Two Lorries In a Big Crash: Ashburton Inquiry: Remarkable evidence of the results of a dispute between two lorry drivers 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 near Ashburton last Saturday, when he was crushed between the lorry he was driving and another lorry belonging to his own employers, Messrs. A. W. Meteyard, Langdale Road, Thornton Heath. The second lorry was driven by Clifford Ridley, Birchanger Road, Woodside Green, London, who was exonerated from blame. It was stated that deceased and another driver were under the influence of drink. A verdict of “Accidental Death” was recorded: Would Not Let Him Pass: Mr. E. Hutchings, coroner, conducted the inquiry, and Mr. R. J. McGahey represented the employer, and Col. R. E. Tucker the widow. Cecil Albert Jackson, King Street, Newton Abbot, said while driving a car from Wrangaton to Paignton he passed a lorry between South Brent and Marley Head. It was being driven in a proper fashion and was going in the same direction as he was. Shortly afterwards he came upon another lorry, which he endeavored to pass, but the driver pulled out into the middle of the road and would not let him go by. It wobbled all over the road, but after about a mile witness passed it, and in doing so looked at the driver, who appeared to be drunk, and was rolling about in the cab. Gerald Swain Pinsent, Tarraway Road, Paignton, who was with the previous witness considered the second lorry they passed was driven very dangerously. Harry Steere, Plymouth, said he stopped at the London Hotel, South Brent, and noticed two lorries outside. In the bar he found the two drivers, who, in his opinion were both under the influence of drink. Deceased went out in the passage and used disgusting language and knocked off his friend’s had on several occasions. Witness left the hotel an eventually found a policeman, who he asked to stop the lorries being driven, as he was afraid there might be an accident. Walter Rowland, Dean Prior, said he was sitting in his house when he saw a lorry stop on the wrong side of the road, another following. The driver of the second lorry, who was in court, leaned out and asked witnesses’ children fo some flowers, which they gave him. The deceased, alighting from his vehicle, picked up a bucket filled it with water, staggered across the road and threw it over the steering wheel and the driver of the other lorry, who did not even speak. Going To Fight: William Steer, of Wrangaton, a steam roller driver, said at the Kingsbridge Road Hotel, the two drivers offered him a drink, and he was invited to go for a ride. He accepted and rode with deceased. The Coroner: How did he drive? Quite all right, so far as I could see. Did anything unusual happen? No. What was the driver’s condition? He seemed in a fit state to drive. When they arrived at the Half Moon Inn, Ashburton, outside which the driver was killed, deceased said that he was going to fight the other lorry driver and took off his coat. The Coroner: Why did you not tell the police in your statement that the man wanted to fight? In your statement you give the impression that he was perfectly sober. Were you trying to hide anything? Witness: I don’t want to hide anything. He admitted that the driver put his arms around his neck. The Coroner: It is greatly to be regretted that when you knew he wanted to fight that you didn’t take his arm and try to lead him away. Constable Gould, who saw the accident, said when the vehicles collided there was a tremendous crash. After the driver got out, he acted in a very distracted and excitable manner and said: “I have killed him. Look at my radiator. My God, what can Ido? Let me cry.” Dr. S. W. Williams said that death was due to internal injuries and took place on the way to hospital. In his opinion the other driver was not incapable of driving through the influence of alcoholic liquors. Ridley said he was returning from Plymouth to London. The tow lorries left together at 12 noon. They had a drink each, witness having a point of beer and his companion a bottle of cider. About 2 o’clock they had some ham and deceased took a nip of whiskey in his tea. They went to Wrangaton sports, where deceased tried to hire a bicycle for the dirt track racing. He tried one and rode up and down the road, and then witness found him lying in the roadway. He complained of pains in the head, and shortly after fell down again. Later, at the Kingsbridge Road Hotel, deceased was dazed. They met William Steere, about whose neck deceased put his arms there. They stayed about 30 minutes and then proceeded to South Brent, where they remained about 20 minutes. NO Offence Taken: Witness next saw deceased at Dean Prior and when the pail of water was thrown over him, rather than take offence, he drove away. The lorries also stopped near Bourne Bridge, Dean Prior, and the next witness saw the other lorry was when it was stationary outside the Half Moon Inn. Deceased was leaning against the rear. Witness, in applying his hand brake, slightly released his foot clutch, which moved the lorry about 3 feet farther that he intended, thus crushing deceased. No other fellow-employee of deceased would go out with him, owing to his quarrelsome nature. Mr. McGahey: Were you perfectly sober? Witness: Yes, absolutely. The Coroner said in his summing up that the action of the witness William Steer, who was with the deceased just before he was killed, was to be deeply regretted. He knew the driver was drinking and admitted that when he got to the fatal spot, he knew deceased was going to fight but went int the inn to get him a drink. When if he had only been wise enough, he would have asked him to go inside. It was a most reprehensible thing. The Jury expressed appreciate of the way in which Constable Gould had given his evidence, and also considered that the witness William Steer’s conduct was highly reprehensible.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0366 Devonport: Gerald Swain Pinsent: 1904 – 1993