GAOL FOR ABDUCTION.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20280, 24 August 1937, Page 8

GAOL FOR ABDUCTION.

TRAINER SENTENCED ANXIOUS TO GET MARRIED TRIP THROUGH DOMINION "If accused had been a younger man I might have considered extending probation to him, in view of the favourable report of the probation officer at Cambridge, but under the present circumstances I do not think it would be proper to do so. I will take the report into consideration, however, and sentence accused to three months’ imprisonment,” said Mr J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M., in dealing with Cecil John Shaw (45), described as a horse-trainer, of Cambridge, convicted on a charge of abducting a Cambridge girl under the age of 18 on June 24 last. Had a favourable report on Shaw’s character not been forthcoming, the magistrate added, the sentence would have been much heavier. Accused, who appeared on remand, was arrested in Christchurch on August 18, said Senior-Sergeant G. H. Lambert, who conducted the prosecution for the police. He was a single man of about 45 and had met the girl in Cambridge when she had brought a horse to his stables- A close association had apparently grown up between them. After the pair had left Cambridge they had gone to Te Kuiti, Wellington, Oamaru, Gore, Invercargill, and back to Christchurch, during which time they had lived as man and wife, though the girl had travelled under the name of Betty Jones. She was now under the supervision of the Child Welfare Officer and her case would probably be discussed in the children’s court.

Mr A. Hill, who appeared for Shaw, said accused’s standing in the community had been good for some years. The girl in the case had seen a good deal of Shaw apparently with the consent of her parents. Shaw had never encouraged her to go away with him and outside the charge preferred he appeared to have acted decently to the girl, who, from her statement, was apparently unhappy at home. The pair were anxious to get married but th'e parents would not consent. Referring to the favourable report of the probation officer, Mr Hill said that If given the opportunity, Shaw would live the life of a decent citizen.