McKAY IN COURT

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14090, 23 March 1939, Page 6

McKAY IN COURT

CLAIMS TO BE WRONG MAN. Electnc Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, This Day. Wearing a bushy beard Gordon Robert McKay was arrested last night at a house in Grafton Road. Ke was charged in the police court to-day before Mr Orr-Walkcr with improperly interfering with a human body at Auckland on February 11 and further that at Piha on February 12 he did wilfully set fire to a dwelling house owned by Frank Caraw Thomas thereby committing the crime of arson. The approaches to the court were crowded as was also the portion of the courthouse set aside .for the public. ‘•This is the man Your Yorship, who it is alleged was burnt to deatn in a bach fire at Piha,” said Detec-tive-Sergeant Walsh, “another man named Talbot has been charged in respect of the charge regarding the dead body and lie has been remanded to March 30. This man was arrested only last night and there are many inquiries to be made here and in Australia. I oppose bail on the charge of arson.” Mr Sanderson who appeared for the accused asked for bail McKav (turning to policeman) said “1 am not McKav J am not McKav.” Detective-Sergeant Walsh : “Ho denies, that he i.s McKay but there Is another method which I need not de- * t ribe here which definitely proves that he is McKay .” The Magistrate to Mr Sanderson: “You 1 take it are satisfied that he is McKay because you arc appearing lor him.” Mr Sanderson: “I won't say. I am appearing for accused.” The Magistrate : “He is entitled as a right to bail on the charge of interfering with a body but bail is dis--Ihe Magistrate fixed bail on the first charge in a personal bond of £4OO and two sureties of £‘2oo. each, adding. “On the charge of arson I decline to give bail ” McKay appeared to make an attempt to speak again but was stood down and a few minutes later driven off to the police station. Before leaving he asked the two detectives for a cigarette but both were non-smokers. He then asked a bystander who passed a cigarette through the police car window