MOTOR COLLIDES WITH VEHICLE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 277, 17 August 1921, Page 9

MOTOR COLLIDES WITH VEHICLE

DRIVER OF CAR CONVICTED AND FINED. Dudley Byrne was charged by the police in 'the Magistrate's Court yesteiday afternoon, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., with exceeding the speed limit in Adelaide Road; with driving a motor-car in a dangerous manner; and with, failing to stop his car after an accident. Senior-Sergeant Cox prosecuted, and Mr. O. C. Mazengarb appeared for the defendant. . Henry JuiM, a bottle gatherer, said that on June 8 he was driving a horse and trap down Rugby Street, and as there was a tram car on tho track at the corner near the Caledonian Hotel, ho pulled up. There was a motor-car coming up Adelaide Road behind a tramcar; tho driver blew his horn and thon came on, and struck the vehicle witness was driving. Tho horse was knocked to the ground, hut tho defendant did not stop or slacken speed. On the following day witness saw the defendant, who wanted to know if he was tho man he hud run into tho previous day. Witness said he was, and wanted to know what defendant was going to do about it. He said he would do the fair thing, but he did not want a court case. On the following day defendant called at the house of witness to see what damage hud been done to the horse and vehicle. He said he would find witness another horse to go on with his work, and would havo the vehicle and harness repaired. Witness waited for a week, and as nothing was done, ho again §aw tho defendant. To Mr. Mazengarb: He saw neither head light nor tail light on the motorcar. Witness had an ordinary cart lamp on the right side or Iris vehicle. Tho defendant had to take a wide turn because of tho speed at which the car was going, and could not have avoided hitting the horse.

Evidence in corroboration was given by another witness. The defendant, a motor mechanic and salesman, said ho had been driving the car for many years. It was a two-seater car, and on the date in question there wore three persons in it. Witness passed the tramcar a long way before ha reached the Caledonian Hotel; he was travelling at ten to twelve miles per hour. There was no traffio on the street, tho night was dark, and. it was drizzling. Witness felt the car bump, and ho thought the man who was sitting on the knees of tho other put his knees through the wind-screen. Jho glass crashed, and most of the glass fell outwards into the street. When he saw Juiss tho next day in the garage, he denied having bumped into him. He said that if he had done so ho would make good tho diimnge. Juiss stated that witness had struck his horse and cart and that damage had been done. Witness said he would go round to hie place and see what the damage was. Witness told Juiss then that if he were responsible for tho accident ho would find him another horse, and make good the damage to the cart and harness. He denied bumping into the horse and cart. The Magistrate said he was going to convict the man, for there was independent evidence that ho did bunip into the vehicle. He was travelling too fast round the corner. Byrne was fined .£3 for driving in a dangerous manner, „C2 for not stopping Kter the accident, and was convicted and discharged for ex 'seeding the speed limit. He was also ordered to pay costs.