Kidnapped!

NZ Truth, Issue 1194, 18 October 1928, Page 11

Kidnapped!

RESPLENDENT m uniform, the ** dumb bell-boy m the passageway of the White Swan Hotel, with arm outstretched directs thirsty mortals to the bottle department. The bell-boy, -one day recently, was missing from his post, and thereby hangs a tale. James Basil Taylor and George Herbert Frater faced Magistrate Mosley m the Christchurch court last week, and pleaded not guilty to the theft of the bell-boy. ' It appeared that Taylor and Frater were imbibing rather freely m the bar of the 'White -Swan Hotel, and the attraction of the bell-boy proved too much for them. They wandered down the passage, picked up the figure and strolled out to Taylor's motor-car which was drawn up outside. They placed the figure m a boat shed and left it there. The insistent pricking of conscience was ; top much, however, and a few days ; later Frater telephoned the licensee i of the p hotel and informed him that I his kiSnapped bell-boy was com- ' ing, home again. . „ • But, Fate,: m the form of the • police had" meanwhile taken a ■ hand m- the matter and Frater 'was apprehended. He was quite candid about the whole thing, as was Taylor when he was interI viewed. ■ The youths were asked to place a pound note each m the poor box, to pay for their skylarking, and the theft, charge was dismissed ineach cas«.