"CAN'T COME: KIA ORA"

NZ Truth, Issue 1178, 28 June 1928, Page 9

"CAN'T COME: KIA OR A"

■■■"■■■ — : — <— — —',■■'■■ ■-': ■■'■■ ; How Old Soldier Explained His Absence From Gourt (From "N.Z. Truth's" Ngaruawahia Representative.) He was so old and decrepit that he could scarcely drag his feet across the courthouse, floor, but although he gazed around with almost sightless eyes, his intellect was bright and ha £ep£ the judge and counsel highly amused loiih his sallies. HIS name was Neil Moffat and 1 his When the suggestion was put to the age 86. In his early days he. was old man, he replied that he had seen m the Imperial Army and served enough of police ceils. They were too through many campaigns. cold. « . ■ He can, when m the; mood, tell many Asked if he could, fend for himself if entertaining stories of his life m dif- allowed to go, he replied with some ferent countries and of his.experi- show qf indignation: "Certainly, I can; ences on the Afghan frontier. , . 'certainly. 1 " ■ . household word. 9 . can't come. Kia, Ora." With several other .. old-age pension- When the police looked the old man ers, he lives m an old shop and it was up, they, found him barricaded m hig ! an incident that had its setting m this whare and a bench warrant had to be ancient establishment that led to Nell's issued for his further production m. appearance before the Hamilton court. Supreme Court last week. On his subsequent appearance the A little girl told the court that Moffat following day, Moffat again gave evitook her into his abode and there ex- dence. ; ■ posed himself to her. Asked by Lawyer Gillies if he had A witness for the defence named been rude to Constable McGruer, he Eyre said the old man was untidy m admitted that he was "not over-polite his habitß of dress ' ■' tb him." and he had fre- . For what reason? quently seen him -— ■. y r i AT ~~~* dont his about the streets IJinnf Ijhp \CLmP name. (Laughter.) with his clothes • MUiy.il I L^ll^ i vu '» c But it is a good, disarranged. - . ..■ . ■ _^ honest Sc ot c h Moffat gave cvi- "■ ~ ! [ ~ '. name, isn't it?— dence on his own behalf and 'denied McGruer, McGruer; I would not be emphatically that he had acted inde- found dead with it.: (Renewed, laughcently towards the girl. ter). He also denied the statement of Why not?— Why, it's as Irish as it Constable Brown that he had seen him' can be I with his. clothes disarranged m the pre- "Did you ever go about Ngaruawahia sence of the child. . with your shirt out?" ' Lawyer Gillies (for the Crown) : Moffat (eyeing the Crown Solicitor "Then the constable is telling a lie?" disdainfully): "Look here, I may be a Moffat: Well, it is not impossible for bit silly, but I am- not altogether off a constable to tell a lie, I suppose? my dot." (Laughter). (Laughter). . . Counsel for the defence intimated Lawyer Gillies (pointing to Detective that he did not intend to address the White):' "Do you know this gentle- jury, wrfich brought the old man to his man?" i . . feet with "a request that he should be Moffat: Man, if you please; not gen- allowed to say a few words to them, tleman! ' Permission being given, he addressed Why not g6 nilem^God made ■££ - n"*| a mt^Sd^^di» S ttlem t0 » IVe Old man a Cha nce tO gentlemen.andlad.es. . end his days ip peace. \ The jury failed : to* agree as to the.l. ' .1. .J ' . ■ '« ! old man's guilt and a new trial was The jufy. took only a few mirrordered. ~ utesin finding a verdict of not The Crown Solicitor pointed out to guilty. ' ' his honor that Moffat was penniless rand that it might be. better to detain It is stated that Judge Blair slipped him m custody pending the new trial, the constable five shillings to buy the He wbuld then at least be certain of old man a feed and pay his fare back getting a bed and food. to* Ngaruawahia.