SINGULAR CASE OF ABDUCTION.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2058, 9 August 1875, Page 3

SINGULAR CASE OF ABDUCTION.

The'Forbes Times reports the following case, heard in the police court of that town on Monday.. June-28:—"Alfred John Corby surrendered to his bail from a previous remand, charged with the abduction of one Honora Crowder, a girl under 16 years of age. Edward .Crowd«r, on oath, deposed,—l am a labourer, living at' Mr Oaket's Wollowalar station. My wife and I were engaged at £60 a year. My daughter, Honora Crowder, was not engaged with us, but she worked in v the"house in order to assist her mother. I know the prisoner. Had seen him on the back blocks in September last, when he was working for Mr Spiller. He- wanted to marry my daughter/ but I told him she was too young. He said tome in October last, 'Crowder,

if you will give me your daughter I will go to Forbes and take up a 100 acres of I and.' I declined to let her go on account of her age, but told him that when she was eld enough to be married, and if he had a place to take her to, I should have no objection. I never saw him from tbat time until he took her away. The girl now before the court is my daughter Honora, and she is 14 years and six" months old. ln.Mpy last prisoner.came to Wollowalar. Mjf wife, my daughter, and myself used to sleep in the same room. The girl slept inabed close to ours." The night the prisoner was there I went to bed as usual, leaving my daughter talking to him in the kitchen. I,do not recollect my daughter coming to bed as I went to sleep. I awoke in the night,,and- put : my hand oufc to feel whether she were covered up, as she was in the habit.of kicking the bed clothes off. I found she was not ther*e. I got up and found that neither she nor Corby- was about the place. The next day I tracked two horses in the direction of Forbes,

which I believe to have been rid- , den. by them. I gave information to the police. A day or two after I saw prisoner, and asked-him where the/girl was. He refused to tell me, and said ' he would not give her up if he had to be shot.' I again' told him if he would wait for six months, and get a- house, he should have the girl. I never saw the girl again until she was brought home by my son-in-law, the husband, of another daughter. This was after the arrest of the prisoner. Since his arrest I have told him that if he had a place to take her to, he should have her. The Bench considered that a p7'ima facie case had been made out, and told the prisoner that he could make any statement he liked, at the same time conveying the usual caution. Prisoner' then made the following statement: —' I never said to Crowder that I would not give the girl np, and deny making uso of the words, " I would not give her up if I had to be shot.". I saw Crowder at Mr Aspinall's, and offered to give the girl up. This was in the presence of my brother, Win. Corby. I said that .it was too late that night, but that I would get her by 10 o'clock the next morning. I afterwards saw the girl, and told her to go home, as her father wanted her. She said she -would not, .and that she would rather drown herself in the river than go home.' Committed to the Quarter Sessions to be held at Forbes on the §4th August next. Bail allowed—self in £50 and two sureties off 25 .each. Sureties obtained,"