MOTOR DRIVER ON TRIAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2236, 8 February 1921, Page 3

MOTOR DRIVER ON TRIAL.

SUBJECT TO FITS OF INSANITY. Wellington, Feb. 7. As the sequel to four persons bc- ■ ing injured by it runaway motor car in Manners Street on December 15th, Charles Joseph Clark appeared in the Supreme Court to-day to answer a charge of having caused actual bodily harm. The defence wa> that accused was insane at the time of the occurrence. After hearing evidence, including that of medical men, the jury returned the following verdict: We find that prisoner was insane at the time of the commission of the offence, and we declare that we acquit him on account of his insanity. The following riders were added: (1) Re granting licenses, we think steps ought to be taken by the City Council before granting a license to a motorist that a medical certificate ought to be produced; (2) we also think that steps ought to be taken to see that the speed limit, is reduced in the busy streets of the city. In answer to the Judge, the foreman said the speed limit in the city was lfi miles an hour, and the Judge said he would communicate the .matter to the Minister of Justice. The verdict of the jury was reduced to the special form provided by the Act, and prisoner was ordered to lie kept in strict custody at the mental hospital at Porirua during the pleasure of the Minister of Justice.