Wandsworth Common

FIGHT FOR HONOURS. Argyle Just Lose to the Heathens. Played at Wandsworth Common (Streatham League, Premier Division).

As was expected, a great struggle resulted. The visitors came out worthy winners by the odd goal, speed and height telling in their favour. The homesters drew first blood, Craft netting from a pass by Lee. Heathens soon drew level, their inside left heading in from under the bar, from what appeared an offside position. The Argyle should have gone ahead, but a certain scoring chance was lost by the forwards being in each other's way. Page was severely tested, but aided by two stalwart backs and a solid pivot in Pates, he kept his charge intact until just before the interval, when Heathens scored again. This time it was the inside right, who, taking the ball in his stride, banged the ball in, giving Page no earthly chance.

The second half was not so good as the first, there being but one team in it, namely the Heathens, who gave the Argyle defence a gruelling time. The home team were seldom attacking, and their most infrequent raids never looked dangerous. Next Saturday the two teams meet in the return match, when another duel should be forthcoming. If the Argyle can turn the tables, they will still have a chance of league honours.

THREE KILLED IN CRASH. WANDSWORTH COMMON TRAGEDY. HEAD-ON COLLISION AT MIDNIGHT. INQUEST OPENED.

Three people lost their lives and four other persons were injured as the result of a terrible road smash at Wandsworth Common late on Friday night. The tragedy occurred when a No. 67 'bus bound for Clapham was involved in a head-on collision with a private motor-car at the junction of Nightingale-lane and Bolingbroke-grove.

The three persons killed were passengers in the motor-car: Carlo Ernesto Quaglia (aged 27), Dora-road, Wimbledon, driver of the car; John Porch (aged 38), Caxton-road, Wimbledon; and his wife, Mrs. Gladys Porch (aged 35).

The injured persons, all travelling in the 'bus, were: Albert Wix (aged 40), conductor, Brayards-road, Peckham (facial injuries); Miss Violet Parry (aged 35), Roseneath-road, Battersea (cut over right eye); Miss Eva Billingsley (aged 30), Morat-street, Brixton (injuries to both legs); Mrs. L. Booker (aged 25), The Horns, Kennington (shock). All four were able to go to their homes after receiving treatment at St. James's Hospital.

The collision occurred shortly after eleven o'clock, and the impact was so violent that the crash could be heard for hundreds of yards. People came running to the scene from neighbouring houses, and passing motorists stopped to render assistance. It was obvious that the occupants of the car were beyond aid. The scene was a terrible one. The car and 'bus were locked together, the lighter vehicle a complete wreck. The roadway for a considerable distance around was strewn with shattered glass, mingled with water and petrol.

Mr. Quaglia had been thrown through the windscreen of the car and was lying with his head beneath the bonnet of the 'bus. Mr. and Mrs. Porch were huddled inside the wrecked vehicle and could only be extricated with difficulty. A pet dog with Mrs. Porch was thrown into the road and badly injured; it was put out of its misery by a passing veterinary surgeon.

The driver of the 'bus, Mr. John Seales, Ruby-street, Old Kent Road, fortunately escaped uninjured despite the fact that his cabin was wrecked. The car was the property of Miss Aitchison, Manor-way, Beckenham.

When the inquest was opened at Battersea, Mr. George Burley Elmes, a commercial clerk of Caxton-road, Wimbledon, told Dr. Edwin Smith (the Coroner) that he had identified the body of the woman as that of his sister, Mrs. Gladys Porch. Her husband, John Porch, was a clerk employed by a firm of motor-car manufacturers. Mr. Elmes also gave evidence of identification in respect to Mr. Quaglia, to spare his widow the ordeal of the witness-box. He said Mr. Quaglia was a motor service manager. The Coroner adjourned the inquiry pending the attendance of the injured persons.

DEAD DRIVER BLAMED. Three Persons Killed in Midnight Smash. TRAVELLING AT FIFTY MILES AN HOUR.

