CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 284, 20 August 1918, Page 6

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER

TWO MOTOR-GAR DRIVERS COMMITTED I'OR TRIAL. By Telegraph—Press Association . Auckland, August I'J. As a sequel (o the death of John Patton, a tramway worker, who was knocked down by a motor-cur in Kliyber Pass oil August 12, S. Carey and Rupert J. Morris, drivers of the two cars involved, werij charged at the Police Court to-day with manslaughter. Sergeant Mathews gave evidence that on the way to the morgue Carey said; "Tho worst of it is I was on my wrong side. There was an obstruction on (ho other side, and I could not get through." Witness measured the space bclwceu the obstruction thrown up by the tramway gang and the kerbing, and found it was !)U't. It wns eighty yards from the spot wliero the bloodstains were to where it was alleged that Casey had turned his car.

Accused 6nid lie had passed tho obstruction at 9 o'clock that morning, just missing a niau crossing the track. Carey denied that lie was travelling at 30 miles an hour. Morris stated that he went on the wrong fiido of tho road because there was a cart 011 tho other side. He did not know that thero was a car following.

Other witiussos slated that thoy saw two ears travelling at a high speed, in tine instanco abreast and 111 the othor on llio wrong side. One said tho first car missed tho deceased by about n foot. , Both men pleaded not guilty und reeirved .their defence. They were committed for trial.