NEGLIGENT DRIVING

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1929, Page 5

NEGLIGENT DRIVING

A AVOM.AN CHARGED. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.). CHRISTCHURCH, May 8. -Airs Isabella Mabel Stanley pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court to a charge that on February 21st she negligently drove a motor-car causing the death of Stephen James Johnston. Johnston was killed on the night of February 21s£, when he and another man were knocked down at the intersection of Manchester Street and Belfast Street. Botli were visitors from Auckland. Outlining the case for the Crown, Mr Donnelly said that .Mrs Stanley drove up Manchester Street on the wrong side. She turned into Belfast Street on the wrong side and hit two men and then ran to the footpath on the wrong side of the street. The only possible inference from the facts was that Mrs Stanley was unable to control the car. It was very difficult to escape the conclusion that Airs Stanley was negligent. It was painful to see a woman charged with an offence of that nature, but there was a great deal of motor traffic and a great deal of negligent driving. If juries were inclined to take a sympathetic view of cases such .as that, it would mean a general slackening of care among motorists. While there was sympathy for the driver, the dead man was entitled to some sympathy and the injured man, whom i£he jury would see would carry marks with him to his grave and was practically,.a broken man.