Plea to Attend Funeral

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 62, 16 March 1944, Page 3

Plea to Attend Funeral

A man charged at Newtown Court (N.S.W.) recently with murder asked if arrangements could be made for him to attend the alleged victim’s funeral. The man, James Clifford Moore, 24, soldier, was charged with murdering Reginald Stephen Uptin, at Petersham, on January 9th. “This is a most unfortunate affair,” said Mr. Newnham (for Moore). “My client would like arrangements made to attend Uptin’s funeral at 1.30 p.m. to-day. Both were great friends, and I may mention, without traversing the! facts, that an argument occurred be-; tween the deceased and his wife, and the accused intervened. As a result, | blows were struck, and Uptin died from a fractured skull. There was no ill-feeling between the two men before this. When Moore was told of Uptin’s death he was very upset.” Mr. Sheridan, S.M. (to the police prosecutor, Sgt. Moulden): Can arrangements be made to escort accused to the funeral? —I do not know whether arrangements can be made. Apart from tho question of transport, there is the

matter of an escort. Mr. Sheridan, S.M., said it was purely a matter for the police. Mr. Newnham expressed the opinion that the police would do all they could to comply with the request of the accused.