William George Seddon Parker 1906(?)-22/10/1936

TRUCK DRIVER FACES SERIOUS CHARGES

GIRL COMPANION’S REMARKABLE STORY

[Per Press Association. — Copyright .] INVERCARGILL, This Day. A sequel to a fatality on the main road near Woodlands on October 22 in which a motor cyclist lost his life was heard in the Invercargill Police Court yesterday when Charles Michael Hughes, truck driver, of Gore, was charged with negligent driving causing death and with failing to give all practicable assistance to a person hurt in an accident. The motor cyclist who was killed was William George Seddon Parker, of Mataura. 

It was stated in evidence by a girl, aged 16, whose name was suppressed, that she was a passenger with accused in the truck on the night of the accident. They saw a motor cycle approach. The truck was travelling on its correct side. Witness said the motor cycle would be nearer the middle of the road. She did not know anything had happened until she heard the roar of the cycle. She looked through the window, and saw sparks from the cycle. She could not say whether either vehicle swerved after the impact. 

“I’ll Get Five Years.” 

Witness said she got out of the truck and saw a man lying on of the road. Accused was in the truck at the time. He did not say anything to her when he the truck. Deceased’s head was on the left side of the road. His legs were pointing towards the cycle. The engine was roaring, and accused stopped it. They ran back to the truck and went away to Dipton. Before they left, continued witness, she told Hughes it would be best to report the matter. He said: “If you do that I’ll get five years.” 

Accused told her, she said, to tell anybody who asked questions that they were on the Kelvin road instead of East Road, and that they were to attend a dance at Winton. Neither she nor accused looked at the lorry. They went to Dipton and both stayed the night there. 

The next morning they went on to Gore, arriving at 11.30 a.m. On the way back from Dipton they called at Donald McDonald’s at Gore, where accused left the truck. Accused later told her he had changed trucks, and told her the difference between the trucks. He said one had white on it and the other had not. Accused told her she had to keep low. The police called to see her about 2 o’clock in the morning.

Nineteen other witnesses for the prosecution gave evidence.

Accused pleaded not guilty to each charge and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was refused.  -Northern Advocate, 31/10/1936.

VERDICT OF GUILTY.

Motorist Causes Death Of Cyclist.

Press Association —Copyright. Invercargill, Last Night. 

A verdict of guilty was returned by the jury at the retrial to-day of Charles Michael Hughes, who was charged with negligently driving a motor vehicle on the main Invercargill-Dunedin highway at Woodlands on October 2, thereby causing the death of William George Seddon Parker. At the first trial last week the jury disagreed. The jury retired at 4.40 p.m. and returned at 7.15 p.m. and asked the court if it would be consistent to bring in a verdict of guilty and add a rider that there was contributory negligence on the part of the cyclist. Mr. Justice Kennedy said that contributory negligence on the part of the person killed was no defence. It was not inconsistency to add a rider expressing the opinion that there was contributory negligence to a verdict of guilty. The jury retired and within a few minutes returned with a verdict of guilty. Hughes will be sentenced on Wednesday.  -Stratford Evening Post, 10/11/1936.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.