AN ABDUCTION CASE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3969, 21 November 1891, Page 3

AN ABDUCTION CASE.

Statement of the Prisoner. Jbldward Arthur Gallender Newton, aged 39, was indicted at the Central Criminal Court on September 24th, before the Recorder, for the abducJion of Lucy Edith Pearman, under sixteen years of age, the daughter of a tobacconist, carrying on business in the Strand. Mr Forrest Fulton, M.P., and Mr Avory, instructed by Mr ifrayling, ou behalf of the Treasury, prosecuted ; while Mr C. b\ Gill, and Mr Bodkin appeared for the prisoner. The court was crowded during the hearing of the case. Prisoner, ou being placed in the dock, pleaded guilty to the first and thhji counts—for having abducted a young girl under the age of 18, and . for improper intercourse.. Mr Fulton said the case was a somewhat peculiar one. The prisoner first became acquainted with the girl when she was between ten and eleven years of age. He contended that the prisoner had clearly become amenable to the law. ( Mr. Gill said the prisoner wißbed ' to make a statement of his own free will with regard to the case. Prisoner then spoke as follows : I have pleaded guilty to the first and third counts of the indictment because < I feel that whatever technical defence I might have, I ought not to inflict upon those I have wronged the ordeal of another public trial. Though I am anxious not to minimize what I have done, I cannot help affirming - most solemnly one thing—l have not systematically planned the ruin of s this young girl. Living apart from my wife, under circumstances which I ought not to detail on this occasion,l was a lonely man when, five years ago - I made the acquaintance of the Pearman family. I found kindness - and sympathy there. I reciprocated ~ it. I took an .honest interest in the education and welfare of their - children, and no impure thought entered my mind. This went on, - and my interest for Lucy grew into sincere affection. 1 thought that : after having obtained a divorce from „ my wife, I might marry her. How could I plan to injure one whom I loved, and upon whom I built the hopes of my future ? To mj great shame, about ten months 180, when Lucy was more than fif- - teen years old, circumstances grew too strong for me, and I fell. 1 my offence. I never had wish or idea to take Lucy out of me custody of her parents, but when, in her unhappiness, she asked me, and pleaded witb me to do so, to do injury to herself if I refused, I was unable to resist. I have no more to say, my lord. 1 Mr Gill hayiDg spoken on behalf of the prisoner. The .Recorder said that the correspondence showed that the girl was extremely attached to Newton—at the same time, that did not exonerate him. Before the law was altered a short time ago, this would not have been an offence. There was no doubt that be had taken Hje girl away from home at her own request, and under these circumstances, he (the Recorder) could not help thinking that there was something to be said*on his behalf, and therefore he would sentence the prisoner to be imprisoned for six months. Beyond a slight hissing, there was no demonstration in Court. The prisoner, who preserved a calm demeanour in tho dock, was at once removed to the cells-