AN ABDUCTION CHARGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19417, 27 August 1926, Page 15

AN ABDUCTION CHARGE.

STRUGGLE WITH A GIRL. A REMARKABLE STORY. YOUNG MAN'S REPENTANCE. [from ot;r> own correspondent.] SYDNEY. Aue. 19. A story reading like the exploits of the cave-man days was told in the Coff's Harbour Court this week, against William Herbert, aged 22, who was charged with having abducted Myrtle Irene Russell, aged 17, assaulting her mother, Mary Russell, and with having broken into the dwelling of James Russell with intent to steal.. Evidence was given that the girl and Herbert had been keeping company for two years. A week ago the girl told the accused that she intended breaking from him, and he replied that he would kill either her or himself if she did. Last Tuesday, while the girl's father was away from home, Herbert visited the house, and. after he had left, the mother and daughter went to bed together. Some time later they heard a noise at the back window, but a search failed to reveal the cause. Shortly afterwards Herbert knocked at the door, and was admitted. He was asked to fix up the window as the women were scared. He then went away again _ and Mrs. Russell and her daughter returned to bed. About 5.30 next morning, the girl stated, she was awakened by Herbert dragging her out of bed, he having gained entrance through a window on which the leather hinge had been cut. Iler screams awakened her mother, who grappled with Herbert, and a fierce light ensued. Mrs. Russell was struck on tho jaw and knocked down and the girl said she picked up the bedroom jug and broke it over Herbert's head. The man then took the girl in his arms and'carried her from the house. In the struggle she was knocked insensible and when she 'recovered consciousness she was in the' bush some distance from the house. Herbert then had a pocket knife in his hand and she said ho threatened to " do for her" if she called out. Next he lifted her on his back and carried her further ! into the bush, where he ordered her to disguise herself as a boy, by putting on a pair of his trousers and coat. She said she did so and they wandered about the scrub all day, A train came along and Herbert tried to induce her to jump on to it with him as it passed out of one of the tunnels, but she was too afraid to take the risk. Towards evening, the girl said, Herbert became repentant and commenced to cry. He said he was sorry and intended asking Mrs. Russell to forgive him. He offered to return 12s which he said he had taken from the house that morning, but the girl told him to keep the money, as he had had no food and had no money of his own to buy any. .They 'returned to the vicinity of Russell's house•and the girl, after taking off Herbert's clothing and putting on the dress ivhich she had slept in, ran to a neighbour whom she saw in a paddock with a lantern. Herbert wandered about until the following evening, when he surrendered himself to the police. When questioned by the police, he said the girl wanted to go away with him and tlu : ,t the money he had taken belonged to him. Herbert, who reserved his defence, was committed for trial.