MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE
DEATH OF MR. NATTRASS MOTOR DRIVER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL Arising out of the recent motor accident at tho intersection of tho Hutt lioad and Thorndon Quay, whei&by "William Edward Forster Nnitrass, a railway porter, was killed, John i'euron, tho driver of tho motor-car, was yesterday charged with manslaughter before Mr. 13. Page, S'.M., at the Magistrate's Court. The accidcnt occurred on Dccomber 3 Detective-Sergeant Scott prosecuted, and Mr. H. F- O'Leary, together with Mr. A. Pero, appeared for tho defendant. Beatrice Lillian Nattrass, widow ordcceased, residing in Vivian Street, said that her lato husband left home on December 3 in good health, and both his hoaring and eyesight were good. To Jfr. Pore: Deceased never suffered from nervousness. Dr. S. D. W. Strain, house surgeon at the-Wellington Hospital, said that when deceased was admitted to tho institution he was in <i dazed condition and rapidly becamo semi-conscious. Ho was Weeding from tho noso and mouth, he had an abrasion on his head, and was evidently suffering from a fracture of tho base of tho skull. He was also bruised on other parts of tho body. The patient showed signs of improvement, but a little later becamo worse, and although artificial respiration was tried there was no improvement and deceased died. Death was duo to compression of the brain, caused by a sudden haemorrhage, ,To Mr. Perc: A blow sufficient to cause a! fracture of the skull would bo pretty severe. The remainder of the evidence called by the prosecution was similar to that given nt the inquest. Constable Cannody, who measured tho distance from where the accident occurred to where the front wheels of the car ■stopped, said that the. distance was (Jflft. The distance from the tramline to where tho accident happened was 10 yards, and tho width of the road at the entrance was 19ft. When interviewed..tho accused said that lie was travelling at a speed of 22 miles ncr hour. , The accused said that lie was talcing a lady passenger to the city, and whilst on tho way she asked him at what speed the car was going. He sajd between 20 and 25 miles an hour—this was in accordance with what the speedometer indicated. As he approached tho Thorndon tram stop he saw a tram arrive and he sounded his horn. Shortly afterwards three men appeared, and ho sounded his horn again. He felt certain that the men realised that he was intending to go up Tinakori Road, and as ho got nearer lie again sounded his horn. He thought the road was clear, and he was about to take the hill when the deceased jumped forward on to the car. To Detective-Sergeant Scott: The.ro was a heavy southerly wind blowing that morning. i The accused pleaded rot guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in the sum of ,£l5O, and one surety of a like amount.
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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 74, 20 December 1919, Page 11
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489MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 74, 20 December 1919, Page 11
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