Buntingford Petty Sessions
Friday last, before Sir Charles Heaton-Ellis (in the Chair), Captain H.H. Williams and Claud Fraser, Esq.
Sequal to a Fog Mishap [original article]
Eric Lancelot Routh, of East Hoathley, Sussex, was summoned by the Police for driving a motor car in a manner dangerous to the public, at Buckland on 14th February, 1927.
The defendant, who pleaded not guilty, was defended by Mr Walter Frampton, jun., instructed by Messrs. Lloyd and Armstrong, of London, W.C.
Edward Ellis Mildren, of Buckland House, Buckland, said on 14th February he took four bullocks to Buntingford Market, he drove them back to Buckland during the afternoon, leaving Buntingford at 2.45 p.m.
Between Chipping and Buckland he heard a car approaching from the direction of Buckland. There was a thick fog at the time, and he was unable to see more than 20 or 30 yards. He put up his hands for the car to stop, and called out to a boy who was ahead of the bullocks to do the same.
The witness then tried to get the bullocks on one side, but as the car did not appear to pull up, he jumped into the hedge; as he did so he heard the car crash into one of the bullocks which was carried down the road about 40 yards.
Witness went down and helped to get the bullock from underneath the car, and after staggering for some yards, the bullock fell down and had to be slaughtered.
In answer to Supt. Wright witness said the weight of the bullock was approximately 12 cwt. It was foggy all the way from Buntingford.
Cross-examined by Mr Frampton: The car was on its right side.
William A. Sell, a lad of 15, in the employ of Mr Mildren, said he was in front of the bullocks when he heard a car approaching. He saw a car through the fog, and the next instant it hit one of the bullocks and knocked it along the ground. It was a very foggy afternoon.
Police Constable Williams said he received a message to the effect that a car had collided with a bullock in Chipping. He went to the scene of the accident where he saw an Essex Six car on the near-side of the road. He measured a skid mark which was 156 feet long. The width of the road at the spot where the car was alleged to have hit the bullock was 20 feet.
Cross-examined: The car too up about 9ft. 9in. of the road, leaving 10ft. 3in. to the good.
P.S. Dean, of Buntingford, said the defendant reported to him that he had hit a bullock on the road near Chipping; the defendant stated at the time that his speed was about 20 m.p.h.
The defendant, an Ex-Army Capt. with the M.C. and bar, said he was returning from Huntingdon on 14th February. As he was nearing Chipping, he ran into a mist which grew thicker.
He saw some cattle ahead, and instantly applied his brakes; he felt the front wheels of the car skid, and he found that it was impossible to avoid hitting one of the beasts which strayed across the road. His speed at the time was between 20 and 30 m.p.h. He paid a man to tow the car off the bullock.
Addressing the Bench, Mr Frampton said it was most difficult to judge the speed of a car coming towards you. There was a bank about 2 ft. high on the near-side of the road, and had Capt. Routh chosen this instead of the bullock, it might have led to more disastrous results. The owner of the bullock had been compensated for its loss.
The magistrates retired, and on returning, the Chairman said in their opinion it was a suitable case for the police to have brought forward; the evidence, however, did not lead them to the conclusion that there was sufficient evidence to convict.
The Bench wished to say that proper precautions were taken by the driver of the bullocks. It was one of those deplorable accidents which were difficult to evade in a thick fog.
School Attendance
Charles Glasscock, of Baldock Road, Buntingford, was summoned for not causing Joseph Wick to attend school regularly.
The attendance officer, Mr B.E. Thody, stated that the child had made 81 out of 96 attendances. The chairman said that an attendance order would be made.
Dog Licenses
Applications for exemption from dog licenses were considered and granted.
A Lady and Justice
The Chairman said that a letter had been received from Mrs Edis to the effect that she wished to speak from the Market Hill on the subject of Justice.
The Chairman said he was afraid it was not a matter for the magistrates to deal with, but perhaps the Police would look into the lady's request.