Woman Motorist Committed for Trial

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 653, 3 May 1929, Page 9

Woman Motorist Committed for Trial

DEATH OF MAN ACCUSED COLLAPSES IN COURT (Special 111 H SL'X) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursd., Struck by a motor-car driven by Isabella Mary Stanley, Stephen Janies Johnson expired within a few minutes of the accident, which occurred on the evening of February 21 To-day the driver of the car pleaded not guilty to a charge of negligent driving and was committed to the Supreme Court fer

W nH Johnson at tho time of the acoident was Kdmund Albert 11 , - der°, who was seriously injure.] n,. men were visitors from Auckland \i Mr V SM " " aio " the Bench, accused baret>nt appeared for the

Dr. Bernard W. l’eurcy, house -surgeon at Christchurch Hospital, .--aid tnat Johnson died from shock, due to a r f r? <:tl i re of tho Bkull and laceration or the brain. There was no trace of liquor. Witness saw Boldero, but did S2sio XaJl,lne . hlm - Ho was evidently oaaly injured. While Donald John Macdonald, farm labourer, of Waikuku, who was standln» at the corner at the time of the accident, was giving evidence, accused collapsed in the dock, where she had been seated, and had to be assisled from the court. I am sorry sir. but my client is in a very bad state." said Mr. Sargent t . tho magistrate. "Wo will bring eliai and she may sit with her husband heside her." said tho magistrate. At euun sol's request the case was adjourned tor a tew minutes. Hater tho accused was able to return to tho court and sat with her husband. as suggested by the magistrate. Resuming his evidence. Macdonald said that his attention had been at tracted by a car coming along Manchester Street from the station on th wrong side of the road. HEARD A SCREAM “The car was so far on tho wron side of tho road that it drove a taxi going in tho opposite direction ini., the gutter,” said witness. “The cu, then took a wide turn into Belfast Street, going straight for the r.iidd 1 of the road. It seemed to put on extr.i pace. Instead of going to the correct side the car accelerated and shot to th right-hand side of Belfast Street. YVh- i. the car turned the corner I lost sight of ;L I heard a scream just as the cai had disappeared.” Edmund Albert Boldero, gardener, ot' Taka puna, said that he was on holida and had arranged to meet Johnson ar 6.30 p.m., somewhere near the Peoplt - Palace, where the latter was staying. The last he remembered was hurrying to meet Johnson. “From then until I came to in hospital my mind is a blank,” said witness. “I was unconscious for some days. I cannot remember meeting Johnson or being concerned in any accident. When I woke up I wondered what had happened.” IK* had had no liquor whatever on the da\ of the accident. Alexander Whisker. railway fuel supervisor, stated that he saw one of the men step back a pace when eroding Belfast Street, and just then a car came into the street on the wrong sid.; and struck them violently. The c. i mounted the footpath, struck a brick wall, and continued on for some distance, eventually running off the footpath and striking a stationary car. TK woman who was driving got out ami walk€*d back to where the two men wrr tying. The next witness saw of her was when she was assisted into the Hotel Cecil. She repeated two or three times: “They would not get out of my way.” He estimated the car’s spe« •! at a good 25 miles an hour. SUN IN DRIVER’S EYES Daniel Andrews, salesman, of Dunedin, said that Johnson was quite sob* -r when ho left the People’s Palace with Boldero. Witness noticed a car coming up Manchester Street on the wrm side collide with a taxi travelling in thopposite direction. The mudguard?touched, and the taxi was forced into the gutter. The other car turned int** Belfast Street on its wrong side, and he saw one of two men pull at the other, but they were both struck. Tho woman ran toward them, and said in an hysterical way: “I told you what would happen. Didn’t I tell yo ■ to get out of the road? She witness if the men were badly hurl. Witness replied: “I don’t think one lm i long to live.” “Oh, don’t say that, she exclaimed, and then fainted. Charles Robert Killiok said the si"» was shining right into the driver s eyes as the car turned into Belfu:-*. Street. Constable Schrafft stated that wli* n he interviewed Mrs. Stanley she " s in an hysterical condition, and was saying. “Oh. tell me what has happen©*' I did not see any man until too late. She said she was under doctor’s ord> < owing to nervous trouble. She was toul that driving the car would strengtl • her nerves. Witness examined the ear later, and found it in good order. A - though he could not say the accused breath smelled of liquor it smelled m something similar. Sergeant Harrison stated that he ip - terviewed accused at her home ru day. She said she did not want to mak a statement, as she had consulted n*-» solicitor. She was in an hysterical state. another witness Mr. Sargent said that he wished to call an eye-witness of the accident who had been called at the inquest. She had volunteered to give evidence that the two men were the worse tor liquor, and were arguing arid talking loudlj Counsel contended that If all cumstances were explained no jury in New Zealand would convict. “By calling this witness you would only complicate the nosition for me, said the magistrate. “K the evidenc were diametrically opposed to « ” the police, it would still be a matter for the jury to decide. Accused pleaded not gliUty. reserved her defence, and was comniitted to the Supreme Court for trial. Bailwasa lowed in £IOO and one surety of -1