MOTOR FATALITY.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1923, Page 2

MOTOR FATALITY.

REVELATIONS AT INQUEST. AUCKLAND, Dee. 19. The inquest on Robert Todd, a police constable, wlm was killed in a motor accident at Epsom nil November 14th.. was continued hy Coroner ti . 11. .McKean. Henry Alfred Arden, a passenger in the car. said he and three other men went for a motor drive to Papaktira. John Andrew Fox was driving. At Pnpaktirn they visited a hotel, and had about three drinks. They began the return join no.v with about a dozen bottles oi beer, and stopped three tittles on the way. having a drink on each occasion. Witness v.cut to sleep at (Inelitinga, and woke up in a hospital. A noting- passenger, Reginald Unfit ur, said that at Uneliuiiga lie changed places with the deceased, who went to sit in the hack seal. Witness also went to sleep, being awakened hy a hump. \\ ttm’-ss and 1-ox it ith others had consumed small bottles of beetearly in the evening heloie meeting deceased .

Jack Ghoy, a Chinese market gardener. said he was driving a cartload ol vegetables on Alauakail Road, when a motor came up behind at a very fast pace, lie was on the correct side, hut pulled in dose to the kerb. Ihe motor lot the hack ol the cart, and continued 7!) or si) yards helore stopping. '1 lie driver of the ear, .John Andrew Fox, said he saw the cart ahead of him. and swerved to avoid it. Iheie was a crash as he was passing. He was travelling at 20 miles an hour. He ascribed the aicideut to mis.;udgmcnl on liis part. Witness objected to answering questions as to how mudi liquor he had consumed, prior to meeting the deceased. He was sober all the evening, and was so when the accident occurred. The inquest was adjourned.