KILLED BY CAR

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1930, Page 6

KILLED BY CAR

DRIVER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

(By Telegraph—Press Association).

WELLINGTON, October 15

Evidence of an agreement between the men concerned, to deny the existence in the car of liquor, and three young women, an agreement abandoned later, was given in the police court to-day, when Clarence Douglas Hector Orr (Mr Rollings), railway porter, was charged before Mr E. Page S.M., with negligent driving a motor car on Hutt Road at Petone, on the night of September 19, thereby causing the death of Maroo William Humphrey, a motor cyclist. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial, bail of £IOO was allowed.

Constable Morrison, of the Hutt Road patrol said that lie went to the scene of the accident which was between the railway crossing and Petone station. He saw the body of Humphreys lying on the road. The night was fine, and road dry, and visibility good. Skid marks of the car were on the wrong side of the road. Witness was satisfied that accused was intoxicated and offered his removal to the police station.

Constable Moore of Petone said he had found Orris car and Humphrey’s motor cycle locked together. He could see that the car had travelled for a distance on the wrong side of the roadway. Witness decided that Orr wag under the influence of liquor, and not in a fit condition to be in charge of a car. Accused on the same evening made a. statement to the police which, however, he refused to sign until he had got the advice of his mother. In that statement, accused said lie had motored to Kaitoke with two men friends. It denied that they had (’rink in the car. Orr said he had had only two drinks that day at 4 p.m. Thomas Francis Marshall, railway porter, deposed that, lie, defendant, and a man named Deacon, had each had two drinks after work at 4.30 p.m. on Saturday 19. The men met again that evening and meeting three girls, they all went to Kaitoke. There they met another man and finished off half a bottle of port which was in the ca.r. On the return journey, starting at 9.15 p.m., they stopped at Quinn’s Post Hotel. The three men went into the hotel, and each had two long shandies. They bought four bottles of beer. They then joined the girls in .tue car. The first that witness knew of the accident was when he felt a hump. He assisted a girl to the side of the road, and then helped to remove deceased, who was still on his motor cycle, which was jammed on the front of the car. The four bottles of beer had not been opened. Witness, after the accident, put two of the bottles through a fence and a third in another person’s car. He could not say what happened to> the fourth bottle, he advised the girls to go' hack to Wellington by bus.

Sub-Inspector Lopdell:—-Did you three men have a talk as to what you wore going to admit to the police?— We did.

And what was the That if we were asked, we were to say there were no liquor and no girls in the car. -. But realising the" matter, you made a second statement ? —Yes.

To Mr Rollings, witness said Orr had suggested that the truth he told. Other evidence was to the effect that Orris car. passed another and continued on the wrong side of the road.