STRUCK BY CAR

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20463, 1 April 1938, Page 8

STRUCK BY CAR

SCHOOLGIRL’S DEATH TWO BROTHERB CHARGED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL (Special to Times.) MORRINSVILLE, Thursday That Phyllis Audrey Marwood (5), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Marwood, of Tahuna Road, Mangateparu, near Morrinsville, died as the result of injuries sustained at Mangateparu when she was struck by a motor-car driven by Albert Thomas Jones was the verdict returned by the coroner, Mr. F. W. Platts, at the adjourned Inquest concluded at the Morrinsville Courthouse to-day. Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., presided, and in conjunction with the Inquest heard charges of negligently driving a motor-car thereby causing the death of Phyllis Audrey Marwood against Albert Thomas Jones and his brother, James Alfred Jones, who was the owner of the car. Both defendants are sharemilkers residing at Tauhei. Constable J. McMullan conducted proceedings for the police, Mr. E. McGregor appeared for the defendants, and Mr. A. Needham for the parents of deceased. Miss G. F. Power, head-teacher of the Mangateparu School, five miles from Morrinsville, gave evidence that she gave Phyllis Marwood and an elder sister, Mavis Marwood, a ride home from the school while driving to Morrinsville. The children alighted, and witness was Just about to start up her car when another car approached from the direction of Morrinsville. Witness thought the children had crossed the road safely, but on looking back she saw that Phyllis Marwood had been struck by the car on the side of the road. . Death In a Taxi William George Marwood, who was In his house near the road at the time, related that on hearing a scream he ran out and saw Mavis holding the younger child In her arms. Dr. S. Morrow, of Morrinsville, ordered the removal of the child to the Waikato Hospital, but she was dead before the taxi reached the hospital. Constable McMullan gave details of the road in front of Mr. Marwood’s gate, indicating that the child was struck when she had crossed the bitumen road and was on the rough roadside. The other car had pulled up about a hundred yards further along the road, which descends a hill at this point. The constable produced statements showing that James Alfred Jones had driven the car to Morrinsville, but on the way to his farm at Tauhei he had invited his younger brother to drive. . Albert Thomas Jones, who was driving at the time of the accident, had never held a driver’s license. Both defendants pleaded not guilty, and were committed for trial to the Supreme Court at Hamilton. Bail was allowed. In reply to counsel the magistrate said there was legal authority for charging the two occupants of the car with negligent driving.