The Bourke Abduction.— Father Huggard's Case.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 159, 3 July 1886, Page 2

The Bourke Abduction.— Father Huggard's Case.

The chartro against Father Haggard, for the abiuotum ot the girl Loueia Moxham, in February last, was heard in Bouike. Tho evidence was similar to that given at the Police Court examination. When making some reinai ks Father Huggard said he considered that Judge Blackhouse was deciding: the case against him independently of the jury The judge replied that ho was doing nothing of the sort, and he added that if any professional min had Baid as much the remark would not have been passed over. All the witnesses having been examined, Father Huggard addressed the jury in his own defence. He spoke for an hour and a quarter. He said that he hoped the jury would find it agree with their consciences to convict him, a<3 he desired to go before the Supreme Court, and then, if necessary, before the Privy Council. He said that if the law covered his ca?=e, then the lawmakers were fools ; and that if the jury found him guilty he pitied them. He apologised to ihe Judge for any strong expressions which he had previously made. The Judge occupied three quarters of an hour in summing up, and paid that probably the fool was on the other eide of the question. He summed up against the prisoner, and left it to the jury to decide whether the girl had been taken from the lawful possession of her father. The jury retirod to consider their verdict at a quarter past nine. Father Huggard was found guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy. Sentence was passed next morning, Father Huggard being bound over to appear when called on for judgment, himself in £200, and two sureties of £100 each. The point as to whether the girl was actually under her father's control when taken was reserved.