AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 41, 16 February 1918, Page 7

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE

FARMER CHARGED WITH ASSISTING A DESERTER.

(II TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

• WA3JGANUI, 15th February. , After a two days' trial at the Supreme Court Douglas Campbell Waldie. a set- . tier in the' Waitotar'a district,' was found guilty on a charge of assisting Michael Killalea in escaping from military service. ' Killalea was the principal 'witness for the Crown, and as his state was bordering on collapse Mr. Justice Hosking ordered liim' to be medically examined before the' case jyas proceeded with. Killalea, who gave bis evidence wifn difficulty, said thai he was three and ahalf years out from Ireland. He was working cutting tracks on Waldie's fa.rm, and after being .drawn in the ballot accused induced him to mate a dug=out in a cliff, where lie lived 6is months. Witness said he worked in the daytime, but slept in the dug-out and took refuge there when people were ajwut. He was told the Government %yere shooting deserters or throwing them overboard from transports, and was afraid to give him: self up. Eventually'Waldie leased, the farmland on 'witness shifting to another part of the district he was arrested. He was then in an emaciated state owing to exposure. ' .."..*■ The defance was ' that the accused neither employed nor encouraged Killalpa. ■ ■ ■ - • --... Mrs. Waldie, wife of the accused', said, she lived 1 in a state of -terror, knowing Killalea was about, but ga.ve' him food, as she was afraid of some revengeful act. They were afraid to inform 1 the police because of the possible ■ confiequences, as Kjllalea made' threats"to Ifill'lier'husba|V4;:' TJiey' finally decided that the only course-.w'arsfpr har§elf asi} 1 \ her husband to at once leave the district, ''* , /- - : -