The inquest into the deaths of the three victims of the accident at Nightingale-lane was concluded by Dr. Edwin Smith at Battersea Coroner's Court on Wednesday. The accident occurred close to the corner of Wexford-road, near the point where Nightingale-lane and Bolingbroke-grove join Bellevue-road, at 11.12 p.m. As a 67 bus, travelling towards Clapham Common, approached Nightingale-lane it was struck, almost head-on, by a car coming along Nightingale-lane. The car had drawn out to pass a car stationary on its near side. Several eye-witnesses put the pace of the moving car at 50 or 60 miles an hour.

The deceased were: John Porch, 38, a clerk employed by the Rover Motor Car Service, Seagrave-road, Fulham, of 27 Caxton-road, Wimbledon; his wife Mrs. Gladys Porch, aged 35; and Carlo Ernesto Quaglia, aged 27, service manager employed by Page Motors Ltd, High-street, Epsom, of 138 Dora-road, Wimbledon.

Dreadful Injuries

Dr. W. L. Maccormac, medical officer at St. James's Hospital, said Mrs. Porch and Mr. Quaglia were dead on arrival at the hospital. Mr. Porch died about five minutes later. In each case death was due to shock from multiple injuries. There was no evidence of alcohol in relation to any of the deceased.

P.C. Pettitt submitted a plan of the scene of the accident. The road had an asphalt surface in good order and there was a slight down grade from the Common. The accident happened outside 157 Nightingale-lane, two doors from Wexford-road.

Swerved to Off Side

James Leslie Greene, a managing director, 128 Nightingale-lane, walking in the same direction as the bus, said the car was approaching from the direction of Clapham Common at an excessive speed — about 60 miles an hour. As it neared him it pulled out to pass a stationary car on its near side, going wholly over the white line, and the crash occurred directly afterwards. "The bus was on its proper side and the car on its off side," he said.

The bus driver, Mr. Seales of The Triangle, Old Kent Road, confirmed his statement to the police. He estimated the car's speed at 50 or 60 miles an hour. "It amazed me to see him hold the off side so long," he said. "I thought he would ease up, but he came on."

Traffic Control Needed

The jury returned a verdict that the car was negligently driven, but found insufficient evidence to determine by whose negligence. They exonerated the bus driver. The coroner said: "I regard this as a place where some control is necessary. It's a very dangerous place." Inspector Bottoms confirmed that Nightingale-lane as a whole was already under discussion. Counsel for the families of the three deceased said they wished to place on record that, having heard the evidence, they thought the bus driver had done all he could to avoid the accident, and offered him their sympathy.

It is not a thing we should like everybody to know, but it is a fact none the less — that the bowling green at Wandsworth Common is a very pleasant place. And why shouldn't that be known to everybody? Well, we believe it would cause pain to many excellent and charitable people in the provinces if they knew, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Battersea and Wandsworth children have grassy spaces to romp on, beautiful trees to look at and even to climb (when the keeper is not about), and clumps of flowery furze among which to play hide and seek. Those people in the provinces have been brought up to believe that children born and bred in London's industrial areas never see a blade of grass and never have the delight of gazing on opening buds in springtime. And it gives those good people much joy to try and better the lot of the poor children in London. It is good to subscribe to "funds" of one sort and another — at least it makes the subscriber feel good, which is much the same thing as feeling happy. Further, subscriptions do real good to organisers and helpers. We therefore will not write anything more in praise of our commons, or of Battersea Park, or the great joyous spaces of Putney Heath and Wimbledon, over which the children, and adults too, may roam as they please. Far be it from us to cause a potential subscriber to say to himself, "Now what shall I do with my money, and how do I set my conscience at ease?"

