Manslaughter Charge Against Mine-Trucker Is Dismissed

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 October 1948, Page 6

Manslaughter Charge Against Mine-Trucker Is Dismissed

GREYMOUTH, Last Night (PA).— Holding that the police had Tailed to substantiate the allegations, Justices in the Police Court today dismissed a manslaughter charge against a mine trucker. The verdict was greeted with cheers and handclaps by 200 miners who had struck to attend the hearing of Reginald George McGrane, aged 28, of Runanga, who was charged with the manslaughter of Thomas Wright Alexander Blyth in me Liveroool State Mine on April 21. Senior-Sergeant Mcßobie, for the Crown, alleged that MeGrane tailed to ensure that a safety block was closed on a two-time jig in the mine. The result was that a fully-loaded truck went through the safety blocks and careered down the jib incline, striking Blvth and causing fatal injuries. James Pgnrose. trucker, said he brought a full truck to the liatsheet above the jig incline. "I turned the truck on the flatsheet and it ran fairly fast. As it neared the safety block it kicked back and continued on. Then I realised it was through the block and was a runaway." Penrose arded that he called out warnings but on going to the bottom of the jig found Blyth badly injured. He said he was convinced the safety block was in position at the time of the accident, but if it were out of alignment, a jar would be sufficient to cause it to fly open.

William Stele, trucker, said he was assisting Blyth to push empty trucks at the bottom of the jig. While waiting for two trucks to be drawn up, he heard someone call “runaway.” Witness called to Blyth to “get tor your life." Steele said he ran for his life, and. after the truck had passed him. returned and found Blyth lying beneath the truck bleeding badly from the leg. . Medical evidence was given that Birth's leg was amputated, but he died five hours after admission. In a statement to the police, McGrane said the safety lock was on and he could give no reason why the truck should have gone through as it did.