KILLED BY A MOTOR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18791, 29 May 1923, Page 5

KILLED BY A MOTOR

MOTORIST CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER AN AUCKLAND CASE (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 28. The coroner’s inquiry, together with the prosecution charge of manslaughter against Sydney Murphy, aged 36, arising out of the death of Mrs. Sharpies, is proceeding at the Police Court. The fatality occurred in Upper Queen Street at 8.55 p.m. on May 8. Evidence was given that deceased was knocked down by a motor-car running at a high-speed, and that a constable took the number of the car which caused the accident, and it did not stop, and that the damaged car was subsequently found in a garage. It was also stated that Murphy admitted he and McQuoid drove a car in Queen Street on the night of the accident, but denied that they ran aver anybody. Acting-Detective Barling said that when shown the damaged radiator at the police station Murphy said: "She must have had a bump, all right.” McGuold said: "Oh, that is nothing. I could push that on with my hand.” Witness said that when shown th® car Murphy’s manner underwent a change. He seemed taken aback. Senior-Detective Cummings said that in the first statement Murphy said he had not been in Queen St. since 3.30 p.m. Later, he made another statement that he went down the street at 6.30 with McGuoid. He did not remember having knocked anyone down. Had he done so, he would have felt a bump. He would be travelling about eighten miles an hour. McGuoid at first made a statement and denied being with Murphy. Later, when Murphy was not. present, he told witness that he and Murphy agreed the previous night as to what to say when the police interviewed them. As Murphy had given him away he trished to speak the truth. He then made a statement that when going past Dixieland they were travelling about fifteen miles an hour. He did not recall hitting a woman. Murphy had told him he had hit something, but did not say anything more about it, and he did not know what it was. Subsequently Murphy made a further statement that he had no recollection of knocking a woman down. He had a recollection of a slight bump, but it was not enough to make him think he had knocked anyone down. Had he thought he had knocked anyone down he would have stopped. Mr. Wilson, as Coroner, found that Mrs. Sharpies died of injuries caused by being knocked down by a car driven by Murphy. Mr. Poynton, as Magistrate, dismissed the manslaughter charge against McGuoid as he was not in any way to blame for the fatality. On the charge of having assisted Murphy to enable him to escape, Mr. Poynton will give a written decision on Wednesday. Murphy pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial. Bail was renewed.