ALLEGED ABDUCTION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 881, 29 July 1910, Page 6

ALLEGED ABDUCTION.

(By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.)

Auckland, July 28. A serious charge-4hat of forcibly abducting a Native girl 11 years of age, named. Tane Whiunui, at Matahura—was preferred against' a young man named ■Percy Wright St. Clair, of Ngaruawahia, at the Huntly Police Court. The evidence of the father, Whiunui, and of the mother, went to show that the girl was 14 years of age, the date of birth appearing in the Bible produced. It was alleged that the accused, who worked in' a flaxmill near their wharo, pestered the girl with unwelcome attentions. ■He came about the. house until requested to leave, "his proposals being rejected. Despite the warnings and expostulations of the parents, he still persisted in accosting the girl, and, for bno or two' days, camped in the bush near Whiumii's whare, on tho night of March 25, during tlio absence of both parents, he forcibly adbucted' the girl. , She corroborated her parents' evidence, and stated that, from Matahura, she and

the accused walked to Ohinewai Station, when they proceeded by rail, to Palmerston North, where they lived for two or tlireo weeks. The accused worked in a flaxmill there. At the end of that period accused deserted her leaving her to shift for herself. With the aid of some local Natives, she got into communication with her parents, .who brought her home. .

Accnsed pleaded not. guilty, and wa3 committed to appear before the Supreme Court at Hamilton.

To-day, at 2 p.m.. the whole of the valuable stock of iMots and shoes of Oakes's Boot Store, 197 Cuba Street, will bo sold by privato auction by Messrs. W. H. Morrah and Co., in the above premises. Tho stock consists of 400 pairs men's boots, 500 parrs ladies' boots, GOfl parrs ladies' shoes, and 200 pairs children's boots and shoes, which are entirely new, in perfect order, and will be sold lyithout reserve.