ALLEGED ABDUCTION.

NZ Truth, Issue 84, 26 January 1907, Page 5

ALLEGED ABDUCTION.

MARRIED MAN'S MAD INFATUATION. Sixteen-year-old Girl's Fatal Fascination.

An abduction case about which there are alleged to be some very unpleasant, not to say. sensational features, is at present occupying the attention of the Christchurch detective branch of the police. A man named George Lyall, aged 38 years, is under arrest on a charge that he, within the space of six months, at Pidgeon Bay, with intent that ~ a certain unmarried girl, one Mary Bryant, under the age of 18 years, to wit 16 years, should be unlawfully and carnally known by him the said George Lyall, did against the will of her father, Charles Alfred Bryant, take her out of the possession of her father. The parents of the girl live at Lyttelton, the father working on the wharf. The • accused, Lyall, has a farm at Pidgeon . Bay, which is not far from LytteK ton, and- the girl Bryant had acted as servant at his place. Lyall is a married man with a- family. From all accounts ( ' . . v : ■'. - THE PAIH^ECAtt: tNtniATß,' and Lyall, sickening of domestic ties, resolved to clear out with her. He is alleged to have ascertained - that the girl would be sixteen (the age of consent) en September 2, 1906, so they waited until September 4, when they arranged to run- away. Lyall evident-if thought he would beat .tine law m so x far as having intercourse with the girl when she --was under the legal age was concerned, but he forgot that ho could be proceeded against for abduction, his paramour being under 18. However, they took boat to Tasmania together and stayed a few months at Hobart. In the' meantime the Bryants had notified the police that their* daughter bad disappeared, they knew not whither, and "missing friend" notices were sent round the colony. The other, day the pair returned to the colony, the girl going to her uncle's place at Lyttelton. She is alleged, to be suffering from certain "irregularities which occurred at Hobart. Detective Bodhani met Lyall m Salisbury-street, Christchurch , and arrested him . It transpired that qn the very day of his arrest his wife, whom he is alleged to have DESERTED - FOR : HIS FANCY - GIRL, gave birth to 'a fourth child m a nursing home at Lyttelton. It is a sad case throughout, and will .be fully , investigated later on. ; When brought up at the Magistrate's Court the prisoner appeared to be ill,. and it transpired that Dr. Sanstein was called m to the police station at his request the night before. Detective Bishop briefly outJined the ..facts of the case m asking for a remand, which was granted 'by Bishop, S.M. The accused applied for bail, but when Detective Bishop mentioned that Lyall had seen the girl 1 sinee 'she went to live with „he,r uncle,, the^Ma^jstr ate refused the application. "Asked" if he would elect 1 o foe dealt with summarily or by jury at the Supreme Court, Lyall i<hose the latter, mode of trial, but be .may alter bis mind when the case comes on at the lower court.