“WHAT’S IN A NAME?”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 386, 21 June 1928, Page 13

“WHAT’S IN A NAME?”

AMUSING COURT SCENE “BIT SILLY, BUT NOT DOTTY” (From Our Otun Correspondent i HAMILTON, Wednesday. On each occasion the octogenarian, Neil Moffat, has been before the Court he has provided the material for bursts of laughter from judge, counsel and jury. This morning he appeared again, charged with committing an indecent act at Ngaruawahia, the jury on a former occasion having disagreed. During cross-examination prisoner admitted that Constable McGruer called at his whare and he (prisoner) was not even polite to him. He did not like his name. Mr. H. T. Gillies (Crown Solicitor): It's a good Scotch name, isn’t it? Prisoner: I would not be found dead with it. (Laughter.) Mr. Gildes: How is that? Prisoner: It’s as Irish as you can make it: but, after all, as Shakespeare said, ‘"What's in a name?” Mr. Gillies: Do you ever go about with your shirt loose? Prisoner*: Look here, I may be a bit silly, but I’m not dotty altogether. (Loud laughter.) Addressing the jury, the od man recited his record with, the Imperial Army in variou* parts of the world. He also referred to the ‘‘shabby’’ way in which he had been brought up before the Court. ‘‘That’s all I’ve done.” he concluded. After a few minutes’ retirement the jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and prisoner was discharged, the judge warning him not to invite little girls into his whare again.