Person Page - 1876

On August 13, Mary Wintle (57), of St. George's-terrace, Perth, was struck by a motor car driven along the terrace by Richard Everard Calthrop, also of St George's-terrace, and died in the Perth Hospital two days later. An inquiry into the circumstances of her death was held in the Perth Police Court yesterday before the Coroner (Mr. T. Y. A. Lang, P.M.) Sergeant Lynes examined the witnesses. Mr. N. P. Lappin appeared for Calthrop and Mr. W. M. Nairn watched the proceedings for the relatives of the deceased.
Dr. Francis Gordon Stimson, medical registrar at the Perth Hospital, said that the deceased was brought to the hospital on August 13 and died two days later. Death was due to shock and haemorrhage caused through extensive injuries.
Reginald Carew Reid, of Malcolm street, said that at 1.55 p.m. on August 13 he was walking towards the city on the southern footpath of St. George's terrace. Calthrop, who was known to the witness, passed in his car and indicated that he would give the witness a lift. "I waved him on," continued Reid, "and he continued in an easterly direction along the terrace, travelling be tween 10 and 15 miles per hour. The car passed Milligan-street at a slightly higher speed. East of Milligan-street I saw a woman crossing the terrace from north to south. She was about 15ft. from the northern footpath walking at an ordinary rate, when she looked to her right and saw Calthrop's car approach ing. The car swerved to the left and at the same time the woman half-turned to her right and hurried back. She was struck by the right hand front of the car and the front wheels passed over her. I heard no horn sounded either by Calthrop or the driver of the car in front of it. If the woman had gone on or stayed still there would have been no danger from Calthrop's car."
Another eye-witness of the tragedy, Charles Albert Davies, of Mount-street, said that he was standing on the easterly corner of Mount-street and St. George's-terrace when the accident occurred. He noticed a woman standing in the centre of the terrace. A car was travelling eastward along the road at a speed of about 20 miles per hour and a motor truck was coming in the oppo site direction. "I heard a horn sounded," said witness, "but I could not swear from which vehicle it came. The woman looked to her right, saw the car approach ing and tried to regain the northern footpath. She was struck by the front of the car. If she had continued when she was in the centre of the road she would have been safe. She destroyed her chance of avoiding the accident by running back."
Constable Thompson, who was at the scene soon after the accident happened, said that the injured woman said to him, "He did not sound his horn."
Fraser Claude Calthrop, of St. George's terrace, a brother of the driver of the car, said that he was sitting in the front seat next to his brother. He said that he saw the woman step off the footpath and keep looking to her left. When she was in the centre of the road she stopped. His brother sounded his horn and the woman looked towards the car. She half turned to her right and then commenced to run back to the footpath. The driver swerved to the left and applied the brakes, but the front of the car, near the right headlight, struck her and the right front wheel went over her body.
The driver of the car, Richard Calthrop, gave similar evidence to his brother. He said that when he saw the woman stationary near the centre of the road he blew his horn. "She apparently got frightened," he said, "and tried to run back to the kerb. I swerved to the left and applied the brakes, but the car struck her." In his opinion the accident might have been avoided had he not blown his horn. In that case she would probably not have seen the car and he would have been able to pass her.
The Coroner found that the deceased died as the result of injuries received when she was accidentally struck by a motor car. "I find," he added, "that when crossing St. George's-terrace the unfortunate deceased became confused because of the traffic and by her actions deprived the driver of the car of any opportunity of avoiding her."²