All the same, the bowling green at Wandsworth Common is an extremely pleasant place, particularly when the sun is shining, and the lower borders are blooming and the birds are warbling, and when rival teams of bowlers are strenuously striving for cups and medals. Among the many people who enjoy the pleasantness of the bowling green at Wandsworth Common is Mr. W. S. Sanders, ex-M.P. for North Battersea, and prospective candidate for the further representation of that desirable constituency. We do not know if Mr. Sanders plays bowls — a form of marbles for grown-ups — but he watched the games on Saturday with peculiar interest. And while he watched he talked, which a man who has taken up politics may do with ease to himself and with pleasure, if not with profit, to those who listen. Mr. Sanders talked of the great revival of Labour, which he is helping to organise. Such a revival would come of itself, but it will be the better for being properly directed. Political preponderance moves in cycles, like earthquakes — a wave always spends itself. Then a wave of Labour or Socialism comes sweeping along, submerging everything else. Liberalism used to do some of the submerging, but Liberalism, we are told, is a spent force. The Labour wave is gathering to a head. Properly directed and organised, it will deluge the country — Mr. Sanders says so. It will, he adds, carry him into Parliament from North Battersea. This Labour triumph will not be attributable to any shortcomings that may have been noticed on the part of the National Government. It will be a natural consequence, due to what is called the swing of the pendulum, and it is peculiar to England and the English. So much for home politics. Mr. Sanders talked also of the economic position which, though we do not understand it, is why bacon is now — [remainder of article not yet transcribed]

OUTINGS FOR THE POOR. Story of a Titled Woman's Offer.

A curious story of a meeting on Wandsworth Common was related at the West London Police Court on Saturday by Harriet Whitt (67), married, 74 Felsham-road, Putney, who appeared before Mr. Marshall on a remanded charge of stealing 2s. by means of a trick from Mrs. Ellen Darkin, widow, 52 Waldo-avenue, College Park.

There were further charges against her with reference to 5s. alleged to have been obtained on July 15 from Alice [?], St. [?]'s Almshouses, Hammersmith; and 1s. 6d. on July 1 from Eva Wills, Camp-road Almshouses, Wimbledon.

Mrs. Florence Reynolds, 3 Latchford-gardens, College Park, stated that the accused, who was a stranger to her, stopped her near her house and asked her if she knew any poor people who would like to go for an outing. She explained that the outing was being arranged by a lady, and that although it would be entirely free, everyone who intended going had to pay a deposit of 2s. The lady insisted upon this, she said, because many people who had promised to go to other outings had not turned up; the money would be returned to those who went on the outing. Witness gave her 6s., for herself and her daughter and a friend, and mentioned it to Mrs. Darkin. Later, however, she saw the accused again and asked for her money back, telling her she had been told it was a fraud. The accused replied, "Well, you can please yourself," and gave her back the money. Mrs. Darkin said the accused told her a similar story. Witness agreed to go on the outing and gave her 2s.

In answer to the magistrate, Detective Hilton said the additional charges were of a similar nature, and Mr. Marshall intimated that he would not take the evidence in those cases. The accused then went into the witness-box.

She said that some weeks ago, while walking home from Tooting, she felt ill and sat on a seat on Wandsworth Common. While she was there a lady came along with a little dog, and, seeing she was not well, asked her if she could do anything for her. The lady told her she lived "just over there," and went to a house close by and got some brandy. She seemed to have plenty of money, and asked her (defendant) if she would like to go for an outing, saying she spent a great deal of her money in taking poor people to the seaside. She added that she was taking her staff for an outing the next Friday and asked her if she would like to come.

She (defendant) agreed, and the lady then said she would have to pay 2s. deposit, because, she explained, sometimes people who promised to go did not turn up and she was put to needless expense in hiring coaches for them. Those who went, she said, would have the money returned to them.

"A Glorious Day."

"I paid the money," defendant continued, "and we had a glorious day. When we got back to Clapham Junction the lady gave me back the 2s. and a pound to spend."

Afterwards, defendant continued, she met the lady several times at Wandsworth Common, and they spoke about other outings. The lady asked her to get several other people to join in an outing on the same terms.

