AN INDICTABLE CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1930, Page 5

AN INDICTABLE CHARGE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13. ' (Before W. Meldrum Esq., S.M.) Police V, Paul 'Holmes Renton, a charge of dviyjng::;a motor car and thereby causing the death of Mary Oates, ' Sergeant King appeared 'tor tne Police and Mr Thomas for the* accused.' r ' . ■•AFTERNOON SITTING. . j » c.v ' ... 'lhe Court resumed ati 1.50 p.m. . Walter James Sparg(|-gave evidence he was a railway porter at Hokitika. He was on duty at thett-ailway station from 2 p.m. on 30th Oct. Pulled the semaphore signal, on the. ■ bridge, “al clear”. for ; the Ross tram ,to approach Hokitika. Then wept,to the- south, 'end of the platform. . Saw the train ; come off the., bridge,. Heard the whistle just before,the engine,; left the bridge. 'There was . a second , whistle when <the .engine was opposite the swimming bath. Kept;the train in.view all.the time. The train was about three parts over the Weld Street crossing- when lie saw something " flash 'in front of the engine. As soon ,as the impact took place he knew what it was. It. was a motor car. The engine seemed to strike the car about the centre. • The car was slewed round to the right. At I the moment, of the impact, saw, something apparently come out of the car, as the car slewed he could discern it* was a body. It did not hit the engine and did not move after it struck’ the ground. The car was thrown clear of the line. Did not see the car before the collision. Saw the train pull up, . near, the tank. After the impact went along and with the engine, When he got there, there were four per son vin the <ku\ Mr Renton was driving the car,. It had been raining but wan not raining at the time, though it was slightly misty, y • ,;T. . To Mr Thomas.—Would he, 150 to 203 yards away from the impact. .From where he was standing, from opposite the Poliqe Station to the crossing was an open view except for open fences.; The sequence of events as far as the car was concerned was that he did not see the car to a point, then he sav something- he did... not know - what it Avas, and then at the impact he saw it was a car.

Constable P. Dougherty gave evidence that on 30th Oct. he was ■; on duty.. About 2. 10 p.m. heard a train whistle; from the incoming train from Ross. He heard it distinctly in the side office. 'Then went to the station door, and from there saw the train come into, view opposite the baths, about . .three chains from the point of the impact. 'Watched the train until it was on to the Weld Street , dossing.. .Thought the train was coming in very slow, slower than usual. Did not see any car approaching the railway crossing. Onl.t heard the train whistle 1 once, when jt was on the railway bridge. Then pro eeeded.down the.-path at the left to wards the station. When, about? half way down the, path saw the train pull ing up Heard the usual bumping Oi the train and trucks in mediately the train pulled up, realised that something had at the crossing. Hurried to the : scene climbed through the train to,-the .east side and there saw a car clear of the lines, and a woman , on. the ground between the car ntid the railway line, with her feet towards the train. Paul; Rentor wns in the driver’s position Mrs Jock Adamson was alongside hiuii and ih'the rear seat was a young lady considerably injured. Did not observe Mr-* Renton. Tt was Mrs Oates on the ground. There was no sign of blood about her. Called up the doctor .al once and then assisted to remove ■. the,.. (Continued on Page Six.)