SERIOUS CHARGE

Southland Times, Issue 20148, 7 April 1927, Page 8

SERIOUS CHARGE

ABDUCTION ALLEGED YOUNG GIRL TAKEN FROM HOME ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL (Per United Press Association.) Dunedin, April 6. At the Magistrate’s Court at Clyde last night, Arthur Cyril Bond was charged with on March 3, at Clyde, abducting an unmarried girl under the age of eighteen years, with intent to unlawfully and carnally know her. Mr D. J. Simpson, Dunedin, appeared for 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 Fry, 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 6 a.m. Bond could not get a change of a £5O note to pay for the hire, so they proceeded to Glenavy where he left them. Bond said to the girl just before his (Fry’s) departure that she could go back in the car if she wished to.

The girl in the case denied that intimacy had taken place, neither had accused even suggested anything of the. kind. 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. They occupied separate rooms.

Counsel submitted that it was not a case that should be sent to the Supreme Court. There was no suggestion of carnal knowledge. The girl had told Bond that she wanted to go away, and he had consented to let her accompany him. Bond was certainly not guilty of abduction. Mr Dixon said that 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 any time within the next two years.