ACQUITTAL OF ACCUSED.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 874, 25 April 1903, Page 3

ACQUITTAL OF ACCUSED.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, last night.

Later.—Joseph Day, tho Lyttelton Harbor Board's niiot, stationed at Sumner, was charged to day with committing manslaughter by causing the death of George Spring by drowning on March 10. The facts were that deceased and _ another young man crossed the Sumner bar in a motor launch cariv on the day in question, and wero out of sigh; until they returned at about si;-t pm. The weather in the meantime had become very stormy, and there was a heavy sea running, tho bar being white with breakers for a quarter oi a mile out. There was no signal of any description hoisted at tho signal station, and assuming from tin’s that the bar could be crossed Spring attempted it, with tho result that tho boat was capsized and he was drowned. The lifeboat rescued Franklin, the other occupant.

The prosecution sought to show that the pilot, i.i neglee.iiig lu hoist the danger signal, liad been instrumental in causing Spring’s death. In c f. nee it was siwmitted that tho niiot, seeing nothing of the boat at 5.J0 p.m , had gone to his tea, satisfied that its occupants had gone round to Fort Lyttelton, or had ellcCted a landing ss-m .-where rise ; also that the launch did act come within the meaning of boats. It was a ves-el, and as such should, under tho harbor regulations, have signalled and stood off until an im-wei ing signal came to stand on and take the bar. The Bench acquitted the accused.