TWO DEATHS BY COLLISION

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 57, 1 December 1926, Page 12

TWO DEATHS BY COLLISION

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MOTORIST

EVIDENCE IN LOWER COURT FINDING AT INQUEST ON VICTIMS Dominion Special. Christchurch, November 30. The hearing of the charges against Henry Denham, of killing David Forsyth and Evelyn Blanch Hildebrand by an unlawful act on November 6, was Continued tins morning at the Magistrate’s Court before Mr. II P. Lawry, S.M. Cliitf-Detecuve Gibson conducted the prosecution and Mr. D. H. Hall appeared for accused. Archibald W. Seiwood, farmer, Washdyke, said he attended the races on November 6. He left the Racecourse Hotel at six o’clock, and got in a motor-car to go to town. A man, two ladies, and a boy, also got into the car. Witness sat alongside the driver. The man who was killed sat behind the driver, and the woman who was killed was in the centre of the back seat. The other woman was in the back seat immediately behind witness. Witness paid -accused his fare (55.) before he got in. The car went at a steadv speed when they first left. Before reaching Coach corner witness could pick that the driver "had had a spot or two.” “What do you mean by that?” asked the Chief-Detective.

“I would not say he was drunk, but you could see he bad been drinking,” replied witness. On turning the corner, continued witness, the car went on at a good speed on its wrong side. Witness thought the car skidded when the driver tried to turn to his correct side. Witness knew the car had hit something, but it went on some little distance before pulling up. The car had been travelling, if anything, on the right hand side of the tramlines. Witness did not see any necessity for swerving to avoid another car. When witness went out of the hotel accused called out “Here you are for town.” The speed of the car would be about thirtv-fivc miles per hour after turning the corner. Detective Bickerdike said that he arrested accused on the morning of November 8. Accused said “I suppose I’ll get ten years for this. What do vou think I’ll .get?” The distance from the point of impact to where the ear stopped was 152 yards Sergeant Stewart said he asked accused how the accident occurred. Accused replied: “I speeded up to avoid a collision with another car. I got on to the right side of the road, got into some loose shingle, and lost control of the car. I hit a telegraph pole with the back portion of the car and then swerved on to the left-hand side, travelling some 150 paces.” The accused said he did not know who the deceased were, but he had picked them up ano given them a ride into the city. Accused said he was travelling about 30 miles per hour at the time he hit the post. Accused smelt strongly of liquor. Constable Patterson said there was a full bottle of whisky on the floor of the car at the back. Tn answer to a question as to how the accident happened, accused replied. *‘T can’t tell vou.” Accused smelt strongly of liquor and was much excited. Constable Shanley said that accused, in a statement, said he swerved to the right in order to avoid n head on collision with another car which had come round the side of a tram which was proceeding towards the citv. Accused said he had had about four beers and sodas all dav The liquor in the car did not belong to him. Evidence was given that accused held a private driver’s license, but not a taxi driver’s license, and his vehicle was not licensed to nlv for hire. Accused had never held a license, but had a conditional permit in 1922. This was subsequently cancelled the same year. ' . ~ Eve-witnesses gave evidence, estimating the speed of the car at 40 miles an hour A witness expressed the opinion that accused went over towards the tram lines in order to pass another car coing in the same direction The driver apparently felt the car getting out of control and nnnlied the brakes. That, and the speed, and shingle would cause the accident. Accused pleaded not guiltv, reserved his defence, and was committed for trial at the February sessions of the Supreme Court. Bail was. renewed, self in £2OO and two sureties of £lOO each. ' The adjourned inquest was proceeded with, in conjunction with the indictable charges. The Coroner returned a verdict that both deceased died through injuries sustained through a motor-car in which they were riding, and driven bv Henry Denham, colliding with a tramwav pole on the side of the Yaldhurst road.