A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1917, Page 4

A SERIOUS CHARGE.

' HIDING RESERVIST IN A CAVE. 1 FARMER COMMITTED FOR TRIAI* I By Telegraph.—Press Association. ! Wangaroi, Last Night. A case presenting remarkable feature! was heard at the Magistrate's Court to< , day, when Douglas Campbell Woldie, fan mer, Upper Waitotara, was charged with inciting Michael Killalea not to rendei \ the services required of him as a member of the Expeditionary Forces. Killalea* who came to the Dominion from Ireland a few years ago, said that when be received notice of being called up, Woldi# told him to plant himself on a section, and he assisted witness to make a dug« out, which was concealed with branches, in a lonely spot. Witness stayed seven weeks in this hole, and Woldie oaotslonally used to bring him a pieee of bread. Then rain flooded the and a' fresh bole was dug in higher country. Al« together, witness was in hiding for niht. months, working in the day for Woldiey but making for the retreat if stranger! ' were reported in the district. Witnest said Woldie informed him that the military authorities were shooting deserter* in Wellington, or taking them out to seaj and dropping them overboard. He wal afraid to give himself up as ho believed he would lie shot. Fiifally witness for the bush, where the police and apprehended him. < Police witnesses said Kellalea was ' physical wreck when arrested. He appeared to be a normal, but •a' simple, countrified sort of man, Inspector Hendrey said the charge against Woldie was a serious one, tha maximum penalty being three years. Defendant, who pleaded not guilty, waR committed to the Supreme Court for) trial, bail totaling £3OO being allowed.