Shanghai, June 16.
Walking with the aid' of crutches following serious injuries sustained im an accident on Broadway near Minghong Road on April 24 when Mr. Bertram Lillie, principal of the Lester School and" Henry Lester Institute, and 'a Japanese sailor sentry, were killed, Sergeant Ronald JJohn Wimsett, of the Shanghai Muni-ripal Police, yesterday gave his version of the accident before Mr. C. H.
Haines, H, M. Coroner. His was the last testimony to be taken at the en-Jquiry, which commenced on April 25, and a verdict will be delivered at 10
Jam, on June 16, Substantiating the Jevidence of Mrs. Lillie, who was site ting beside Sergeant Wimsett in her husband's ear when it was struck by a Japanese bus, he described the actions of the dead sentry in jumping. Jon the running board and seizing the steering wheel with both hands, Present at the enquiry were Mr. H.
Thomas, Consul for Japanese Affairs, and Mr. R. F. C. Master, who Tepresented the Henry Lester Trus~ tees and Mrs, Lillie. First witness to sive evidence was Sub-Inspector John James Gavan, who described the measurements from Broadway Bridge, west side, to the scene of the acold. ent. The distance, he said, was 704 feel. The Japanese sentry's post was the centre of the bridge.
Seated throughout his. testimony. Sergeant Wimsett told the Coroner that on April 24 he was on duty at Garden Bridge. Between 920 and 840 pin. he noticed a large dark saloon car crossing the bridge {rom north to south. Witness was standing fon the footpath at the south end of the bridge and, as the car came opposite to him, it pulled over to where he was. standing.
The occupants of the car—a foreign, woman and man, whom he now knew as Mr. and Mrs, Lillie—alighted from the vehicle and Mrs. Lillie reported to him that just previously the car had been involved in an accident on the other side of the bridge. She stated that the ear had collided with barrier but did not know the exact locality. Both Me. and Mrs. Lillie then went to the front of the car. where the former pointed out the damage which had been done to the after Mr. Lillie had done this. he Sergeant it continued that went on to say that, after colliding, with the barrier, the car did not stop. Witness then Suggested that they. should return to the scene of the accident. "I had in my mind at the time," he said, "that someot have been injured."
go to the scene to get all tion Both Afr. and Mrs, Lillie had eyreed to do this with no show of reluctance and Mrs. Lillie and witness then entered the rear of the car with Mr.
Lillie occupying the driver's seat. The car was turned around and it' prom ceeded back over Garden Bridge from south to north along Seward Road. It had almost reached the intersection of Seward and Boone Roads when Mrs Lillie told her husband that this was not the place, Witness then suggested turning to the right which would. bring. th to the intersection of Boone Ro: and Broadway. Here Mrs, Lillie recognized Broadway Bridge and indicated that this was the place. They turned left and pulled up at a barrier almost on the crown of the bridge.
Mrs. Liflic and he alighted and he walked towards a Japanese on the south side of the bridge. pointed to the damage on to the barrier." Sergeant Wimsett continued, "and the sentry beckoned to another sentry standing on the opposite side of the bridge, This sentry came across and directed the ear to be parked on Dixwell Road and this was done"
He that the vehicle was added parked facing Broadwa Int ooked of the barriers and T a see any lights" he stated.
Mr. Lillis then alighted from car and he appeared to be agitated, Sergeant Wi He appeared to be deeply concerned over the damage to his car, saying to the sentry "What are you going to do about the damage to my ear?
Witness then went to a Japanese sentry and another Japanese sentey, in broken English and with a motion oot huis hand, indicated that he would telephone for, witness believed, interpreter. Approaching Mr. Lillie witness informed him that they would have to wait until such time oan interpreter arrived. "Although Mr Lillie appeared more normal at this time—he was not shouting but usin 2 normal tone—he stated Tm not going, to wait around here." witness stated.
After being informed that if he did not wish to wait they had better 40 to Hongkew Police station, Mr. Lillie got back into the car and witness intimated to the Japanese that they were going to Hongkew Police station The sentry then said something which he did not understand and made a motion with his hand. During all this Mrs. Lillie had already. entered the car and had invited witness to get in algo." He got in and sat beside The Coroner—Was an terpreter produced ey the Japanese?
Sergeant Wimsett—1 did not sce tone but there may have been one. 1 saw no civilian there at all.
Mr. Lillie, he stated, drove the car towards the crown of the bridge very slowly and witness opened the door so that he could speak to the Japanese sentry on the crown of the bridge. When they arrived there he indicated that they were going to Hongkew Police station and he pointed in that direction 'AL this time the ear was going down the incline at a faster speed and he closed the door. The two Japanese sentries then jumped on the running board near the driver's door, one on the Jeff side and one on the right side.
"The sentry on the right side of the car grabbed hold of the steering wheel with both hands," Sergeant Wimsett continued, "and at the same time T saw the sentry on the left bend his body through the window and reach towards the driving wheel, Mr. Lillie then took his left-arm off the wheel and warded off the Japanese sentry's reach. This sentry then took up the position he was in before—an upright position on the running board.
Ab. Lillie by this time had put the car in second gear and the vehicle was travelling in a zig-zag. fashion down Broadway. going {rom one sid. of the road to the other, 'The sentry fon the right was pulling the wheel. first to the lett and then to the right, and Mr. Lillie was working against him. "Mrs. Lillie and myself shoute 'Stop', "Sergeant Winsett went 0 but Mr. Lillie did not reply. We had almost reached the intersection Tsingpoo Road and at that time the front left wheel and the rear lett wheel mounted the lett footpath, "The car then swung back on to the roadway and the sudden jolting threw me forward, T struck my nose fon the back of the seat where Mr Lillie was sitting and T don't remem= liver what happened until T awoke and found myself in hospital." Tu answer to Mr. Haines, he stated that that car at the time would be travelling at bout 15 nip.h., the road being most quite dry.
He did not see Mr. Lillie make any attempt to stop the car although he imagined there was plenty of opportunity for him to have done 50. He could have put his foot on the brake, witness added, Mr. Lillie, he said, way absolutely sober at the time and he was not in an angry mood.
Inadjourning the enquiry until Sune 16 Mr. Haines stated "I have taken all the evidence we have been able to obtain in this enquiry and do not propose to xive my decision today. 1 will give this tomorrow before pro= cooing with the other (R, M. Tinkler)
nquest."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.