COUNTRY “ELOPEMENT.”

Taihape Daily Times, 5 September 1919, Page 5

COUNTRY “ELOPEMENT.”

COURT CASE AS.SEQUEL-WI-lARGAREI, S<'Di- 3At the Rawene Magistrates Court, before Mr F. H. Levien, S.M_, on the‘ information of the police, Henry Lcef, a native, was charged that he did, on or about July 1, 1919, take one Emily Pakiuga, an unmarried girl under the age of 18 years, out of the possession of, and against the will of,‘her mother, whose name is Waukai Pakinga, with intent that she, the said Emily Pakinga, should be unlawfully known by him ” The moiher, giving evidence, stated she was a widow. Emily was her daughter, 16 years of age. She knew the accused, Henry Leef, and his parents had approached her regarding her daughter, that she might become the wife of Henry Leef. Accusecrs mother wanted the girl to be her son’-3 wife, and to be converted to her son’; faith. They wanted her, body and spirit, and she would not consent. She was a. Catholic, and the Leefs were Church of England. One evening the girl left home, and had never returned since. This would be about July 1. She did not think her daughter was old enough to marry, and would not have consented if a more suitable person had wishetl to inarry her. The daughter, Emily, said: I remember leaving my Home at Whirinaki. I went to Henry Leef’s home. lam not married. lam living with Henry Leaf as his wife, and have been with him about a month. My mother Wanted me to marry a man named Taylor. I wanted to marry Henry Leef. To the Magistrate: V. will not go back to my mother. I won’t go to the Salvation Army. I want. Henry for my husband, and I will die for him. The magistrate endeavoured to persuade the niotherto consent to the two ‘being married, butgshe refused. .r~&fteli§‘.‘~vards, she Waishagain urged to eonsént, and she did ‘so. ~-

‘ Before the case; ’g:opcli_ldéd she ‘thanked the magistrate ffdr the'patient hearing he had given her, a/I"1d the advic_et._.s_he had tenderled.‘ It was intinzatefd that the marriagefg‘ vsr_oillli3;f.§':l:ak-e; p]a'c§‘ at a;l,ear]y _date. "The magis‘crate; resel's;pd ilfis decision in _th’e“ca.‘se until! his néz-it «visit» to Rawéne; * 5-