THE BOWEN STREET FATALITY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8342, 26 January 1907, Page 5

THE BOWEN STREET FATALITY.

As ail outcome of the accident which J occurred at the corner of Lambton Quay and Bowen Street, Wellington, on December 17th, and which resulted in the death of Mrs lAmy Kensington, who was knocked down by a fire-engine, v the Deputy Superintendent of the Fire Brigade (William Stephen O'Brien) and /the driver of the motor engine (Palmer Otto Spry) were jointly charged at the Wellington S.M. Court, yesterday, with—(l) Recklessly driving a motor car which caused the death of Mrs Kensington; and (2) with the manslaughter of Mrs Kensington. Dr McArthur, S.M., presided. Mr Myers prosecuted, and Mr Skerrett, with him Mr Wilford, appeared for the defendants. The first witness called was William Charles Kensington, Under-Sec-retary for Lands. He related that he had witnessed the accident from the Government Buildings, and on being called to the scene saw his daughter lying on the ground with one of her legs broken, and his wife lying dead. Witness was not cross-examined Alex. Robert Kennedy, Civil Servant, who also witnessed the accident from the Government Buildings, said the pace of the car was considerably faster than the ordinary tramcar. When the engine was near the corner, Mrs Kensington and her two daughters were about 10 or 11 feet on their way across the intersection of the streets. At this time there was no ' indication that the car was going to turn up Bowen Street. The bell was being clanged. Witness saw Mrs Kensington knocked down. A wheel of the car appeared to go over Miss Louisa Kensington. Witness was not competent to say how many miles per hour the car was travelling when - it rounded the cornel*. There was a considerable . amount of foot and vehicular traffic at this spot, which, in his opinion, was a.very dangerous one. Cross-examined by Mr Skerrett: Witness's attention was first called to the motor-engine when it was opposite Dunbar Sloane's chemist shop by the clanging of the bell. The ladies hesitated and turned half round when the car was negotiating the corner. The motor-car must have slowed down considerably from the time he first saw it and when it negotiated the corner. He did not notice any perceptible lessening of speed, but his common-sense told him that it must be so. Witness had heard that the average speed of tramcars between Mee's stopping place and' Charlotte Street was 9 to 10 miles per hour. He did not observe a tramcar overtake the motor engine and pass it just before the accident occurred. At this stage the further hearing of the case, by arrangement between counsel, was adjourned until 2.15 p.m. on Monday.