GIRL’S TRAGIC DEATH

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 368, 9 March 1932, Page 5

GIRL’S TRAGIC DEATH

Naval Officer Exonerated at Inquest. MOTOR-CAR ON FIRE. (Special to the “Star.”) LONDON, January 24. A girl's death in a 4 a.m. motor-car fire at the Prince's Gate entrance to Hyde Park after a New Year’s Night dance in the West End was described at an inquest yesterday at Westminster. The victim was Miss Angela Scott (21), daughter of the Rev C. V. R. Scott, of Lcavesden. Watford. A verdict of “ Accidental death ” was returned, and the jury exonerated the driver of the car, Mr M. G. C. Warmington, only son of Sir Denham Warmington, who is a sub-lieutenant in the Navy. The cause of the accident was stated to' be a front wheel skid. The Rev C. R. Y. Scott said his daughter was driven to the Berkeley Hotel by a friend, a Miss Jeffries, whose brother was in the Navy. An eye-witness of the accident, Mr Frederick William Reynolds, a newspaper van driver, said the car fell on its offside and burst into flames. He tried to open the door but failed. He then snatched off his cap and smashed the window. A man jumped out of the car saying, “ The girl, the girl.” Failing to break through the back of the car, Reynolds said he smashed the top. The legs of a girl dropped out. With the assistance of two other men he pulled out the girl, whose clothing was alight. Mr Warmington, he said, did all he could to help, but he was terribly cut about the face. Mr Warmington, whose left hand was bandaged, said all he remembered was the fire, opening the side door and trying to get Miss Scott out. He described how he had dinner in the West End with two brother officers, Mr Napier and Mr Jeffries. They each had a cocktail and shared a bottle of wine. Mr Jeffries had arranged for them to meet his sister and her friend at 10.30 at the hotel. They met and later drove past Hyde Park when the accident occurred.