TAXI-CAB FATALITY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 39, 10 November 1919, Page 4

TAXI-CAB FATALITY

INQUEST OPENED. On Saturday morning Mr, AV, G. Riddifl, S.M., held an inquiry into the eauso of death of Ma'bel Black, wife of Detective li. G. Black, who was knocked down in Courtenay Place by a taxi-cab driven by Benet Barker Williams, and killed, on Thursday afternoon. Detective-Sergeant Seott conducted tho casii for the police, and Mr. E. M. Bi'cchcy appeared for the driver of tho car. Stanley Keith Siddells, a student who lives at Wanganui, stated that while standing at the corner of Courtenay Place nnd Cambridge Terrace his attention was attracted by ucreaius, and on turning round ho saw the wheels of a motor-ear passing over the deceased. The car then swerved towards the pavement, and pulled Hj) after going about thirteen yards. Ho estimated the speed at which the car was travelling at 15 ULle.-- per hour. To Mr. Beec-hoy: The car was coining from the Mount Aictorin side of Kent Terrace. In reply a question whether hi' was a cood judge of spred, witness said ho had been in a good many cars, and 15 miles was only his estimate. ■Robert George Black, detective, sa : d that the deceased was his wife, and was> 26 years of a<je, and had lived at 22 Stafford Street," She left home on Thursday at 2.20 p.m. :'.n the best of health. Her eyesight and hearing were good. Mr. Beoehey: AVas Mrs. Black at all nervous? Witness: She. had had a good deal of illness in the'past, lint at the lime of her death she was in the-best of health. George Romeril Ouinlan, 15 years of age, res : din,tj at 41 Austin Street, paid that on Thursday. Novemh?r G. lie was standing at the utorsrctioii of f'ourtcniy Place and C-jmbridge Terrace on the south Ride. He saw a lady l«tv« the footpath in Majoribanks Slrrct, and walk Ktrnrds Courtenay Place. The'driver of the car and the lady did not seem to see each nliher. The lady was knocked over, and two of the wheels went over her body. He bad a faint recollection that the driver sounded the horn just a? he struck the lady. The near side of the car struck her. and the car travelled ahout. fifteen yards after hitting,her. The car was travelling at u fair rate. Witness did not nofce other vehicles in the vicinity. At this stage the further hc.'iriiw of evidence was adjourned to \ p.m. on AVednpsdav.