MOTOR-CAR PROSECUTIONS. TH'S VISIBILITY OF IDENTIFICA. TION NUMBERS.
At the Hongkong 31agistracy, yester day, before Mr. J. R. Wood, several
Moorcr
illuminated!
cuted.
TAM HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST Bier,' 1918.
The chauffeur of ear No. 129. was next charged,
Crown land and for the removal of the boulder referred to.
MORRISON ROAD FATALITY IMPORTANT RIDER BY THE JURY.
BUILDING ACTÅORITY AGAIN KXAMINED, Staff Inspector Eldridge. H.K.P.. (R.),
THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS
Mr. A. E. Wright, Building Authority, said he was on duty near the P.W.D.,
RESPONSIBILITIES. -
was then revilled. . He was asked by the offices in Lower Albert Road on July
nd at 8.43 p.m.. when he saw motor. At the Hongkong Magistracy, yester Foreman-Are there any other reports; owners and drivers were car No. 128 Proceeding west, driven by charged with failing to have the identi- defendans. Just as it passed witness he day, Mr. E. D. C. Wolfe, in his capacity nord similar to this -Witness: I Sention numbers it the rear of their cars stopped the car under orders from the as Corner, concluded the inquiry into know of two cases, where some corres D).S.P. (R.), who was also present. They the circumstances surrounding the deathspondence, has taken place: one was men- examined the rear of the car along with of four persons, who were killed entioned yesterday. They were "both in Mr. F. C. Jenkin, D.S.P. (R.), prose; } defendant and found only one light. The August 4th as a resultof a rock-slide in 1916, and in each case the owner or his Mr. Monteith Webh was summoned, in under plate on the ear was not properly Morrison Hill Road,“.
illuminated. The light was in arder, but The jury consisted respect of car Nok 138.
Sergenne Bullock stated that on July the number plate was net placed in such Fothergili, C. Rumjahn and J. 27th, at 0.10 p.m., he was on duty in Lower a position as to enable the light to reflect Xavier. Albert Real. He noticed a car, driven on it. by Mr. Wehl, going east, and he stopped on instructions. The light was quite good, but the figures are the plate appear ed be placed at such an angle that the light could not shine on them. It played.
Witness the whole plate. dimly over stond at about three yards behind the ear. and could read the numbers faintly.
it.
A
Mr. Jenkia: You had some conversation with Mr. Wibh on the mätter ?Witness
Yes.
Mr. Webb: I think Sergeant Bullock said that the plate was turned at an angle away from the light.
}
Defendant said he thought the light was "all right. The number.plate might have been displaced as a result of the vibrations of the car.
Inspector Garrud, mid that same time ago the men were wamed and the order was carried out for some time. Then the men became careless. It was the duty of the owners and the chauffeurs to inspect the number-plates and see, that everything was in order.
ME. Wood fined defendant $10,
of Miss
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representative wrote to the Government A.about the danger of slips, and in each the Director of Public Works replied that እዝ.
the Government accepted no responsibili- Me. George Watt. Revenue Officer, saidy in the matter, but that every` facility that he was in the opium factory when would be given to the owners to make Mr. Baker's little girl came running up their premises, safe by removing boulders The Corner: Would the Government and told him that the house had color otherwise lapsed. He ran across and saw that the back portion of four houses had come renove the boulders! -Witness: down.
He went into No. 19, and saw the owners would have to do so, at their STAMPED woman pinned under the debris. In own expense. I have never seen the cas a few minutes Inspector Sim and be got respondense to which Mr. Fothergill had In 1905 I was not in my the woman out alive! He then went into just referred. No. 20. on hearing noises coming from the cook-houses On close examination. Печа
the hair of a woman's head through the fallen bricks, and with the
No,
resent position. "The Coroner asked the jury to note- that in the instance Mr. Fothergilt re- ferred to the owner had written in the":
The chauffeur of car Nr. 183 was then assistance of some Reserve constables,strain he did because he feared an imme. charged
got the wogian out. She was not serious.diate slip.
1918
BRITISH MADE
1918
TENNIS BALLS STAMPED (EVERY BALL GUARANTEED FRESH)
FOR
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have been turned. Both the light and the similar procedure in the present case to witness assisted in recovering the remains real steps been taken to rectify this can. TENNIS NETS. POSTS AND COURT MARKERS.
in Lower
Sergt. Bullock: I said it appeared to be,
The Foreman: On the part of the Mr. Webb xaid that it was impossible!
y injured and was attended to by a Inspector Eldridge said he fallowed a on that occasion for the number-plaze to).
| Chinese doctor on the spot. A little later Government or owners of land, have any plate were fixed to one bar, which was af that in the previous one.
