ELOPEMENT AND ROBBERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6422, 17 June 1882, Page 7

ELOPEMENT AND ROBBERY.

A GENERAL'S SON IN TROUBLE.

At the Berwick police court, Frank Turner, a lieutenant in the King's Own Borderers, at present stationed with the depot of the regiment at Berwick, was charged, on remand, with stealing or Taking away a lady's travelling trunk and a portmanteau, value 50a., the property of Mr. Robert Wcddell, solicitor, liorwick. The case has arisen out of the elopement of the prosecutor's wife with the prisoner. It appeared that on Wednesday morning, the 12th of April, the parties, who had been for some time on intimate terms, met in the Magdalen-fields, whence they proceeded alone the North-road, where a conveyance fron Ayton was waiting for them, and drove them to Ayton station, on tl]« North British Railway line. At that station, however, a policeman was standing, and the prisoner, fearing that he was in waiting for him, told the driver to proceed to the next station (Reston). At this station they booked for St. Boswell's, and thence to Carlisle, from which place they proceeded to Penrith. The parties having been noticed to enter the conveyance on the North-road, information was conveyed to Berwick and the telegraph set in ' motion. All their movements were quickly 1 traced by that means, and, as they passed ( along the railway they were—unknown to themselves—recognised by the officials at every station, who had been apprised of their coming. The lieutenant was reported to have had only two days' leave, and on Thursday ni jht the station at Berwick was crowded by hundreds of people, who watched every arriving train. The lieutenant did not arrive, however, until half-past four the next morning, when ho was immediately taken into custody. The prisoner, who is a son of General Turner, of the Indian army, has seen some service,, and it was only some weeks ago that he was presented withamedal for distinguished services in the Afghan campaign. When the case was called on the prisoner was further charged with stealing four silver salt cellars, four silver salt-spoons, four plated aposfle spoons; and six silver teaspoons, the property of Mr. Weddell. Mrs. Annie Dixon (who-lives opposite to the prosecutor) deposed that on an afternoon in January last she saw ttie prisoner kiss Mrs. Weddell in the drawing-room, and Mrs. Weddell then laid her head on the prisoner's shoulder. She told her husband, but made no communication on the subject to Mr. Weddell. Ann Brown, cook in the prosecutor's employ, gave evidence relaiive to the prisoner's frequent visits to the house. He mostly came in the afternoon, after Mr. Weddell had left to go to his office. They used to sit sometimes in the drawing-room and sometimes in the _ dining - room. The photograph produced is one of Mrs. Weddell, wearing a brown dress, silver bolt, and anecklace. fhatwasthe dre6sshe mostly wore. When Mr. Turner came to see her Mrs. Weddell was thus dressed. The blind was drawn down, and wo knew the warrior was coming (laughter). The easy chair usually stood in the corner of the drawingroom near the fire. When the blind was down she could not be seen from the streets. I remember the chimney being on fire one Saturday. I was in the cellar on one | occasion, about 4 o'clock, and Mrs. Weddell and prisoner were in the dining-room. I heard the prisoner speaking. I remember April 10. I helped Mrs. Weddell downstairs with a heavy trunk. The girl and child were out. I The trunk was put in a pantry, and the door locked, Mrs. Weddell tailing the key. Mrs. Weddell gave ma a letter, Which I took to the barracks for the prisoner. I gave the letter into the prisoner's hands. The prisoner then gave me a letter, telling me to give it to no one but Mrs. Weddel. I gave Mrs. Weddell that letter. About 10 o'clock that night prisoner's servant and another man came to the back door of the house and tock the big trunk away. On Tuesday, the 11th April, at nine o'clock at night, there were a portmanteau and a box standing near the kitchen door. About 10 o'clock the prisoner's servant came to the door. Mrs. Weddell asked him what he wanted, and he said the portmanteau, which she gave him. The same night Mrs. Weddell gave me a letter to take to the barracks for the prisoner, I gave it to a soldier at the barracks. Cross-examined : The prisoner is not the only man who came to the house.; Re-examined : I knew prisoner had been for-' bidden the house on Monday, the 10th of April. John M 'Laren, the prisoner's servant, said he carried a trunk aad portmanteau from Mrs. Weddell's house to the barracks on April 12th, and took the prisoner's trunk to Ayton station. At Ayton he got a conveyance, which he came with to near Berwick, where he left it, and the prisoner got in ; Mrs. Weddell also was there. Margaret Tjiddell, of the Craven Hotel, Penrith, deposed to the fact of the prisoner and a lady coming to the hotel on the 12th of April and engaging a bedroom for the night. She cashed a cheque for £5, signed "F. M. Turner, Lieut. 25 K. 0.8." Prisoner left next morning, and the lady left on the Friday afternoon. The photograph (produced) was that of the lady. Mr. Robert Weddell, the prosecutor, said the cheque now shown him was endorsed in the handwriting of his wife. The articles produced —four silves salt-cellars, four silver spoonß, and six silver teaspoons, in cases—were his property. They remained in the ease where his silver plate was kept. After Mrs. Weddell went away witness made a search, and finding the cases light, opened them and found the silver gone. He authorised no one to take the goods. He had forbidden the visits of .Lieutenant Turner. He discovered the absence of Mrs. Weddell before the loss of his plate. His wife had emptied her wardrobe, and some of the articles of ornament had been concealed by Mrs. Weddell, but they had since been unearthed. Police-sergeant James M'Guffie said he searched two boxes at Bowscale on Saturday. He found the articles produced. This closed the case for the prosecution, and after Mr. Jell had addressed the Bench for the prisoner the magistrates retired, and on returning committed the prisoner for trial at the next quarter sessions. After the decision, however, Lieutenant Turner placed himself in custody, so that he might be tried at the Newcastle assizes.