"IN ABSENTIA"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 3, 14 January 1942, Page 2

"IN ABSENTIA"

WHERE IS THIS COUNTRY?

AMUSING IGNORANCE

The cablegram published recently reporting that Mr Norman Davis, of Dunetlin, formerly press attache to the British Legation in Sofia, had been sentenced to death "in absentia"' on a charge of being implicated in preparing a revolt in Bulgaria has caused some people to come to quite unjustified fconcfoisions. It would also appear * that our mu-ch-ra.unted system of education is lack. Ing in certain directions.® "In absentia" in this instance means that the accused person was not there —as .a matter of fact, Mr Davis had left Sofia some time 1 before—and that he was tried in his absence. As, therefore, there is no body, no execution can take place so far as Mr Davis is concerned. He will probably, however, be careful not to go back to Sofia.

Expressions of sympathy on the supposed death of Mr Davis are no doubt more or less appreciated by his relatives, but they are not really nccesary, nor it is necessary to express the hope that they will be given strength to bear up against their sad loss. One kindly person who extended his sympathy said he was rather confused in regard to the locality where the execution was to take place. "Where is this Absentia?" he wanted to know.

A later message stated that Mir Davis had explained that he had left Bulgaria before the severance of British-Bulgarian relations, and that liis activities in Bulgaria were be-

yond suspicion.