ALLEGED ABDUCTION

Northern Advocate, 7 April 1927, Page 6

ALLEGED ABDUCTION

A CASE TO ANSWER

ACCUSED FOR TRIAL.

GIRL A VAGRANT.

DUNEDIN, This Day,

At the Magistrate’s Court at Clyde yesterday, Arthur Cyril Bond was charged with, on March 3 at Clyde, abducting an unmarried girl under the age of IS years. Mr D. J. Simpson, Dunedin, appeared for the accused, who elected to be tried by 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 (i 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 witness’ departure that she could go back in the car if she wished to. The girl in the ease denied that intimacy had taken place; neither had accused even suggested anything of the sort. 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 Mr Harris, occupying separate rooms. Counsel submitted that it was not a ease that should be sent to the Supreme Court. There was no suggestion of impropriety. The girl had told Bond that she wanted to go away and be had consented to let her accompany him. Bond was certainly not guilty of abduction. Mr Dixon S.M., said there was a

case to answer, and he committed defendant to the Supreme Court at Dunedin. Accused pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence.

The girl in the case was convicted on a charge of vagrancy and was ordered to come up for sentence at any time in the next two years. —Press Assn.