SHELTERING AN ARMY DEFAULTER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 123, 16 February 1918, Page 8

SHELTERING AN ARMY DEFAULTER

■ 6 !_ , FARMER FOUND GUILTY. By Telegraph-Press, Association. .. , Wanganui, : February 15, . After a two days' trial at'tW Supreme Court, Douglas Campbell Wal■die, a settler in Waitotara district, was found guilty ori ■a" charge of assisting Michael Killalea to escape military service. Killalea was the principal witness for the Crown, and as his state was bdrdering on' collapse Mr. Justice Hoeking ordered .him. to be medically examined before the case proceeded. * Killalea gave evidence with diffipulty, He said he had been ,3J vears out from Ireland. He was working putting tracks on WaldieV farm, and after.ho was. drawn in the ballot accused; induced him to make a dug-out in a cliff, where he lived for sis months. ' Witness said he worked -in the daytime, but slept in the dug-out, end took refuge there when people were, about. He was told that the Government were shooting deserters cr throwing them overboard from the transports, and he was afraid to j;ivo' himself up. Eventually Mr. Waldie leased the farm, and on witness shifting to another part of the district he was arrested, He was then in an emaciated state, owing to exposure. For the defence it was stated that accused neither employed nor encouraged Killalea.

Mrs! Waldie, wife of the accused, faid she lived in a state of terror, knowing that Killalea was about, but 'she gave him food as she was afraid of some revengeful act. They were afraid to inform tlie police because of possible consequences, as Killalea made threats to kiH her. husband! They finally decided that the only course was for herself and husband to leave the dis-' trict-.