Mr. Marshall: Did she tell you who she was?

Defendant: She said her name was "Lady Elmbank."

Did she give you her card? — No.

Then how were you to communicate with her? — She said she was living close by.

What were you going to do with the money? — I was going to take it to her.

But you didn't know where she lived. — I used to meet her often.

Have you seen her since you were arrested? — I didn't get bail until two days ago, and I have been ill.

Mr. Marshall: Well, I will give you an opportunity of finding her. I shall remand you on bail for a week, and you must take the police to the place where you say you met this lady.

SCENE OF A FATAL ACCIDENT.

Arising out of the jury's rider in connection with the fatal accident which occurred at the junction of Nightingale-lane with Bolingbroke-grove and Ravenslea-road in April, the Commissioner of Police had suggested to the Council that the slip road portion of Bolingbroke-grove west of the island should be closed and thrown into the footway including the major portion of the island; that the curb lines on each side of Bolingbroke-grove should be extended southwards so as to form a straight crossing; that a refuge be erected at the mouth of the newly aligned junction; that the existing fences and curb on the south side be set back on each side of Ravenslea-road and the corners splayed back; and that the junction should be controlled by vehicle-actuated traffic signals.

The Highways Committee reported that the island site was part of Wandsworth Common and the consent of the County Council was necessary, that one side of Ravenslea-road was in Battersea and the other in Wandsworth, and that one of the proposed traffic lights would be in Wandsworth and the remainder in Battersea. The committees are consulting with the Wandsworth Borough Council concerning the cost and the County Council with respect to the island site.

Toffee apples are in vogue again. Until now, these joys of childhood have not been greatly in evidence since the war. That circumstance is causing much searching of hearts among those gifted persons who believe they can read the signs of the times. According to them, the revived habit of eating toffee apples by the rising generation is suggestive of wars and rumours of war. And there is something still more disquieting. On the commons and in the side streets the public now have opportunities of seeing the youngsters at play. The children's games that seem most popular are those that have to do with crime, warfare, and killings. Armed with wooden swords, small boys perform prodigies of valour and their sisters and their foes' sisters look on with grim approval. And that is not the whole of it. The primitive in child nature is asserting itself in an urge to return to nature. Crude tents are dressed on the commons and in them boys and girls live as near as they can to what they believe is the life of the noble savage. Somebody ought to do something about it. If the instincts to which we have referred are allowed free play, society and civilisation are doomed.

A FAMILY TEAM

It is unusual, to say the least of it, for three members of a family to take the same interest in motoring events, but the success of Miss Doreen Evans and her two brothers, Denis and Kenneth, should encourage more ventures of this sort. All the members of the team drive M.G. Midgets, and have numerous successes to their credit. Miss Doreen Evans won the Ladies Cup in the London-Gloucester this year and the Ladies Award at the J.C.C. Brooklands Rally, and with her brother "K.D.," was a member of the team which were the runners-up for the team prize in the Gloucester. The team have also won three more "golds" on the London-Edinburgh trial.

Denis Evans and his brother Kenneth are directors of the Bellevue Garage, Ltd., and their firm has had some striking successes in the preparation of M.G.s for racing and reliability trials, and the supercharged 750 c.c. car driven by Mr. D. N. Letts, which won the 1st Walton Sprint Handicap this year at a speed of 92.78 m.p.h., and also took the 850 c.c. Racing Class at Shelsley, with the remarkable time of 45 4/5 secs., was tuned by their firm. They also prepared the K.3 Magnette for Mr. P. L. Donkin, which put up very good performances in both the Mannin Beg Race and the B.E. Trophy.

Mr. Kenneth Evans, who last year won two mountain races on M.G. cars, has acquired one of the latest "Q" type supercharged M.G. Midgets, and will drive it in the major events for the remainder of the season.

[Caption: The three M.G. Midgets driven by (L. to R.): K. D. Evans, Miss Doreen Evans and D. G. Evans.]