A SAD STORY.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18808, 2 December 1932, Page 8

A SAD STORY.

OLD WOMAN’S PLEA. ON BEHALF OF PARALYSED SON. SOLICITORS AND POLICE IN TEARS (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Friday. “He was all right when he went Into battle, but ho came out of it doaf and dumb. It Is the war that Is responsible for all his trouble.” *

This plea was made by a woman almost SO years of age in the Police Court 10-day in telling one of the saddest stories ever heard here. It brought tears to the eyes of the solicitors and policemen. The woman had made an application for ( the committal of her son to the Inebriates’ Home, but on appearing she said, “ Don’t do anything to him, please." The son is partly paralysed, prematurely grey, and deaf and dumb, a victim of the battle 'of Messines. The mother said his war .pension had been cancelled because of his excessive drinking. She found it very hard lo keep herself and him on the okl age pension. He had sold everything in the house to buy drink. After a discussion with the Magistrate the woman went to the dock and conversed with her son in the lip language. She announced that be was willing to go lo the Inebriates’ Island. Before she left the dock she embraced him.