WIDOW'S DEATH.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19178, 8 December 1927, Page 9

WIDOW'S DEATH.

BUS-DRIVER CHANGED.

MAGISTRATE DISMISSES CASE. (FRESS ASSOCIATION TILIOBAH.)

WELLINGTON, December 7,

On November 21st at an inquest conducted by the Coroner (Mr W. G. Riddell), an open verdict was returned in connexion with the death of Mrs Annie Eleanor Watson, a widow, of Kelburn, who died as the result of injuries received when a bus in which she was a passenger left the bitumen track and collided with a telephone pole on the Hutt road on the afternoon of October I7th. In giving his verdict Mr Riddel) said that the question as to whether the driver of the Bell bus, John O'Callaghan, had been guilty of negligence or not could bo tested in t another place. To-day O'Callaghan appeared before Mr E. Pago, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court charged with negligently driving the bus, thereby causing the death of Mrs Watson.

After ovidcnce had been given on tho same lines as at tho Coroner's enquiry Mr Page intimated that there was no need for O'Callaghan's counsel to address the Court.

"The charge is a criminal one," said Mr Pago, "and there must be a strong and probable presumption of guilt before it can succeed. I do not think that any jury would convict on the evidence, and 1 propose to dismiss the charge. I would like to say that the bus was in good order when the smash occurred and that tho driver was experienced and sober.'' Mr Pago said there was one other thing he would like to refer to, and that was the question of posts on the highways. In his opinion they should be removed and placed in close to an adjoining property. It would make the roads far safer in New Zealand if legislation were passed so that a policy could be gradually introduced to eliminate such a danger from the roads.