West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Friday 16 May 1941, page 11


MOTOR CYCLIST'S DEATH. Scarborough-road Collision: In the. Perth Courthouse yesterday Mr. H. Casper, J.P., Acting Coroner, began an inquest concerning the death of Alexander Brown Burton Stevens (26), of Federation-street, Mt. Hawthorn. Evidence showed that about 8.15 p.m. on February 28 the deceased was riding a motor cycle along the Scarboroughroad, Double View, when it crashed into the back of a utility truck being driven by Robert Disbrey, greengrocer, of Scarborough. Albert Cook (27), of Hoveaterrace, South Perth, a prominent player of the Perth Football Club, was pillion passenger on the motor cycle, which was travelling to Scarborough. Stevens and Gook were taken by ambulance to the Perth Hospital, where Stevens was found to be dead. Cook was admitted suffering from a fracture of the left leg and other injuries. He testified yesterday that the cycle passed a motor car travelling in the same direction and he had no recollection of what happened afterwards until he was being taken to Perth in the ambulance. Disbrey said in evidence that he had been driving towards Perth, had turned the truck around to call at a house, and it was travelling slowly in the direction of Scarborough before stopping when there was a bump at the back of the truck. A motor cycle then "flew past" the truck on' the driving side. He got out of the truck and saw two forms in the sand on the opposite side of the road. The hearing was adjourned to 9.45 a.m. next Thursday, when the Acting Coroner will hear the evidence of Eric Ransom, of Canterbury-terrace, Victoria Park, the driver of the car which the motor cycle passed before the collision. Sergeant Delfs is assisting the Acting Coroner. Miss M. Battye is appearing for the relatives " of the deceased, and Mr. L. W. Jackson (instructed by Messrs. Jackson, McDonald, Connor and Ambrose) for the driver of the utility truck, Dlsbrey.