PIHA FIRE CASE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 75, 30 March 1939, Page 11

PIHA FIRE CASE

REMAND FOR A WEEK

QUESTION OF IDENTITY

(£y Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This.Day,

Gordon Robert McKay and James Arthur Talbot appeared together at the Police Court for the first time today on remand. They arrived in a police van with other prisoners. The court Was packed to capacity, there being an increased number of women.

-]VJcKay was shown on the charge sheet to have the alias "Tom Bowlands" and he was described as a wool and skin dealer of Australia, aged 43. McKay and Talbot were jointly charged with wilfully setting fire to a dwelling at Piha and, further, with interfering with human remains.

, Detective-Sergeant Walsh, in asking for a remand until April 6, said he hoped that on that date some indication could be given as to when the police would be able to proceed.

Mr. Terry, appearing for Talbdt, said there was ho objection to that, but he again drew attention to th^e proximity of the Supreme Court session, and trusted the police would allow sufficient time to prepare the defence. "The police have taken nearly ten weeks to prepare their case," he said. "The date suggested for the hearing is only ten days before the session opens." Detective-Sergeant Walsh said that if necessary the trial could take place at a later session.

Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., referring to McKay, said: "Last week he claimed he was not McKay-—"

Mr. Sanderson, appearing for McKay: Last week he was quite /abnormal, both mentally and physically. Although he still. thinks he" is Tom Bowlands, I am not raising any point as to his identity.

Mr. Orr "Walker: If any question of identity is involved the Court woul,d assist by giving a hearing On that identity. ' . ' , The remand was granted.