Mr. Jenkin said he straight bar. The light was parallel to the number plate. He did not get down! Allyrt Hond- when the car passed very Lo examine the light along with Sergeant slowly at a distance of seven feet. Bullock because he was in a hurry. He however, could not see the number, admitted that the figure 1" was not Defendant said that when he left the quite se distinct as it might have beg, garage the lamp was clear, but after
were distinct..
they had proveeded some distance the light became blurred owing to the dust.
but and
Mr. Ballock replied, that, they were dily illuminated. If it was not a dark place que might have been able to read the figure It would have been possible in the city. He did not think he could have! read the number of the ear if he was standing ten yards away
Mr. Wood: I suppose
light?
it
was an electric
Atc. Webb: Yes. Sergt. Bullock: The light was good hut
it did not reflect on the figures.
Mr. Wood: Did you notice the bar Mr. Webb speaks - Witness: No.
Ar. Webb: There is a bar on every cat, Mr. Jenkin said he was not able to distinguish the number. nuke out the Agure 8."
Hr.
THE ONLY SURVIVOR
of a woman from under the ruins of No.dition of affairs, and to secure the houses 16. He remained on the scene till p.m. from falling boulders or landslips? Wit-
ness: I cannot give a definite answer Cheh Yin Cheng, the only occupant of To the best of my knowledge nothing has No. 16 who escaped, snick that shortly been done! There is one small matter – after 10 am, she was preparing a media buttress I mentioned yesterday--but I in the kitchen, when her mother, who was am not sure whether that was done by standing outside. suddenly shouted that the Government. To the best of my know- something was falling down the hill-side. {ledge no serious work has been rader. Witness went out to look at it, and saw taken by the Government; certainly not.
A bouldeyecently, I m not sure that the Govern the boulders rolling down.
Mr, Jenkin said it was a dry night. Inspector-Garrod observed that the ear was a new one and such an excuse should not be entertained. It was the duty off crushed into the back of the house. All ment did erect the buttress under the the doors in the house were closed, but boulder at the rear of No. 26, Morrison
Hill Road. It was not done by my De- | @ she forord one open" and got ontajde through the passage-way.
She Yorked partient. There was some talk that it should be done.. If it had been done by private owners; it would have come to my knowledge.
the chauffeur to keep hin lamps clean.
Mr. Wood fined defendint 210,
The chauffeur of ear No. 51 pleaded back to find her mother, but all she could guilty to the offence-
ses was a big mass of debris,
P. A67 related how he assisted Revenue Officer Watt to recover the in- jured persons.
Inspector Eldridge said this was the worst case of all. No lights could be seen even at a distance of six feet.
Mr. Wood fined defendant $10."
PAST HISTORY RECALLED.
The Foreman (Mr. Fothergill) said he The chauffeur of car No. 131 pleaded had before him some previous core
D
He could only guilty and was fined in,
He thought at
the time that the number of the ear was
***98."
1.
pondence between certain parties the the subject of Lot No. 1527 "on"
out.
The Foreman: Is there any intention on the part of the Government to carry immediately, an inspection of Morrison Hill, and to take measures to safeguard life and property at the font
So far as I of the hill-Witness: know, there is no such intention. I can.
In the case of ear No. 10. Inspector northern slopes of Morrison Hill. The not speak for the Government. Garrod applied for a remand, as, the correspondense referred to the dangers
Mr. Webb: Mradenkin, you were stand driver, who was employed by the Exile from boulders and landslips. He readence read it would seem that the Govern
ing near the P.W.D,1
Mn Jenkin: Yes; under the entrance to the Colonial Secretary's office,
Mr. Webb When 1 approached, you
- were nowhere near the porch.
Garage, bad left for Shanghai. A remand was arcordingly granted.
The chauffeur, of car No. 61 was next
The Coroner: From the correspond-
th letters touching от
previous menc disclaimed all onus accident. The following is a précis p the correspondencei--
th
:
The first letter, dated June 6th, 1903, was from a local architect to the D.P.W.
The Foreman: Absolutely. Un the point raised by the Coroner as to whether the land from which the Crown land. Mr. boulders fell was
Sergeant Bullock, H.K.P. (B.), said in It said that a small landslip had taken Wright expressed the opinion that it was. this case the light was dim, only a portion place at the rear of Nos. 161 and 163.c said he had given every facility 'to!
Судети to remove boulders and Had
Mr. Jenkin Is that so I did not charged... leave the parch. I stood under the porch; between the two pillars. ...Mr. Webb: You had two other men of the number-plate being visible. Yes, two runners.",
Defendant said the car was going down boulder projecting, and the Government ways nude inspections of particular Mr. Webb; I submit that you cannot the hill slowly, as a result of which the was asked to have the site inspected and boulders when naked to do so.
N
distinguish the light from the position in which you were standing and also owing to the vibration of the cur. It was only when 1 got some distance away that you were able to focus that number. I also believe. Mr. Jenkin, that your eyes are not a good as they ought to be.
