CHILD KIDNAPPED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1373, 26 February 1912, Page 5

CHILD KIDNAPPED.

ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL. SEQUEL TO DOMESTIC TROUBLE AN ARREST MADE.

The shopkeepers near the corner of Bostou and Mount Eden Roads were startled yesterday morning (says the Auckland "Herald" of February 23) by' the loud screams of children. On going outside to investigate, , they saw two little girls struggling hard with a. mnn, both the children showing every evidence of fear. Eventually the man separated the children, acd carried one ot them to a trap, n'hich was driven away by another man iii waiting. Subsequent developments pointed to the fact that the little girl hud been kidnapped. Inquiries made iriUicatf that-the kidnapping incident is <i sequel to domestic trouble. The mother of tho child, who is almost heartbroken at her loss, Related some of the events leading up to the affair to a "Herald" reprcsentutive.. .A little over eight years ago, she states, her husband, who is a Dane, deserted her. Shortly afterwards the child was born, the father never having seen thfc little one until recently. For six years the mother never saw or hoard of her husband until about two years ago, when sho obtained a divorce from him, and eho was given tho custody of the child. Sinco the divorce the mother bad married again, and is living in Eden Terrace. Only once had she. heard from her former husband since her second marriage. This was somo months ago, when hfc wrote n letter from South Africa, threatening to come back to New Zealand. From whnt can be gathered from the mother and those who witnessed the occurrence, tho child accompanied by her cousin left home about eight a.m., with the intention of going to Graftou School. They were walking along in blissful innocence until they reached tho corner of Boston and Mount Eden Roads. They saw a horse- and trap at the corner, and one of tho two men in the vehicle stepped on to the road and approached the children, and oaught hold of one. of them, and endeavoured to drag her to the trap. The little one gave rent to heartrending screams, and her companion holding on to her, also cried bitterly. But the man. it is said, roughly separated them, and succeeded in taking the child, who was struggling violently, to Hie trap, leaving the cousin in bitter distress.. After get-, ting tho child in tho trap, the mnn smothered her cries by placing his band over her mouth. Whilst tho man was struggling with the children a woman from oup of the shops intervened, but the man informed her that the child was wanted by hor mother, and.-he was endeavouring to take her home. f > That tho kidnapping of tho child was the result of premeditation was evidenced by tho fact that finger-p'rints were noticed yesterday on the window of the child's bedioom, an attempt having evidently been made to gain access \o the room the previous evening. I?or the past !ew days also a. couple of men had been noticed in the vicinity of the home, and they had > been asking other children-'about tho little girl. The Mount Eden police station is only a short distance from the scene where tho child was kidnapped. The cousin called at the station, and sobbed out-the story of what had happened, then went to school and told the headmaster of the loss of her companion.' The first news of the loss of her daughter was conveyfd to the mother by the schoolmaster, and she immediately communicated with the police. The police proceeded to make investigations, and about 10 o'clock oh Thursday night they arrested a, man, who is to be charged with assisting to take- the child oway. Tho other man has not yet been found.

'.;■ ./THE LATEST. ; (By Teleffraph- PrT«-' Anoefatfon;) ''" . , Auckland, February 25. IVo trace has so far been discovered of Hie eight-year-old i»irl who was kidnapped from _ Me. Eden Torrace on Thursday morning. One of the men suspected of being connected with the affair is at preBcnt under arrest, bnt the mother's fears are that he was not the prime mover in tho matter, and that every hour increases the- distance between herself and her child.