MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17349, 14 May 1924, Page 12

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE.

CONSTABLE’S DEATH. Per Prf.jr Association. AUCKLAND. May 13. At the Supreme Court, before Mr Justice Stringer, John Andrew Fox was charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of Ronald Park Todd, a police-constable, on November 13. The Crown evidence was that Todd and several others went in accused's motor to Papakura at night, having three rounds of liquor there and stopping three times on the. homeward way for drink carried with them. At Epsom the car overtook and collided with a Chinese vegetable cart. Other early wayfarers stated that the car was travelling at fifty miles per Todd was the leader of the escalade. For the defence it was deposed that the utmost speed of the car would be fifty miles an hour and if. as stated, a cylinder was missing, it couldn’t do more than thirty-five. A table of tests showed that if the car was pulled up in twenty yards the speed was 75 miles. Accused gave evidence that he had no liquor before reaching Papakura, where he had three medium shandies. On the way home there were one or two stoppages, accused drinking a small bottle of beer and part of a bottle. At the time of the accident ho was driving not more than tweny-five miles an hour. He allowed about a foot of margin when passing the cart. His theory was that the cart swerved, causing the outrigger to catch the stay of the car's windscreen. The hearing was adjourned.