MET AT A FAIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 254, 23 October 1920, Page 19

MET AT A FAIR.

GIRL'S ESCAPADE WITH <AN KX-SOLDIER. SIXX FJiIN INQUIRY. •An amusing story of a girl who xvas missing for txvo nights and turned up at a Sinn Fein hall late In the evening to report to the volunteer officer that sna had -been kidnapped by four men In a motor car was told at a court-martial held at midnight by ihe Galxvay .Battalion of the Irish Republican Army. The two principal .figures in the case are a maid in the employment of Mr. O'Kelly Lynch, mauager of the iMunster and 'Lelnster Rank, who resides at Fort I—.ren„o, a mile outside the city, and John Canax-an, the prisoner, an ex-soldier. Canavan was marched by volunteers through the folding doors thnt ga#» entrance to the tribunal, xvhich comprised tbe battalion commandant and adjutant and a quartermaster. The district inspector of the Republican police told the story of the girl coming to tiie Sinn Fein hall and reporting that she had been kidnapped. Tressed by the volunteers, she denied ibis statement, ami declared that the prisoner had su.gges-t.cu it to her before they parted as the excuse for helug axvay from her master'- home for two nights. Before evidence xvas called, the prisoner was asked to pleat], aud ultimately he saldi lie was guilty, and added a long statement to the effect that he met the girl at Toft's hobby-horses. "Would on like a swing ifi the boats?" she asked. He said he had uo money. " lion't mind that, I have .money," she replied, and she .gave him 1/0. Subsequently, they sat | together on a wagon. and she asked him if be xvould like to take her home. When they arrived at the gate at 10.40 p.m.. she said her mistress had gone to the pictures, and they could wait until they beard the car coming home, dler companion for xvhom she was waiting did not turn up, the motor car had 'passed in, and wuea midnight arrived tbe girl was afraid to enter, and pleaded that he should not leave her. j • , •He remained with her that night and the next day untM 4 p.m. lie heard nothing further from her until her master came to his house looking for her. Next, day he met her, and asked her why she did. not go home. She said she was afraid. A maid in tbe employment of Mrs. O'Kelly Lynch sad the girl xvho was assaulted told her that she and prisoner went up to the mountains, and •she* did not knoxv where she was and had to find het own way back to town after he had left her. When she found the prisoner again be asked her to say she had been kidnapped. The president of the court asked -thft prisouer if the girl -was a consenting party. "She was, sir," replied Canavan, emphatically. , The president thereupon announced that sentence would be .promulgated in due course, and ordered the volunteers t» provide an escort home for the young ladxwho hail given evidence. The prisoner was removed blindfolded and strongly guarded.