YOUNG MAN DIES OF INJURIES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3017, 30 March 1926, Page 3

YOUNG MAN DIES OF INJURIES.

MOTOR CYCLIST CHARGED

On the evening of March 22, a passing motorist discovered in Rangitikei Line, Palmerston North, the unconscious form of Maurice Stewart, aged 18, lying in the middle of the road, and had him removed to hospital. The injured youth never recovered consciousness, and died.

As a result, an inquest was held before the Coroner, Mr. J. L .Stout, S.M., at the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court on Saturday and upon a verdict being returned that deceased died as a result of being knocked off his machine by a mo-tor-cyclist named Herbert Michael Bailey, an assistant cheese-maker, of Newbury, the latter was charged by the police with causing Stewart’s death through negligent driving, and was remanded untij Thursday, bail being allowed. Medical evidence was given as to deceased’s injuries. The evidence of John Harold Watt, motor garage proprietor, was to the effect that on the night in quesion he was driving a motor-car from Feilding to Palmerston North. When going down Rangitikei Line he saw a man pushing or standing by a motor-cycle going towards Newbury. The machine had no lights. The time was then about 9.45 p.m. About a mile or so further on witness saw what he at first thought to be a sack lying on the road. It proved to be deceased, whereupon witness hailed a passing motorcyclist and sent him for medical assistance. Witness spoke to deceased, who was very badly injured, but received no response. It was not until later that witness discovered the cycle. To witness it appeared as if deceased had been knocked off the machine. There was some broken glass on the road a few feet on the Palmerston side of the body. Harold Pederson, of Rangitikei Line, stated that at about nine o’clock on the night of the accident he was standing in Rangitikei Line talking with some friends, when deceased passed on a bicycle. In view of the speed at which deceased was travelling, witness made a remark, but deceased gave no reply. Deceased had no light attached to his bicycle. Shortly afterwards a man named Bert Bailey passed on a motor-cycle, and a companion of witness hailed him, but received no response. Bailey had a light attached to his machine, and was travelling at a speed between 35 and 40 miles an hour. Nobody else passed that way after deceased before Bailey did so.

Constable Thom stated in evidence that on the Tuesday morning he visited Bailey at his residence at Newbury, and found him in bed. He had obviously sustained injuries recently. In answer to questions Bailey said he had been injured through falling off his motor-cycle in the main road near the factory at Newbury. Witness examined the motox ; -cycle, which he found to be in a damaged condition. The headlight had been broken, and there were bloodstains on the front of the machine. To witness, Bailey had said he remembered passing three young men on the road, but after that his mind was blank. He remembered pushing the mot or-cycle through the gate at his home, but could not remember placing it in the shed.

Herbert Michael Bailey, a young man, who had his head swathed in bandages, one eye closed, and a cut beneath it, was then called. In answer to questions, witness then stated that on the night of March 22 he bad been into town, and shortly after nine o’clock was returning on his motor-cycle to Newbury. He was travelling at 20 or 25 miles an hour. Just by the Mangaone bridge witness passed three youths, and answered a hail from one of them. The next thing he remembered was picking himself up from the metalled road outside the Newbury factory. He could not state the time. His motor-cycle was nearby, and he pushed it the short remaining distance to the gate. From that spot to whore lie passed the boys on the road Avas about- three miles. AAhtness’s machine was in good order when lie left Palmerston North, while the lamp was in the same condition. He only became aware of the present state of the machine ivhen it Avas shoAvn to him by Constable Thom. He knew the road fairly well. AA 7 itness could not account for his injuries. He was quite sober at the time. It Was a fine clear night, and there Avas nothing to prevent Avitness from seeing anybody else on the road.

“So far as the inquest is concerned, I think there is no doubt that the cause of death was as stated by Dr. Fraser —internal haemorrhage of the brain, caused by injuries received by the deceased’s being knocked off his cycle by a motorcycle ridden* by Herbert Bailey, said the Bench in summing up.

“I do not think I should discuss the evidence in this case, as there might be further proceedings instituted by the police,” he added and returned a verdict in accordance with his remarks. Bailey Avas then charged by the police under section 27 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1924. “That on March 22, in Rangitikei Line, Palmerston North, lie did negligently drive a motor-cycle and thereby caused the death of Maurice Stewart. On the application of SeniorSergeant O’Grady, accused was remanded to Thursday next. Bail Avas alloAved in the sum of £159, Avitli tAvo sureieies of £75.