Ashburton Fatality: Remarkable Evidence at the Inquest: Allegations of Drunkenness: Remarkable evidence was given at the resumed inquest at Ashburton yesterday on Billie Charles Harrington Marsden, aged 42 of 14, Holland-road, Brixton, London. Marsden was killed last Saturday when he was crushed between the lorry he was driving and another lorry belonging to his employers, Messrs. A. W. Meteyard, Langdale-road, Thornton Heath, S.E. The second lorry was driven by Clifford Ridley, Birchanger-road, Woodside Green, London, who was exonerated from blame. A verdict of “Accidental Death” was recorded. Mr. E. Hutchings (Coroner) conducted the inquiry, and Mr. R. J. McGahey represented the employer, Col. R. E. Tucker the widow. Cecil Albert Jackson, King-street, Newton, Abbot, said he was driving a car from Wrangaton to Paignton and passed a lorry between South Brent and Marley Head. It was being driven in proper fashion. Shortly afterwards he came to another lorry which he endeavoured to pass, but the driver pulled out into the middle of the road and would not let him go by. The lorry “wobbled” all over the road, but eventually after about a mile, the witness passed it where the road was wider. In passing, the witness looked at the driver of the lorry who seemed to be drunk, rolling about the cab. There was somebody with him in the cab. I made up my mind to report the matter, “added witness ” and at Buckfastleigh I informed a constable whom I met in the street. He accompanied me to the main road. I drove him in my car and approaching the Half Moon Inn near Ashburton I saw a lorry pull up. We stopped some yards away and saw the driver get out and walk to the rear of the lorry. Another lorry appeared and was pulling up, and the next thing we heard was a crash, and I saw a man fall on the ground. When I got there the man was lying between the two lorries, obviously seriously injured. The coroner: Assuming the second lorry to pull up was in fact the first lorry you passed on the road, was there anything to complain about in the way it was being driven? Witness: Nothing whatever. Col. Tucker: What makes you come to the conclusion that the driver of the second lorry was drunk —The erratic way in which the lorry was driven: Gerald Swain Pincent. The Nook, Tarraway Road, Paignton who was with the previous witness, gave similar evidence. The second lorry they passed was being driven very dangerously.
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Referenced
GRO0366 Devonport: Gerald Swain Pinsent: 1904 – 1993