REMARKABLE STORY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1701, 18 March 1913, Page 4

REMARKABLE STORY.

OLD MAN'S SAD PLIGHT. (By Telffraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, March 17. . When arrested at Mount Albert yesteiday' on a charge of vagrancy an old man named Samuel Finlay told rather a remarkable story. A boy was passing ti shanty in Mount Albert Hoad when the old man called to him and asked him to get him some bread, at the same .time stating that lie had had his jaw broken. The boy went along to Constable M'Glone at the Mount Albert Police Station, and informed him of the old mail's plight. The constable visited the shanty and questioned Finlay, who said he was 57 years of age, and that he was a uativo of Belfast. Some years ago he was au officer on a big steamer at Home, Subsequently he took part in the SpankhAmerican war and when dn action at Havana ho received a 6ab're wound in the lower jaw which, since then, had been a source of oontinual trouble to him. Later the old man said he served on several of the Union Company's steamers, and later still, worked on a wnaler. After leaving the whaler he went digging gum, and five days ago he found the 6hanty 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, and for five days ho 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 shanty, saying he would rather end his days there. However, seeing that tinman was evidently very ill, the constable arrested him on a charge of vagrancy so that he could receive proper attention. Constable M'Glone took him to his own house and tried to induce him to eat, but the old man refused and said ho 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, ho could not open his mouth to e<;t. Finlay was then removed to the hospital.. ;