ALLEGED SEDUCTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1759, 13 September 1917, Page 3

ALLEGED SEDUCTION.

A ease in which considerable interest is being taken throughout the W'airarapa commenced at Masterton on Tuesday, before bis Honour the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout. John Cross, a farmer, claimed the sum of £2,000 damages from Alexander Colquboun, a farmer and member of the Expeditionary Force, uoav at Trentham, for the alleged seduction of bis (plaintiff’s) daughter. Sir John Findlay, K.C., appeared for plain!iff, and Air T. AT. Wilfovd for defendant. The evidence for the plaintiff Avcnt to slioav that Iho young Avoman attended dances Avilh defendant, and Avas frequently in his company. She loft for Sydney after receiving the sum of £75 from the defendant, for which she gave a receipt, in Avhieli she aeknoAvledged that defendant was not responsible for her condition. When in Sydney she became very ill, and she wrote to defendant, but received no reply. She went under an assumed name, but her parents subsequently discovered her, and she was brought back to Ncav Zealand. Defendant denied that ho ever had improper relations with the girl. VERDICT FOR £1,009. Later. After further evidence had been given for the defence, counsel addressed the jury, and Sir Robert Stout traversed the evidence. The jury retired, and after threequarters of an hour, brought in a verdict for £.1,000 and costs.