DRIVER COMMITTED

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1929, Page 5

DRIVER COMMITTED

ON CHARGE OF NEGLIGENCE. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.^ AUCKLAND, Oct. 17. As a sequel to an accident on the Great South Road, near Penrose,, on September 14th, when two passengers in a .motor car, which collided with a telegraph pole, were killed, a charge of negligent driving and causing death *vas j:referred in.. the Police Court against Herbert Biddulph of Otahuhu, a labourer (Mr Stevens). An inquest, into the death of the two passengers killed, Alfred Ernest Clark and Eileen Beatrice Parkinson, was held in conjunction with the hearing of the charge. The Coroner, Mr Hunt, S.M., returned a verdict that death was due to injuries received as the result of a collision with a telegraph pole of a car they were riding in driven in a negligent manner by Biddulph. On the charge of negligent driving ani qi using- deabn Bidiulph, who , pleaded not guilty, was committed for trial, bail being allowed. Medical evidence was given by Dr E. H. Roche, of Otahuhu, who said, he saw Clark lyiiig on the side of the road, with a severe fracture of the skull. The; other deceased, who also had a* severe fracture of the skull, was still alive when he saw her. The other woman in the car appeared to be very hysterical, while the accused, Biddulph seemed , slightly under the influence of liquor,- although he was not actually, drunk. . Accused’s main concern was the car.,

Dr ,Oook stated that when the deceased was admitted to the Auckland Hospital she was unconscious, and she died from her injuries about threequarters of an hour later. There was a distinct smell of alcohol on her breath, as in the case of the other woman with her.