MIDNIGHT FLIGHT

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11653, 18 October 1923, Page 6

MIDNIGHT FLIGHT

FARMER’S DAUGHTER ELOPES. ABDUCTION CHARGE FAILS. DUBBO, October 3. A story reminiscent of Mark Twain’s “Yankee at the Court of King Arthur’’ was unfolded to Judge Armstrong and jury at Dubbo quarter sessions. Robert Dugan, a hefty young farm labourer, for whom Mr MoGuin appeared, pleaded not guilty to abducting Thelma Grace Daley. The girl in tho case, Thelma Grace Daley, a tall, prepossessing blonde, who gave her age as 16, said she resided with her parents at Fairlands, near Dubbo. Defendant resided near her father’s farm. In April last they became Bweetliearts on the “sly.” It was several weeks at least before her mother found it out. Defendant met her at a dance on Friday, June 15th, and suggested an elopement on the following Su*dav night. Witness agreed, and it was arranged that defendant should come for tea on Sunday evening. Ho arrived in the afternoon, however, had tea, and told a few yarns till her mother and father went to bed. Defendant waited till close on midnight, and slipped away, telling her that he would be waiting for her down the lane, with a lior6e and saddle. “I’LL SHOOT HIM!” “I then went to bed,” continued witness, “but did not go to sleep. I got up, slipped my coat on over my under clothes, and tiptoed out and down to where defendant was waiting. Defendant stopped to embrace me, when my father’s voice was heard, yelling out: ‘Grace, where are you?’ Defendant held me, hut when my father shouted, ‘Wliero is that mongrel, Boh Dugan? I’ll shoot him,’ he let me go and walked towards my father. Presently he came running heck, and said my father had a gun.” “Defendant then legged me on to the home, felling me,” added witness, “that if we didn’t got away quickly we’d both be shot. He then hopped on behind, and wo made for a distant farmhouse, where defendant secured a sulkv and harness. We drove all night to defendant’s brother’s place at Myangra, and from there to his sister’s home at Tomingly, where we arrived about lunch-time next day.” There witness stayed for several daye after accused left her. Tho jury, at the suggestion of His Honour, promptly acquitted Dugan, and he was discharged