DRAMATIC SCENE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 97, 24 March 1939, Page 9

DRAMATIC SCENE

CHARGES AT AUCKLAND. DENIAL OF IDENTITY. Per Press Association. J AUCKLAND, March 23. j One of the most dramatic scenes 1 ever enacted in the Auckland Alagistrate’s Court occurred to-day, when, i as a sequel to the mysterious fire in l a bach in Piha on February 12, a c man describeil as Gordon Robert ; McKay, who was arrested last night 1 in Parnell, stood charged with ini- i properly interfering with a dead hu- ( man body and with arson. Long before the Court sitting _ was t due to start, the Magistrate’s Court j building was surrounded with people ; awaiting admittance. ’The crowd grew . as the hour of 10 o’clock approached, and when the police van arrived there was a considerable press of people at the rear of the Court to see McKay ushered inside. AY hen the Court doors opened there was a rush for standing room in the gallery, and by the time the sitting started there were upward of 300 persons present, including about 10 women. Solicitors, clerks, police officials and witnesses for other eases. numbering at least 50. also crowded the front portion of the courtroom, winch presented a most unusual appearance. The Alagistrate (Air C. R. Orr Walker) took his seat on the Bench soon after the hour, and first heard several minor eases. A) hen McKay s name was called there was a hush over the Courtroom. As lie appearou at the door of the prisoners’ room and moved toward the dock there were many exclamations and calls ot “Silence” from the orderly. AfcKav walked to the front of the dock. He was in a dishevelled state, his striped navy blue coat and trousers being crushed‘and rumpled. He also woro an open-neck grey shirt and light tan shoes. The feature of his appearance, however, was a l>eard of good growth greying toward the chin tuft, but otherwise of similar colour to his hair. Near the dock stood DetectiveSergeants Trethewav and Aplin, who arrested AlcKay last night. | Detective-Sergeant Walsh prosecuted on behalf of the police and Air R. C. J Sanderson appeared for accused. CH ARCES P REFERRED. Accused was charged as Gordon Robert AlcKay, alias Torn Rowland, ot no fixed abode, and no age or description was given. He was first charged with improperly interfering with. a dead human body, that of 1 atriok Henry Shine, in Auckland, on or about February IL. He was further charged with wilfully setting fire to a dwelling house owned by Frank Garew-Thomas in Piha on February 12, thereby cominitting arson. “This is the man who was alleged to have been burnt to death in a bach in Piha on February 12,” said • Detective-Sergeant Walsh, applying for I a week’s remand till Thursday, : March 30. “Another man named James Arthur Talbot also stands - charged on remand till Alarch 30 in 1 respect of the charge regarding the > dead human body. This man now ac- ■ eased was on.lv arrested last night in Parnell by Detective-Sergeants Aplin - and Trethewey.” . . I Air Walsh said many inquiries yet had to l>e made by the police. Ihe . arrest of accused had only intensified i the inquiries, many of which also had to he made in Australia. “In the event of bail being applied for,” added Air Walsh, “I oppose bail in respect of the charge of arson.” Counsel asked for bail, saving he had no objection to the remand as asked for by the police. “NOT AtcKAY.” Though he had often muttered incoherently up to this stage, accused now spoke for the first time in a highpitched voice. “They are stupid,” he said. ‘I am not McKay.” The Alagistrate: He says he is not AlcKay. Arc the police satisfied that this mail is AlcKay? Air Walsh: This man himself denies that ho is AlcKay. However, another method of identification which I am not at liberty to enlarge on here dofi-1 nitcly establishcf], the. fact as far as we j are concerned that he is AlcKay. The Alagistrate to counsel: Is it for ■ McKay that you appear? Air Sanderson: I am not saying - that. I am appearing for accused. ■ The Alagistrate: Appearing for this • man as a man? AH Sanderson : That is so, sir. ■ “Well, accused will lx: remanded I till Alarch 30 on both charges.” said - the Alagistrate. “He is entitled as of right to have bail on the first charge. Ho is bailable at discretion on the second charge of arson. I will grant bail on the first charge the same as in the case of the other man Talbot in self of £4OO with two seureties of £2OO each. On the charge of arson 1 decline to give hail.” As the Alagistrate was speaking, accused turned to the solicitors seated at the tables adjoining the side of the dock, appealing to them, “Can you i give me a cigarette, please?” As the ; orderly cried for silence accused turn- - ed to "the front and said to the police - officials, “Give me a cigarette, f please.” ? The hearing was now finished and i accused was ordered, to stand down. - Holding the top of his trousers, apparently to prevent them from falling, lie i slowly returned to the prisoners’ room. - No sooner was lie out of sight than i the Court was temporarily adjourned, i Immediately the crowd began to dis- - perse and the courtroom was practical- • ly cleared within a few minutes. While I crowds waited in the alleyway behind 5 the Court and near the side entrance - hoping to see accused re-enter the • police van, ATcKay was escorted by - Detective-Sergeants Aplin and_ Tre- ' thewav to a police car parked in Ivitcliener Street at the front entrance to the Court. About 50 people saw him 1 enter the car and sit between the de- ■ tectives in the rear seat. s Before being driven away to the , Auckland Prison, AlcKay repeated his plea for a cigarette and accepted one • offered to him bv a bystander. He ! was smoking as the ear drove off.