SUPREME COURT

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1918, Page 5

SUPREME COURT

ASSISTING A RESERVIST TO ESCAPE SERVICE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wanganui, Last Night. After a two days' trial at the Supreme Court, Douglas Campbell Waldie, a settler in the Waitotara district, wa>. found guilty on a charge of assisting Michael Killalea in escaping from military service Killalea was" the principal witness for the Crown, and, as his state was bordering on collapse, Justice Hosking ordered him to be medically examined before the case proceeded. Killalea, who gave his evidence with difll-c-ulty, said he was 3J years out from Ireland. He was working cutting tracks ■in Waldie's farm, and after being drawn in the ballot accused induced him to make a dug out in a cliff, where he lived for six months. Witness said he worksd 'n the daytime, but slept in the dugout and took refuge there when people: were about He was told t'hat the Government were shooting deserters, or throwing them overboard from transports, and was <.fra;<i t; g.vt himself up. Eventually Waldie leased the farm, and on witness shifting to another part of the district he was arrested- 1 He was then in ay. emaciatcA state owing to exposure. The defence was that accused neither employed nor encouraged Killalea. Mrs. Waldie, wife of accused, said she lived in a state of ten'oi\>knowiiig Killalea was about, but gave him food, as she was afraid of some revengeful act. They were afraid to inf6rm the police because of the possible consequences, as Killalea made threats to kill her. ller husband finally decided that the only course was for herself and her husband to leave the district. THE STRATFORD IXCEXDIARIST. SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui. Feb. 15. To-day Mr. Justice Edwards sentenced John Benjamin Clarke to six years' imprisonment for arson at Stratford. The evidence disclosed that the prisoner was an Australian spieler. Catherine Milne was sentenced to five years' reformative treatment for attempted murder and suicide.