ABDUCTION ALLEGED

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1927, Page 11

ABDUCTION ALLEGED

GIRL AND MAN RUN AWAY. CASE FOR SUPREME COURT. By Telegraph —Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. 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 18 years with intent to unlawfully and carnally know her. Accused elected to be tried by a 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 Frye, a 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 8 a.m. Bond could not get change of a £5O note to pay for the hire, so they proceeded to Glcnavy, where he left them. Bond had said to the girl just before his (Frye’s) departure that she could go back in the car if she wished. The girl in the ease denied that intimacy had taken place: neither had the 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, S.M., said there was a case tp answer, and he committed the accused 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 at any time in the next two years.