased when the mishap occurred, said that on the evening in question, about 5.30 o’clock, they were standing on the edge of the footpath near Jenkins’s store. Both had bicycles, which were standing in the gutter, and were being supported by the boys. The deceased was on the Wellington side and was facing Karori. He would not be able to see anything coming up the hill. “ There was a car coming up and a ear going down,” continued witness, “ and the next thing I saw was a motor-car coming from town. It shot up to the footpath and knocked one of the bicycles on to my leg. I did not actually see Reg. get knocked over. I do not remember any warning being given to ‘ get out of the road,’ and J did not hear a motor horn sounded. I just saw the motor spring on to the footpath, and I jumped to get out of the way.” A tram conductor, John Charles William Kelly, said that he was in charge of a car proceeding to Karori on the evening in question. Just as the tram was approaching the kerb a motor-car which had been following the tram, gained on it and. passing across the back, knocked down a boy who was standing on the footpath ‘ We swung across the kerb,” said | witness, “ and as we were rounding 1 the corner, the motor-car came round I behind us. went to pass us on the blind side and jumped right across on to the footpath. The part between the , ! mud-guard and the lamps struck tln- ; boy. dragged him a few yards, and ? : then saw the wheel go over his head.” ! Evidence similar was given by Sytl ney George Trippier. the motorman ion the “ down car.” He said the I corner was not a very safe one for a motor-car to try and shoot past a tram. j Mr Putnam : With Your Worship’s , permission I am going to call a witI ness who will say that, sitting on the j left of the driver of the motor, lie j looked out to see if lie would clear j the tram. In other words, didn’t 1 your tram < almost touch the motor in passing ?—No. ! ” Any motor-car.” continued witness, ; “.travelling on the right-hand side of an up-going ear would be liable to strike a car going towards the city.” George Veitch Anderson, tram conductor, also gave evidence. He said the speed of the motor-car increased after it had crossed behind the other car and found the townbound car facing it. Robert Cox, a carpenter in the employ cf Bailey, stated that he, with three other men, anti with Francis Railev, at the wheel, drove home via . Tinakori Road. They first caught up l with the tramcar some way past the j tunnel, and drew in behind it until they came to Mansfield’s corner. At this point the driver of the car pulled out to the right of the tram. On seeing the up-ooming car Bailey swervI ed onto the footpath. Witness saw i the boys just as the ear hit the ' curb. Constable Cattanach. stationed at Karori, said that he had spoken to Bailey, and to Mr and Mrs Johnson, parents of the deceased boy, and they had said : “ We do not place any blame on Mr Bailey, it was a pure accident.’’ Witness said he presumed that it was well known to the residents of Karori that this particular corner was a dangerous one. The finding of the coroner was that the cause of death was a fractured skull, which Johnson received through being knocked down by a motor-car negligently driven bv Thomas Francis Bailey, who ignored all the notices warning motorists against trams and excessive speed