Mr. Jenkin: You can examine them if you like.
Mr. Webb: You are wearing glasses.
electric current had been lessened.
Mr. Wood fined defendant $10.
NOT SOUNDING. THE HORN."
Four cases were heard in which the
chauffeurs of cars Nos. 38, 120, 132, and 134 were charged with not sounding their horns at Pokfulum Road. ¡
Wanchai Road. There was another large
the danger removed.
The Government replied on June 8th, 1903 that the danger had been created by the lessee of a neighbouring lot cutting away the hill in order to level his land, and the Government was advised that the onus of making safe the face of the bill rested on the person who complained.
should be done.
The Coroner said that the jury would have no difficulty in saying how the four persoas met with their deatha. The jary had, however, to consider whether there was any gross negligence, such as might be termed culpable negligence. on the part of age person. The question of who was responsible was a matter which could not be settled in Court, but it would be The owner then wrote to the DP.Wreasonable, if the jury thought that Mr. Jenkin: Yes, I was wearing them,
Inspector Garrod stated that he did not
on June 19th, 1903, that he did not think steps should be taken by the Government, at the time. I have to use glasses for close wish to press the charge in regard to car he should be held indefinitely responsible to say so. Then the Government would reading, but not for out-door work. I am No. 9. He explained that while he was for the preservation of the hill. Extreme doubtless consider whether anything
on duty at Pokfulum Road be sometimes supposed to have excellent sight.
Mr. Webb: But you
were wearing heard the echo of a motor-horn, sometimes danger prevailed along the boundary of the houses adjoining his lct, as several
THE VINDICT. it was not audible although blown by a glasses, Mr. Jenkin?
The jury brought in a verdict as fol- Mr. Jenkin As an extra precaution, chauffeur. He asked the Magistrate to tons of loose earth might fall at any time if there should be another heavy
lows:-We, the jury, and that the deccas- Mr. Webb, I used them at the time. warn the men,
rainfall. There were indications of lagd met their deaths as the result of the bad two other men there and we compared
cracks on the hillside, and should any landslip, which occurred on the 4th of the boulders projecting ip most criti: August, 1918, at about 10 am eat positions fall, the responsibility should
We do not attribute these deaths to any rest with the Government. He feared
person's
To negligence. that there would be a huge collapse in
We strongly recommend that imme the near future, and asked for the
diate steps bo taken by the Government inspection of the locality. He believed that the Government should attend to the inspect Morrison Hill with a view to guard the interests of the owners from the removal or securing of any dangerous possible damages arising from, the fall boulders in order to give safety to the of boulders, which at that moment were occupants of the bones situated at the
foot of the hill. a standing menace to life and property throughout the whole length of Wanchai
notes. I used the same eyes in the case
of Mr. Webb's ear as in the case of the other cars. I could not see the number on Mr. Webb's caf at all It was not run-] ning away it was going slowly; so that with those favourable conditiona might have seen the number if the light was not lessened.
Sr. Wood adjourned the cas concern ing car No. 95 line die, and cautioned the
other defendants. "
́SERVICES' ÉNTERTAINMENT
FUND.
Air. Wehb: Can you remember how far fully acknowledges the following monthle "removal of the fallen débris and anfe.the prevention of further landslips, also
you were from my car?
The Treasurer of the above fund grute. subscriptions, for the period ended 19th
Mr. Jenkin replied that he was about August- eight feet away from the car..
F. Greig $15 Aug,, to Oct., 1918. M. Webb: In the regulations no dis- T. Arthur, 30 Aug. to Jan., 1819. tance is given.
Why did you stand 8HW. Looker ... 10 feet away,
A. Jenkin replied that it was his own iden. -
Mr. Webb submitted that Mr. Jenkin was standing & feet away. He also said. flint he had his number.plate repainted two months ago and had it cleaned every day. He further submitted that the full- number-138-was discernible...
...
Mr. Wood and Mr. Webb could not expect anyone to come to the middle of the road. Mr. Jenkin took up the best post
tion he was able to..
Mr. Webb replied that Mr. Jenkin could
have seen the number.
Mr. Wood fined Mr. Webb $10.
#M.B." "Anoo"
10.
10
Total
滞する
#
up to Morrison Hill Road.
The D.P.W, wrote on June 13th in HONGKONG TRAMWAY CO., LTD. reference to a previous conversation, that
The approximate, statement, ef trafic all that was required to be done was to construct a channet further back from acepta for the week ending 17th August the edge of the cutting and to remove lame follow
eceipts Aggregate
for
All of you who never told a lie raise, boulder at the south-west that threatened your hands," said the teacher to her to become dangerous. The D.F.W. said
he was unable to undertake this wo
"work; This" but was prepared to issue à permit for
small pupils.
"Please, teacher," piped little Jimmie.
is it a lie if nobody finds out?"
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