CHARGE OF ABDUCTION.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2077, 31 August 1875, Page 2

CHARGE OF ABDUCTION.

Joseph Shepherd, a slight underjized man about 30 years of age, wai charged oa warrant at the Colling wood-Police Court on Tuesday with unlawfully taking an unmarried girl under 16 years of age out of the posession of her father. The prisoner, who has a wife and is a plasterer by trade, made the acquaintance of a girl named Mary Long in October last through a raffle which was held at the house of her stepfather, Peter Matson. He gave Matson and the girl's mother to under* stand that he was a . single man, and made a proposal of marriage. Both Matson and his wife refused their.consent on the ground that the girl was too young, as she was then only just.J.s years of age. The girl was at service, but used to go home every night, and the prisoner used to meet her. An improper intimacy sprung up between them soon afterwards. The girl. left her situation, and in May last she went to. another place, but as it was seen that she would soon become a mother she was dismissed. ' The evening she left this place she met the prisoner, -and- instead of going home she went with him The prisoner found lodgings for her at the George Hotel, Pitzroy, representing her as a friend who was out of a situation. He did not stay with herim the hotel, and after remaining there three week s the girl went to her parents. JPor the defence it was 7 urged that there was no proof of abduction, as the girl went with ShepKerd_«UHnglyj and he.merely found her lodgings, magistrates, however, thought there. waS-» cjuc-to «o to a jury, and committed-the prisoner for trial at the next Criminal Sessions.,' The" Bench intimated that bail would be -taken in two sureties of £25 each, and the prisoner in £50.—Australasian.