“SPIRITED AWAY.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 April 1928, Page 3

“SPIRITED AWAY.”

TO AVOID MARRIAGE. ORDER MADE BY COURT. DUNEDIN, April. 17. Claiming that a young man had been spirited away by his parents so as to evade his obligations, Mr. A. C. Hanlon ax>plied in the Police Court for an ex parte affiliation and maintenance order. Air; Hanlon said that a girl and the man, Robert Bain Stewart, had been engaged to i.qurry. Stewart had left Dunedin, and his parents had refused to give any- intimation as to his whereabouts. His mother had stated that she would sooner see her son dead than married to the girl. Stewart- had been spirited away to Australia by his parents. If the order were made, the police in Australia would force Stewart to pay, or ins parents', who had spirited him out of the country, would have to pay. The section under which Mr. Hanlon asked that. the ease should ho heard was section 73 of the Destitute Persons. Act, under which, if it is proved that the defendant is absent from New Zealand, or cannot .bo found, a magistrate may, upon being satisfied, deal with the matter ex parte. Complainant gave evidence that before Stewart had disappeared he told her that lie was having too good atime to marry her. . Complainant’s' mother detailed:... a conversation she. had had with Stewart and lirs mother,* in which- hi® mother had stated that .“they .‘could do their worst” in finding Stewart, but she would give no. help. Airs. Stewart had said that her son was in Ale!bourne, and she intendedi to keep him there. . . An ex parte order was made, maintenance being fixed at Ids weekly. Stewart was also ordered to pay costs and past maintenance.