KILLED BY CAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17038, 11 May 1923, Page 1

KILLED BY CAR.

AUCKLAND SENSATION. MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE FOLLOWS. (Special to the “Star.”)~ AUCKLAND, May 11. Besgie Sharples, a “'lLiOW': aged fiftyfive, who was knocked down by a motor—car in Upper Queen Street on Tuesday evening and severely injured, diEd in the Public Hospital on \Vednesday night. Yesterday morning in the Police Court, before Mr J. W'. Poynton, 8.31., Sydney Murphy and Thomas Lawrence Bl’Quoid were charged with manslaughter in respect of the occur— Pence. HEAVY BAIL GRANTED. “'lien the men stepped into the dock they were charged With lmvmg caused wilful bodily harm,‘but Chiet Detective Bl’llveney inteijecte-d with a re—mark that eince the victim had- succumbed to her injuries, the things/C \\uuld be altered to one of manslaughv LLT and he asked that a remand shuulu‘ ire granted till next Thursday. 311‘ Matthews: 1 appear on behull ml" the accused, your Worship. It is only a case of a woman being knocked :luwn by u motorcnr. and it would be quite proper to gram buill 1 ask that lyui] he allowed. ‘ ' Chief Detective M’llveney said that it was a serious vase. He could not agree to bail being granted unless the lmil was fixed at a substantial figure. Mr Poyuton said that bail would be ~uhstantialw£soo each. DETAILS 01“ ACCIDENT.

The official story of the fatality makes interesting reading. Mrs Elizabeth Sharpies carried on business at 446, Upper Queen Street, j he accident happened at seven o’clock when she was crossing Queeja Street from her shop to the Theosophicai Society’s depot. When she was on the road on the western side of Queen Street a motor-car, alleged to have been driven by Sydney Murphy, a taxi driver, came down the street and Mrs Sharpies was knocked down. Cries of “ Stop ” were followed by shouts by-eye-witnesses, as the car gathered speed and proceeded down the incline. Constable Robertson, the Police Court orderly, who was in plain clothes witnessed the occurrence. He called out to the driver to stop and took the number of the car as it disappeared down the hill. ALL NIGHT INQUIRY. The victim, who was lying on the roadway, was quickly attended to under the supervision of Constable Robertson and was conveyed in an unconscious condition to the Hospital with all speed. Realising that the condition of Mrs Sharpies was critical. Constable Robertson immediately informed the Detective Office of the occurrence and Senior Detective Cummings took charge of the inquiry. The investigations lasted until next morning. The first thing to be done was to locate the driver, and at length after some difficulty Senior Detective Cummings and other members of the staff made an arrest at 11.30 o’clock. PATIENT UNABLE TO SPEAK. Detective Cummings went to the* Public Hospital in an endeavour to obtain a statement from the victim, Out Drs Moors and lvelman, while wishing to help tne ponce in every way, considered that Mrs Sharpies, although conscious, was not in a condition to make a statement to the police, but had said that she knew that the accident happened shortly alter ten minutes Lo seven when she was crossing Queen Street. Murphy, who had been taken to the station, denied having been implicated in the affair. Chief Detective M’llveney then took a hand in the case, and with Detective Cummings proceeded to the Hospital, but again it was ascertained that the victim could not make a statement. It was then nearly 3 a.m. Acting on further information, Detective Cummings and another officer proceeded to Western Springs Road in search of M’Quoid who, it is alleged, was in the car. A long search ended at about 5.30 a.m. The car, it is stated, was found in a garage witli the radiator badl\ damaged. It is a rather singular fact that the husband of Mrs Sharpies, who was a solicitor practising in Auckland, met his -death five years ago in this city by being knocked down by a vehicle when crossing the street.