Suez Mail News.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 1000, 17 November 1881, Page 4

Suez Mail News.

[Pee R.M.S. ZealandiaJ. EXTRAORDINARY CASE. KIDNAPPING A BRIDEGROOM The following extraordinary case of abduction, in which a bridegroom waskidnappedin the neighborhood of London on the eve of marriage, is from th< Some Netos, 23rd September. I hi gentleman, the Rev. R. B- Kennard. Rector of Mainhall, Dorset, states: On the evening of the 13th September I engaged a sitting-room at the Castle Hotel, Woodford, where I intended to sleep that night, previous to my marriage on the following morning. When sitting in my private room waiting dinner at 8 p.m., I was introduced to a person who represented that he had come from Woodford, in Mr. Fraser’s carriage, a relative of mine; that Mr. Fraser particularly wished to see me on a matter of im portance. t Under the apprehension that the gentleman might have had news to break to me, I cut off my dinner, and went down stairs with my visitors, to what I supposed to be Mr. Fraser’s carriage. I entered without suspicion, and immediately the alleged messenger took his seat beside me. Another man stepping out of the darkness, placed himself opposite me, and said he was also a friend of Mr. Fraser’s. My suspicion of foul play aroused, but too late, the carriage being in motion. Looking out of the window, I found we were not being driven in the direction of Mr. Fraser’s house. I attempted to appeal to the coachman, but was immediately laid hold of and held down by my companions. I shouted for assistance, but was seized by the throat and silenced. My assailants were both powerful men. My first impression was that they were conveying me to the forest to rob me of bank notes —£100 —which I carried in preparation for my wedding tour. I said, “ Is your object robbery ?” They said, “ No, we are not robbers,” but refused any explanation. As we proceeded, I shouted for help whenever any one was within hearing. At every such attempt, I was gagged and seized by the throat. In order to leave a trace of the route we were following, I threw my hat out of the window. They drove on regardless of my cries and struggles, through the forest; crossed London, passing the Angle Hotel, Islington, where 1 endeavored again, without success, to invoke the police and public who thronged the thoroughfares, stopping at last at a house which I afterwards discovered to be in Hunter-street, near Brunswick Square. A few seconds before we stopped, I saw a policeman. Shouting as lustily as I could, with the hands of these men at my throat, I was dragged out of the carriage as soon as it stopped, and here, again, I struggled with all my strength to release myself from my captors. I called the police before the house, but, in spite of all my struggles, was forcibly dragged into the front room on the ground floor, and then told that a gentleman would appear in a few minutes, who would explain all. The pretended messenger then removed the fire-irons from the fender, and left me alone in the room. After some time I was removed into a little room at the back of the house, where I found two small beds prepared for the night. I was invited to occupy one of the beds. I lay down for some hours without taking off my clothes, reflecting on the perilous situation in which I found myself. I heard several knocks at the front door, and men appeared to be consulting with confederates. Early in the morning the messenger entered the room with his clothes on. I asked the man several questions with a view of ascertaining the objact of my detention. He gave me to understand he had been instructed to detain me as a lunatic, that in the morning a doctor would come and give his opinion on my state of mind. At 8 a.m., I asked for breakfast. They readily complied, and brought me a nicely cooked mutton chop, tea, bread and butter. I then appealed to them again to release me. and they told me they could not do so consistently with instructions until 11.30, when in the event of no doctor appearing, they would let me go. I was very auxious to communicate with my friends at Woodford. I offered the messenger a £5 Bank of England note, which he accepted, and undertook to send a telegram to Woodford. The telegram was confided to a second man, to whom I gave £l. This telegram, however, was never sent. As the time for the doctor’s visit approached I was given to understand that money was always a consideration, and that even £5 would not be without influence in determining the character of the doctor’s report. At 11.30 a.m., a letter was handed to a messenger which he read to me to this effect: In case of the doctor failing to come, detain Kennard till 12. I was very anxious to obtain my liberty without further delay, and offered the man another £5 note to let me out. He consented, and I was allowed to open the street door and depart without further molestation. On getting out I found a hansom cab coming up the street, and immediately got in and told the cabman to drive to Great Eastern Railway Station. There I took a fresh cab, and drove straight to Woodford Church. I have drawn up this statement of the facts of the case, every one of which I am prepared to confirm on an oath if required. It should be added that the marriage took place upon the day following the rev. gentle-

nan’s release. The police believe they have discovered the House in London co which the carriage was driven, and it is stated that a warrant will be applied for against the supposed abductors. This most extraordinary outrage, ind the mysterious and romantic way u which it was effected, has aroused in unusual amount of interest in the netropolis. The police, from investigations made, are of the opinion that he object for which it was perpetrated was not to extort money, but to prevent the marriage of the rev. gentleman with Miss Bade. The plot was deeply laid, and the chief mover well supplied with means, as the expensive arrangements show. The authorities have no doubt as to the originator of the abduction, who is a relative of the rev. gentleman’s. This person, who is no other than a doctor, is at present under police surveillance, but the police can take no action in the matter until the victim of the outrage has laid an information against a perpetrator. The doctor, in engaging lodgings at St. Pancras, only took rooms for a few days, but afterwards sent two pounds more to the landlady to keep the rooms, but by that time the clergyman had escaped. From this, it would appear as though the plans were not sufficiently matured. The doctor also informed the landlady to treat the patient well, and to supply him with everything he desired. She was led to expect he was a lunatic to induce one of the keepers by whom he was attended to send a telegram to Woodford, Kennard gave him a sovereign besides the shilling to pay for the telegram, and to the other attendant he gave another sovereign to buy him a hat. Finding he was still held in bondage, but that his keepers were alive to the attractions of money, Kennard offered a £5 note to each, besides three or four sovereigns which he had loose in his pocket. This procured his release. Kennard is a gentleman, sixty years old, of good position. His first wife died three years ago, leaving seven children, all grown up. He is well known as a breeder of purebred pedigree shorthorn cattle. His cow Queen Mary has won several 100 guinea prize medals, and for that animal he is said to have refused £2,000 at Taunton show. The living at Mainhall, which is a valuable one, was purchased by him thirty years ago.