INSANE MOTORIST.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1921, Page 5

INSANE MOTORIST.

COMMITTED TO PGRIRUA. By Telegraph —Press Association. Wellington, Feb, 7. As a sequel to four persons being injured by a runaway motor-car in Manners Street in December 15, Chas Joseph Clark appeared in the Supreme Court to-day to answer a charge of having caused actual bodily harm. The defence was that accused was insane at the time of the occurrence. After hearing the 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 spe'ed 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 16 miles an hour. 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 the prisoner ordered to be kept iii strict custody at the Mental Hospital, Porirua, during the pleasure of the Minister of Justice