Mid Sussex Times Tuesday July 27 1909

Serious motor mishap near Cuckfield

Two men badly injured.

Between two and 3 o'clock on Wednesday morning to Londoners named Philip Perkins, of respiratory Gardens, Westminster, and Alfred Libgott, of Camberwell – both being in the employ of the General Motor Cab company, of Brixton – met with a bad accident at Homestead Hill, between Cuckfield and Staplefield. It appears that they motored to Haywards Heath on Tuesday evening, in response to a telephone message, to attend to a motor car which had broken down in the town. The latter car belonged to the above-mentioned Company, and Alfred Philpott, of Hackney, was the driver.

When the two cars LN3573 and LN3566 – started back to London, the car bearing the latter number led the way. A thick fog prevailed at the time so the cards were driven cautiously. Having got as far as Handcross Hill, Philpott became curious to know why the other car was not following him. He waited about for a quarter of an hour and then decided to motor back to Cuckfield to see if anything had happened.

When almost at the top of Homestead Hill he came upon Perkins and Libgott lying on the roadside grass in a semiconscious condition and the motorcar standing in the wood about 4 feet below the level of the road. The car apparently dashed into the hazel trees and was borne upon the boughs and undergrowth up against an oak tree before it dropped into the hollow space in which it was found.

The front of the car was damaged. The occupants managed to crawl out of the car, taking with them a lamp and cushions, but on reaching the roadside green they collapsed.

Fortunate, indeed, was it that Philpot returned when he did and found them.

Having recognised that matters were serious he at once set off to Cuckfield in his motor car, and knocked up Mr Beeching to ascertain where a doctor could be found. He was sent to Dr Colin King, who returned with him to the scene of the accident. The injured men were lifted into the motor car and driven to the Kings Head hotel, Cuckfield, where they were put to bed and looked after by the doctor and Mrs Morfee.

Both are suffering from a slight concussion of the brain, and it is considered marvellous that they escaped with their lives. Mrs Perkins was telegrammed for on Wednesday, and the officials of the General Motor Cab company were also informed of what had happened. In the afternoon a motor lorry arrived and conveyed the damaged motor car back to London. Here it was carefully overhauled, and the opinion given that the accident was due to the steering gear.

Both injured men are, we are glad to be able to state, progressing favourably.