Western Gazette - 22 APr 1927 edition
This contained a report on the trial of Thomas Brown, motor driver, for driving a motor lorry to the danger of the public.
In this it was said that Eliza(sic) Hann was between hers and her neughbours front step and had been scrubbing her step when Brown's lorry skidded across the road and knocked her over, ripping off her apron in the process. She then went to her neighbour's (Mrs Abbott's) to seek help and a doctor was called for.
Mrs Lily Hammon stated that the milk lorry belonging yo Messrs Newbery & Sons appeared to be goning very fast and the churns were rattling. It then skidded to the right and hit Mrs Hann. After retrieving the apron and bucket she then went to Mrs Abbott's to assist her until a doctor arrived.
George Hann testified that he was called home and saw skid marks about fourteen feet flong that went to about nine inches from his front step.
PC Blackmore stated that he and PS Padfield went to Misterton to investigate and whilst waiting saw the defendant driving his lorry at a speed. This evidence was objected to and the objection was sustained.
The defendant was signalled to stop and when questioned said the he was returning from Crewkerne to Bull Ring Farm in Misterton and was going about eight miles per hour when the lorry skidded across the road and hit Mrs Hann. He did not know what had caused the skid, nor the further skid having his Mrs Hann.
The defence thereby claimed that there was no case to answer but the magistrates decided there was a case to answer so the defendat was called.
In his evidence he re-iterrated his previous statement claiming he was going between eight and ten miles and hour and that the road was greasy and he had started to skid before he could apply the brake. This evidence was corroborated by Miss Hannah Bowditch who also said that the hooter had been sounded.
Ex-PC Mansfield whose daughter Mrs Legg ran the shop opposite Mrs Hann's house thought the skid marks had been caused by the application of the brakes
Leonard Newbery thought the greasy road had caused the accident and had never heard of a lorry skidding there before.
The defence then submitted that there was insufficient evidence to convict = Mrs Hammon had only had a temporary view, the prosecution's evidence supported his defence and an independent witness had testified to the low speed of the lorry,
The magistrates however decided to convict, but tool a lenient view and fined Brown £3 3s with £1 1s costs and witness's expenses. The chairmain expressed surprise that although Brown had driven down the road many times he had never skidded before and it was a great wonder that he hadn't killed Mrs Hann. He also advised Brown to be very careful in future as he had a reputation for driving very fast.