OLD MAN'S PLIGHT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 19 March 1913, Page 5

OLD MAN'S PLIGHT

LIVED FIVE DAYS ON ACORNS. "WOULD RATHER STARVE THAN BEG." When arrested at Mount Albert, Auckland, on Sunday on a charge of vagrancy, an old man named Samuel Fin lay told rather a resrarkable story. A bov was passing a shanty in Mount \lbert Road, when the old man called to him and asked him to get him some bread, at the same time stating he had had his jaw broken. The boy went along to Constable McGlone, at the Mount Albert police station, and informed him of the old man's plight. The constable visited the shantv and questioned Finlav. Finlay said he was 57 years of age, and that he was a native of Belfast. Some vears ago he was an officer on a big st-eaflrer at Home. Subsequently he took part in the Spanish-American war, and when in action at Havana, he received a sabre wound in the lower jaw, which, since then, had been h. source of continual trouble to him. Later on, the old man said he served, on several of the Union Company's steamers, and later still worked* on a whaler at the Bay of Islands. After leaving the whaler he went'digging gum and five days ago he found the shanty in which he was discovered. ' Continuing his narrative, Finlay, who is evidently a well educated and cultured man, said that he would rather starve than beg, aijd for five days ha had subsisted on acorns, which he had plucked' from a* tree near by. A heap of acorn husks in the shanty lent colour to his statement. He did not wish to leave the shantv. saying he would, rather end his days'there. However, seeing that the man was evidently very ill, the constable arrested him " on a charge of vagrancy, so that he conkl receive propsr attention. Constable McGlone took hi.n- to his own house and tried to induce him to eat. but the old man refused, and said he was too ill. Finlay was then brought into Auckland. He was examined by Dr. Murray, who asserted that the man was/ suffering from the effects of a sabre wound in the lower jaw, also from want of food, due to his circumstances, and to the fact that he could not open his month to eat. Finlay was then removed to the hospital.