WOMAN MOTORIST

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1929, Page 6

WOMAN MOTORIST

CHARGE OF NEGLIGENCE.

[By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, May 2.

Isabella Mabel Stanley, married woman, was charged at the Magistrate’s Court, before Mr E. C. Levvy, S.M., with negligently driving a motor car, and thereby" causing the death of Stephen James Johnston. The hccident occurred shortly before 7 o’clock in the evening of February 21st. Two men, Johnston and Edmund Albert Boldero, both visitors to Christchurch from the Auckland district, were knocked down by a motor car driven by Mrs. Stanley. Johnston died a few minutes after the accident, and Boldero was in the hospital in a grave condition for a considerable time.

Chief Detective Can-oil prosecuted, and Air F. D. Sargent appeared for the accused.

Early in the proce -Tings the accused fainted, and had to be carried from the Court, ne'-c-sitating an adjournment. On resuming the defendant was allowed to sit in the bodv of the Court with her !r=band.

Douglas John Macdonald, a “’arm labourer, said that', while he was in Manchester Street on the night of It"' accident, a car came up the street on the wrong side at a pace that he thought was unusual. The car was SO much on the wrong side, that a taxi coming in the opposite direction, was forced into the gutter. The car took a wide turn into Belfast Street, going straight for the middle of the roadT The ,qar decelerated and .shot out to the right hand side. He lost sight of the car then, but he beard a scream, and on going into Belfast Street, witness saw a woman walk up to a man lying on the road. The woman then '.fainted. There was a “Road Closed” sign in the middle of Belfast Street. The car took the turning at a very fast speed, without sounding the horn. Boldero gave evidence, but he could remember nothing of the accident, and very tittle of what immediately preceded 'it. He said that he and Johnston had no liquor at all on that day. Alexander Whisker, Fuel Supervisor on* the New Zealand Railways, said that on Feruarv 21st. lie was in the lounge of the Hater Cecil at the corner of Belfast and Manchester Streets. He saw the accident. The car came into Belfast Street on the wrong side, and it struck violently two men who were crossing the road. The car then mounted the footpath, struck a brick wall, rail along the/ footpath some distance, and then struck a stationary c'ar. The Woman was ihrought into the hdtel in a state of partial collapse. The woman said, two or three times: “They would not get out of my way!” Daniel Andrews, salesman, of Dunedin, said that he knew Johnston. Fie had seen him leave the People’s Palace. quite sober, just before the accident. Afterwards lie saw the woman who had been driving the car, go towards the men lying in the road, and said in a hysterical sort of way: "I told wliat. would happen! Didn’t I tell you to get out of the road?” The woman asked witness if the men were badly hunt. ."Witness replied: “I don't think one has long to live.” She replied: “Oh, don’t say that!” and then fainted.

Another .witness added the detail that the sun was low, shining into the ayes of the driver of the car as it turned into Belfast Street.

Constable Schrafft said that lie interviewed Airs Stanley at the A) indsor Hotel after the accident. She was in a hysterical condition, and was saying: Oh, tell what has happened! I did not see any man until to late!” She said that she was under the doctor’ orders, owing to nervous trouble. She had been told that driving a car would strengthen her nerves. Although witness could not sav her breath smelled of lquor. it smelled of something similar.

Sergeant Harrison gave evidence of interviewing Airs Stanley at her home the next afternoon. She said that she would not make any statement, as she had consulted a solicitoi. She was hysterical, and she said several times: “I did not kill a man!” She then said: “1 was not travelling fast when I ran over the man. No one will say I was, except that man at the Bowsers, and he does not know what he is talking about!” For the defence, Air Sargent said that he would call a woman witness, who saw the accident, and who would give rather a different account from that of the police witnesses. The Alagistrate advised Council that this would only complicate tilings for him (the Alagistrate). Even if this evidence were diametrically opposed to the Crown evidence, he said, it would still be a matter for the jury. The accused pleaded not guilty. She was committed for trial. Bail ... n q hxod at £IOO, and one surety of .£IOO.