MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2745, 13 April 1916, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

QUESTION FOR A JURY

1 MOTOR-CAR & PEDESTRIAN

Among the cases which came on for hearing in the Magistrate's Court yesterday before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., was one connected with a motor-car accident, which occurred in Manners Street on February '15 last,, when Mr. Solomon Myers. was seriously injured. A young man,'named John Skivington, was charged with causing actual bodily harm to Mr. Myers under such circumstances that, had Mr. Myers died, the accused would have been guilty of manslaughter. There was a second charge of driving a motor-car in a manner dangerous to the public. Inspector Hendrey prosecuted, while Mr. T. M, Wiiford appeared for tho accused. Very lengthy evidonce was tendered for the prosecution. The witnesses included Dr. O. D. Henry, who was called to attencl Mr. Myers on the pavement in Manners Street on the morning of ; Februarj 15. The doctor stated that the patient's injuries were fracture of the log and fracture of tho skull, an operation being necessary at the Kensington Street Private Hospital, to where Mr. Myers was_ removed. Other witnesses gave their various views of the accident. It appeared that while a tramcar was travelling through/Manners Street (from Cuba to Willis Street) at about 7.40, a.m., a motor-ear driven by tho accused (Skivington) endeavoured to paßS' it on the left side. No one appears to have a very clear idea of the details of the accident, but a cyclist, travelling in the same direction as the tram ana tho motor-car, was knocked down, and Mr. Myers, who stepped off tho footpath at the same instant, was struck,by the motor-car. It was stated by witnesses that tho motor-car also came into collision with the traincar in passing. The- various witnesses fqr the prosecution were cross-examined by Mr. Wiiford, with tho object of showing that the car was not being negligently driven, and was not travelling at an excessive rate of speed. On the Magistrate intimating that tho case was one which ho thought should go to a jitry, the accused reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme. C6urt / for trial. Bail was allowed in the sum of £20, and one surety of £25. The charge of driving a motor-car in a manner dangerous to the public was adjourned sine die. ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER. Ernest Devoin appeared to answer a charge of attempting to murder Louisa White on March 27. The charge was the outcome of a shooting affair in Nairn Street Reserve on the date in question. Inspector Hendrey applied for a remand until Wodnesday next, and this was granted. Mr. H. Linklater, who appeared for the accused, asked if His, Worship could consider the question of bail. _ Tho Magistrate replied that the question could not bo considered at the present stage, i The application could be renewed later. • . OTHER CASES. A Chinese resident, named Man Ling, was committed, to . the Supreme Court forHrial on a/charge of indecently assaulting a little girl at Newtown on March 28. Mr. T. M. Wiiford, who appeared for the accused, applied for bail, and this was granted upon a deposit of £100. A railway shunter, named William Ernest Miller, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of a box of butter (561b.) from the • Government railway goods-shed. He was fined 405., with the pption of seven days' imprisonment. The box of butter had been re* coyered at the time of the theft, the accused being captured in the goodsshed. On the information of -L, W. Balkind, a man, named Chas. Henry Rice, was charged with obtaining goods by means, of false pretences, but, after hearing the evidence, the Magistrate 'dismissed the information. Several first-offending inebriates appeared, and were treated in the usual lenient manner. - " An elderly man, named Charles Edmoriston Leask, appeared on remand on charge, and was further re. manded for a week, as he requested trial by jury.