A STRANGE CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 228, 4 October 1901, Page 2

A STRANGE CASE.

Y CHILD KIDNAPPED AND KEPT THREE YEARS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, last night. A sensational abduction case commenced this morning in the Supreme Court, Joseph Soler claiming A‘f>oo damages from Mrs Tucker this divorced wife), Mr Tucker [Master-ton), Mr and Mrs Coburn, Mr and Mrs Humphries. T. llodgson, and J. Dalgleish. Dr. Findlay appeared for plaintiff, and Messrs l’ow.nall. Baruicoat, and Hawkins for the defendaflts. Dr. Findlay, in opening the case for plaintiff, said probably the case was unparalleled in the history of the colony, it was a case which showed that notwithstanding the length and strength of the arm of the law, it was still possible to steal a man’s child, spirit him away, and conceal his whereabouts for nearly three years. On December 2nd, 1898,'the lad* left his father’s house for the Wanganui School, and was asked by Mrs Humphreys, of Master-ton, where tho mother of the child resides, to go home to Mrs Coburn’s, where ho was dressed in girl's clothes and a bonnet, lie was taken to the station, and from there to Masterton by Mrs Humphreys, stayed at the Prince of Wales Hotel one night with his mother, who told him that in future his mime was to ho Fred Davis. The lad next morning was dressed in girl’s clothes, and taken to Mr Humphreys’ station at Feathorston, where he remained a month, and then, in girl’s clothes, ho was taken to Wellington, meeting Hodgson and his daughter, the latter, Mrs Humphreys, and Miss Humphreys, by which name the boy went under, booked passages to Lyttelton on January 19, 1899. The lad was taken to Christchurch by train, then in a cab to Cathedral Sqnaro, by a ’bus from there to Papanui, where he lived in the house of Hodgson for two years and three months. During that time he was sent to the State school. Then Hodgson shifted to Invercargill, taking tho lad with him. From Invercargill they went to a farm at Woodlands, then back again to Invercargill, and then on to a farm of Dalgleish’s, who was formerly a sheep-farmer in the Wairarapa, and know Mrs Tucker. There the lad was found by the police. Dr Findlay said Mr Tucker, when asked by the father if the lad was at his hotel, denied all knowledge, and subsequently informed the police that the lad was well cared for in Australia.

THE CASE CONCLUDED. JURY AWARD PLAINTIFF £lB5. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, last night. At the Supreme Court to-day, the Soler abduction case was continued before Chief Justice Sir Robert Stout. The plaintiff claimed to recover £550 damages for defendant depriving and conspiring to deprive him of his son, Raphael Soler, by abducting or enticing him away from plaintiffs house [at Wanganui, and thereafter conspiring to conceal his whereabouts, and wrongfully and secretly harboring him from tho plaintiff for a period of over two years and eight months; further, that the plaintiff had throughout that poriod been put to great expense in searching lor the child, and in paying legal and. other expenses to discover the whereabouts of tho child, and had otherwise suffered great mental anguish and inconvenience, and had lost for the said period the child’s services and society. The defence was that Mrs Tucker was under the impression that no order of tho Court had been made whereby it was unlawful for her to take the chield.

The ease created great interest, tho courthouse being crowded all day. In addressing tho jury, Sir Robt. Stout said a case of this sort had never been tried in the colony previously, and in the course of his remarks said tho public should know that if any person took away a child under 14 years of age out of the possession of the parent or guardian, such person was liable to very serious punishment, up to seven years’ imprisonment with hard, labor.

The jury awarded X2OO damages against Mr and Mrs Tucker, £IOO against Mr and Mrs Humphries, £IOO against Mr Hodgson, £'Bo against Mr and Mrs Coburn, and £5 against Dalgleish.