MOTOR FATALITY

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1932, Page 5

MOTOR FATALITY

CHARGE MANSi»Mu6iI#iR. STATEMEn’t BY ACCUSED, (Per Pi/ess Association — Copyright. ) AVELLINGTON, July 26. The hearing, of. the manslaughter charge against Jamss Thomas ford,’ arising from Lie death of Frank Muirhead Gillespie, a member of a dance party killed when the train struck a motor .’.lorry at a crossing at Masterton, - was. Continued this afternoon, at Court, and will be resumed to-morrow. '• ' ’ r Accused .said he ]\ad-, l be9n motor; vehicles','since 1919. He was engaged to convey a party from MasteCf toh to ' a dahe'e at Kaituna oh rtne night- hivthe, aepidenj). He proceeded Up fieyhpldiJ -Street looking for a train,' with his' foot, upon, the brake, and as, he did not see it, took his foot off the brake and stepped up<*n the fteceler* ator, There was nothing to indicate where the railway line was. .UponAreachingiCdllege Street; - li©lights which he. ftpok to be 'those of a train away in the distance, and he thought he had-’’ample time to 'cross 1 the line,;,before the train reached the Renall Street crossing. He did npLsge. the train until it was upon them,/....The lorry was air old one. It was difficult‘ to hear the ; whistle of the engine. If a motorist were to . halt at the stop -sign, he would get j no view of the train until it ’ waS on | the crossing. He “would not admit any i negligence or watit of pare. He ‘bad , taken every , precaution. " ’ The hearing was then adjourned until to to-morrow. / ' 1