DEATH BED DENIAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 17 July 1919, Page 5

DEATH BED DENIAL.

A CONVICTION FOR THEFT. FARMER AFFIRMS INNOCENCE. CHRISTCHURCH, July 15 “I, ‘Alexander McQlliHan, farmer -and dealer, of Woodend, believing that my life is drawing near to a close, do hereby make the following statement in the presence of God and the two undersigned witnesses:—- ‘That, inasmuch as I hmke been accused of stealing a. cow and the Court. found

me guilty of the charge, I,_llereby declare that -I am entirely innocent of ‘ the crime, and that I have .not the slightest ideawho put, the cow in my paddock, when she was put in, or howl she was put in. I desire to emphasise ‘ the fact that two of my own cows‘ were removed from my paddock during the same period of time, and that one of these was a facsimile of the one I was accused of stealing.— (Signed), A. McQuillan.’ Witnesses: Th-os. Joyce, J.P., C. B._ Jordan, Methodist Minister.” V The statement was made prior to his death by the late Alexander McQuillan, who was convicted at the February sessions of the Supreme Court of stealing a cow, Many perlSonS who: had know McQuillan all his life never had any doubt about his innocence, and firmly believed he was the victim of a “plant.” At any rate, the was tried and found guilty of stealiing the cows which was the subject {of the charge. On conviction he was ‘admitted to probation for 12 months. I i "'?_"'...= R ARRIVAL Ol‘ MA-RAMA, I ‘ AUCKLAND, this day. The transport Marama arrived at eight this morning, with 641 returned soldiers, including four cot cases. There was fair weather for the trip, which ' was via Panama. There was no illness ;during the voyage. !Lieut. Judson, IV.C., arrived by the Mararna. The \vessel goes on to Wellington with the ‘ southern men. . . » G-REYMOUTH.NEWS. 1 GREYMOUTH, this day. Some months ago a case of leprosy ~was reported at Blackball, but since lthcif nothing has been done for the l removal of the patientdto Quail Islancfi The patient and attendant are confine, to a small hut. Great indignation is expressed at the lasiityvof ‘-the health autliorities ,in not mistking arrangements for .t._h_e patient ’s removal, to; c,c_lcbratei,,p_cace _at_'V_(_},reynlou‘th._._ A 4. igogod—:vr,9gr.B4?lul29,;l4as liter char‘? “15_:~.»»Bl3sin9ss.r.e9»ple Me. °.‘9?;‘;lfi'l’l¥lS_-.S%€“‘if.‘?i‘¥X-. and .M;qnday._ ‘The, papers. are:-not, publishing,on._g§.ajoilday. 1. __ F...” V’