FATAL CAR CRASH
Dunedin, Oct. 16. A motor car which is alleged to have been unlawfully converted in the city shortly after 8 o’clock on Saturday night was found some time later at Fairfield almost completely wrecked. The indications are that the car got out of control on a bend and turned over at least twice before coming to rest. Three occupants were taken to Dunedin Hospital and one of them, Robert Edwin Gawne, aged 19, died this afternoon. The condition of the other two was reported to be satisfactory. -Nelson Evening Mail, 17/10/1944.
FATAL ROAD ACCIDENT
MOTORISTS CHARGED
COMMITTED FOR TRIAL
Kenneth Noel Wilson, an hotel porter, aged 19, was charged before Mr J. R. Bartholomew S.M., in the Police Court this morning with having recklessly driven a car on the Main South road at Fairfield on October 14 thereby causing the death of Robert Edwin Gawne. A further charge of unlawful conversion of a car valued at £200, the property of Robert Cassels Glendening, was preferred against the accused. The charges were taken together. Mr E. J. Anderson appeared for the accused and Sir W. J. Sleade watched the proceedings on behalf of the mother of Robert Edwin Gawne.
Dr E. F. D'Ath described the nature of the injuries on the body of Robert Edwin Gawne, of which witness had made a post mortem examination. Witness was of the opinion that deceased had died from compression of the brain, produced by extra-dural haemorrhage, resulting from the fracture of the skull. The injuries were consistent with having been received in a motor car smash. Dr A. D. G. Blanc said he had been called to the scene of the accident, and there found a car standing by the side of the road. The deceased was lying a few feet from the car and was deeply unconscious. Witness went to a nearby house, and there saw a man named Tobin, who was suffering from lacerations and other injuries. Later this man and the deceased were conveyed to the Hospital in an ambulance. Dr I. L. G. Hutchison said that he had seen the deceased when the latter was in the Hospital, and noted a strong smell of alcohol in the breath. He did not regain consciousness and died on October 16. Witness had also examined the accused, who was suffering from slight injuries. Constable W. Devine, of Green Island, described the marks observed by him on the road in the vicinity of the car where it had been found. The back number of the car, which was extensively damaged, was obscured. The marks indicated that a vehicle had been travelling at high speed. Witness had found a fountain pen (produced) in the car.
Adam J. Houliston, surveyor, and Constable George Claridge, police photographer, gave formal evidence. Robert Cassels Glendining, a pastrycook, the owner of the car concerned, deposed that at 8.15 p.m. on October 14 he had parked the car in the vicinity of the Regent Theatre. He had removed the ignition key, but left the doors unlocked. When he returned at 10.40 p.m. the car was not there. On October 16, when witness examined the car, it was extensively damaged and an extra battery was missing.
COMPANION'S EVIDENCE.
Verdon Joseph Tobin, a labourer, aged 17, said he met the accused at the Regent pictures on October 14. During the interval accused had asked witness and Gawne to go for a ride in his car. They got into a car, and accused drove it away and out along the Main South road. On the way out accused had said he wanted a smoke, and witness had leaned across and steadied the wheel for him. Later the car was turned round and driven by accused back towards town. The speed of the car on the way out had been " kind of reckless." On the way back and approaching the bend, accused had said he would "try the car out." They rounded the corner at a fair speed, about 40 to 50 miles an hour. The car got out of control and turned over, once or twice witness thought, and witness was knocked out of it. He found himself on the side of the road. He got up and saw Gawne near by and Wilson a short distance away. Witness spoke to accused, who told him to get out and that he would get up when he was ready. Witness went to a nearby house and asked the inmates to send for a doctor. One eventually came, and witness and Gawne were taken to the Hospital. Witness had not driven the car at any stage. He had thought the car belonged to accused, whom he knew only casually. The car was not stopped oh the journey until it capsized.
To Sir Anderson: Witness did not hold a driving license, but had driven a car.
To Mr Meade: Witness had not expected to see Gawne outside the theatre; the latter had iust come along.
Arthur Wimpenny, insurance adjuster, assessed the damage to the car at £86 15s.
DENIAL BY ACCUSED.
Detective J. Marshall said that he and Detective-sergeant Gibson had interviewed accused at the hospital. Accused had made a verbal statement and afterwards a written statement. In the latter the accused had said that he, Tobin, and Gawne had agreed to go for a ride in the Morris car after Tobin had asked him whether he could start certain other cars which were parked near by. Accused had driven the Morris as far as the bottom of the hill at Lookout Point, when he had exchanged seats with Tobin, who then took the wheel. On the way out the car had nearly been over, and on taking the bend coming back Tobin must have pulled the wheel over too far, and the next accused remembered he was out on the road. The cause of the accident had been the excessive speed at which the car had been driven by Tobin, who was not an experienced driver. Accused had complained to Tobin about the speed shortly before the accident. Tobin had told him that he had been involved previously in an accident to a car; which he had driven at 60 miles per hour.
This concluded the evidence and the accused, who pleaded not guilty, was committed for trial at the Supreme Court. Bail was fixed on the conversion charge at self in £200 and one suretv of £200 or two of £100; and on the other charge at self in £200.
CORONER'S VERDICT.
Mr Bartholomew's verdict as coroner at the inquest on the body of Robert Edwin Gawne, which was held concurrently with the hearing of the charges, was in accordance with the medical evidence. -Evening Star, 22/11/1944.
Kenneth Noel Wilson went to trial, admitting the theft of the car but claiming that he was not the driver at the time of the fatal crash.
PRISONERS SENTENCED
YOUTH SENT TO BORSTAL
CONVERSION OF CAR. On a charge of unlawfully converting a motor car, Kenneth Noel Wilson, aged 20, hotel porter (Mr E. J. Anderson) was sentenced to be detained in a Borstal institution for two years.
Counsel said the probation officer's report made sorry reading for a person of the prisoner's age. It was a difficult and peculiar case. Wilson was extremely trustworthy in money matters and had taken part in church activities. He had been passed as fit for military service. He had an inordinate desire for motor vehicles, and he seemed to have unusual mechanical capabilities. Although undisciplined in his attitude to motor cars, he might, in a suitable environment, become a useful citizen.
His Honour said the prisoner had a long record of dishonesty, chiefly in the unlawful conversion of motor cars. At the time of his offence he was actually on probation for theft, on condition that he did not drive a motor car without consent. His Honour said he put aside the fatal results of the conversion of the car, but when all was said he had had every possible chance and had not taken advantage of it. He was impressed by what counsel had said, and if the prisoner profited from his stay in the Borstal the solution of his troubles might lie along the lines suggested. -Evening Star, 9/2/1945.
No comments:
Post a Comment