Wollaston Farmer in Police Court Sequel - Licence Endorsed

  There was a sequel to an accident at the Oakley cross-roads, the Rushden danger point, at Wellingborough Petty Sessions  on Friday.  A young farmer, Fred Augustus Claude Tarry, of Nene Farm, Wollaston, was summoned for driving a motor car in a manner dangerous to the public, and for not having efficient brakes, at Rushden on October 20^th.

Trapped Inside

  Defendant, who was represented by Mr. Warwick James, Wellingborough, pleaded not guilty to both charges.

  Lt.-Col. Herbert Wm. Stovell (retired), electrical engineer, living temporarily in Wellingborough-road, Rushden, said he was driving his car towards Wellingborough about 8.30 in the morning, and as he approached the cross-roads at the “Oakley Arms” his speed was about 20 miles an hour.  He sounded his horn, but heard no response, and proceeded across.

  He was nearly across when a car came at speed from the direction of Irchester.  He accelerated to try and avoid it, but it struck the rear offside of his car.

  His car was knocked into a tree, and he and his wife were trapped inside it.  They were fortunate to escape with cuts and bruises.

Pushed On Its Side

  The car was pushed on its side, and passers-by helped to right it.  The tree prevented it being knocked right over.  The windows were smashed, and the wheel and mudguard were damaged by the collision.

  Replying to Mr. Warwick James, witness said he automatically slowed down from 20 miles an hour as he approached the cross-roads, after sounding his horn.

  Mr. Warwick James: Your car was not so damaged that it could not be driven? – Yes, we had to put the spare wheel on to drive it away.

  Have you any idea of the pace Tarry was going? – I should say at least 25 miles an hour.

  When did you first see him? – When he was about 10 feet from me.

  Did the police test your brakes at all? – No.

  I put it to you that the speed you were going caused your car to turn over? – No.

  Supt. Jones: If Mr. Tarry had been coming at a reasonable speed he would have had plenty of opportunity to avoid you? – Yes.

Knocked Across The Road

  Frederick Oliver Clark, clerk, Irchester-road, Rushden, said he was standing outside a shop near the cross-roads when he saw a red saloon car travelling towards Wellingborough at about 15 miles an hour.  The hooter was sounded, and when the car was half-way across another car came from the direction of Irchester.

  The driver of the red car tried to avoid him, but the other car hit it, and knocked it across the road into a tree.

  Mr. Warwick James: In what way did the driver of the red car try to avoid the other? – By swerving.

  P.C. Dale (Rushden) said Col. Stovell told him: “I was driving straight across when this car came across and hit me.”  Defendant said: “I didn’t see him.”

  The constable said there was a skid mark from defendant’s car.  He went in defendant’s car, and at 25 miles an hour the car stopped in 23 yards with the footbrake, and in 10 yards with both brakes.

“Brakes Caused Skid”

  In a subsequent statement at Rushden Police Station, defendant said he was driving his father’s car from Irchester to Rushden, and when travelling at about 15 miles an hour he skidded on applying his brakes when he saw another car at the cross-roads.

  Mr. Warwick James: Did you try the brakes of the other car? – P.C. Dale: No.

  Why? – It was taken to a garage for repairs.

  Defendant, in the witness box, said he applied his brakes as soon as he saw the other car, but his car skidded 16 feet, in the course of which he hit the other car.

  Mr. Warwick James: Was he going faster than you? – Yes, much.

  Has it been necessary to do anything to the brakes of your car? – No.  They are just as they were after the accident.

  Replying to Supt. Jones, defendant admitted that one of his wheels locked when he applied his brakes, but said in his opinion the brakes were in order.

  Thomas H. Joyce, furniture warehouseman, Irchester, said Tarry gave him a lift.  At the crossing defendant was travelling at 15 miles an hour, and sounded his horn.

His First Offence

  Supt. Jones: Did you hear any other hooter sounded? – No.

  Mr. Warwick James: You didn’t see the other car until it was right in front? - No.

  Mr. Warwick James submitted that there was no evidence that Tarry was responsible for the accident more than the other motorist.  It was the first time he had been before a court.

  The Bench convicted, and imposed a fine of £2 with 14s. costs in the first case, and a fine of £1 in the second.

  Defendant’s licence was endorsed.