SEQUEL TO SMASH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 764, 10 September 1929, Page 13

SEQUEL TO SMASH

CAR WRECKED: INTOXICATION ALLEGED PAPATOETOE CASE Mathew William F. Beechey was charged at the Otahuhu Court yesterday with being in charge of a motorcar while intoxicated on June 19. also with driving a car in a manner liable to be dangerous to the public. Sergeant Lambert prosecuted on behalf of the police. Dr. A. D. Xokes. house surgeon of the Auckland Hospital, stated that he remembered Beechey being admitted I to the casualty ward suffering from shock and lacerations to his arm. and slight head injuries. He had certainly had some drink, and was suffering from shock, but was not perfectly sober. The witness also attended to a young v\ oman who was not sober. Dr. A. B. Jameson, of Papatoetoe. said that he remembered attending to defendant. He was called to an accident on Great South Road, near Puhinui Road, and he was more concerned with one of the women, who was unconscious in the car. He later found accused lying on a sofa in a nearby house, and he attended to him. He was bleeding at the wrist and head, and was then almost unconscious. He formed the opinion that accused was suffering from internal injuries, and warned the hospital authorities of this. He could smell drink, but definitely formed the opinion that, the trouble was on account of the internal injuries. Mr. Glover, service car driver, said that he noticed defendant’s car after passing the Wiri bridge. JTe saw the car in front, travelling on the wrong side of the road, and when he tried to pass, the car swerved in front of his bus. After passing the motor-car and travelling for some distance, someone said that the car had gone over. He went back, and pulled a man out from under the car. and later found a woman, on the side of the road, some distance back. He estimated the speed of the motor-car at about 20 miles an hour. Charles Matet and Edward Quinn, passengers in the bus, gave similar evidence. Constable G. Maloney, of Papatoetoe. visited the scene immediately after the accident, and found accused with two men supporting him. He smelt very strongly of liquor, and was not in a fit state to drive a car. Tho hearing of further evidence was adjourned till next court day.