THE CHRISTCHURCH MOTOR FATALITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2660, 16 November 1909, Page 5

THE CHRISTCHURCH MOTOR FATALITY.

“NO BILL” RETURNED AGAINST

THE DRIVER

| Pun Brush Association.! CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 15. At the Supreme Court to-day no bill was returned in the case against W. A. Humphreys, charged with manslaughter, arising out of the recent motor car fatality in which Captain Pavitt was killed, the voting being 9 to 9. The grand jury examined witnesses for the defence as well as those for the prosecution, the names of all being (placed on the back of the indictment. In the case against AY. A. Humphreys, alleged manslaughter, His Honor Justice Dcnniston, addressing the Grand Jury at the Supreme Court today, said that the circumstances which led to the charge did not indicate any presumption of criminality on the part of accused. AVhat was necessary was to prove that the collision was consequent on misconduct, and the misconduct alleged was that intoxication reduced him to a condition making him unfit to pmperly drive the car, and that as a consequence he drove at an unreasonable speed. The duty of the grand jury was to decide if there was a prima facie ease in support of these allegations. The jury must confine themselves to the evidence heard in the grand jury room, and ignore all other information bearing on the case. They must also avoid allowing any sympathy with the family to influence them, or the painful position of the young man.