ALLEGED ABDUCTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVII, Issue 10888, 7 April 1927, Page 6

ALLEGED ABDUCTION.

MAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY. DENIAL OF THE OFFENCE. (Per Press Association.) •DUNEDIN, April 6. At the Magistrate's Court at Clyde last night Arthur Cyril Bond was charged that oh March 3, at Clyde, he abducted an unmarried girl under the age of 18 years, with intent to unlawfully and carnally know her. Mr D. J. Simpson (Dunedin) appeared for accused, who elected to be tried by a jury. . Evidence was given by the mother and father of the girl to the effect that no consent was given., nor had they any knowledge that their daughter intended to run away.

George Frye, motor proprietor, gave evidence that he was hired by Bond and took him and the girl in a car to Oamaru, where they arrived about 6 a.m. Bond could not get change of a £SO note to pay for the hire, so they proceeded to Glenavy, where he left them. Bond said to the girl just before Frye's departure that she could go back in the car if she wished to. The girl in the case denied that intimacy had taken place, neither had accused suggested anything of the kind. Accused had given her about £lO altogether, and she had left him at Wellington, where they had stayed at the same hotel, as Miss Dale and Mi' Harris. They occupied separate rooms. Counsel submitted that it was not a case that should be sent to the Supreme Court. There was no suggestion of carnal knowledge. The girl had -told Bond she wanted .to go away, and he had consented to let her accompany him. Bond was certainly not guilty of abduction.

Mr Dixon said there was a case to answer, and committed defendant to the Supreme Court at Dunedin. The girl was convicted on a charge of vagrancy and was ordered to come up for sentence at any time in the next two years.