THE CASE OF ELIZA ARMSTRONG. The Prosecution for Abduction.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 125, 24 October 1885, Page 4

THE CASE OF ELIZA ARMSTRONG. The Prosecution for Abduction.

UU t ukn Mr Stead, of the "Pall Mall Guzette," was moving -heaven and eaith to induce the House of Commons to add certain frp-eially sweeping clauses r* "übduction" to the Criminal Law Amendment AC"., he little thought lhat the tiint pi r^on they would be used against nou d be himself. Now, however, there seems every likelihood ot i his strange Nemet-i* btcoming fact, for on attempting to prove the every - day occnrrenceof gro9? out rages up >n children of the poor, the "apostie of purity" h»e deliberately assisted at what in the eyo of i he law is unquestionably an abduction. In the "rtp.rt" of the "secret comnois finn," the giil Eliza Armstrong figured as '• Lily," and was described as the victim of a particulaily ghastly and brutal outrage which, however, turns out to have been no more than carrying 'he girl through th« foima which ihe u Gazotte" alleges are com mnnly pu.eued in the violation of children. '♦ We did everything aminutaur would have done," says Mr Stead in explanation, 'sim ply stopping shott at the commia-ion of the crime it-elf." It seems Mr Stead got most ot the facts chronicled in his famous "re port" from Hi becca Jarrett, erftwhilo "a procuress," but now a "Salvation Army convHit, and a, good .woman," in whose reformation axi^bona Jides he placed, and still places, "implicit confidence." Thia good lady, as '"'some atonement for past crimes," kindly consented to provide Mr fttead with a young virgin, Bold by her mother for purposes of seduction, for £5. He, Mr Sttad, made no independent inquiries m to whether the mother really knew where and for what purpose the girl was leaving home. He had her taken to a midwife, w,ho, l ',to the child's anger,- pain, and astonishment," periormed on her the indecent assault known to the editor of the " Pa|l'M all Gazette .".and friends as^certi fyiug to, » maidenV .virginity." Thence 'the poor, girl was, conveyed to a- brothel, and drugge^with,. chloroform,,- Mr fc^te^d, .remaining ajoneiri.a room .with her for half a ; hour. " n no other way," cays this ;gentleman, triumphantly, «.* could we have ( ,■ < •; * ;"-,m ; i, s* ,; • . •»•!. ; .':.•• r

proved by our own knowledge that a mid.wife .wQiulj^cArjify Jap- iuirapral purpose^ would Bell chloroform for drugging the victim', lon that! a •.brothehkee.per would altoV-a child ao : young Uo be, adoiiitvd to her 3 pram isea for ,i purposes •of viulation. " .After, t tbiB,ithe-. child, wus taken , away' to. Fia»cej and, has only now been restored to, her parents by direct inteivenwon of the police.. . • i<