GOAL FOR ABDUCTION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21216, 12 September 1940, Page 9

GOAL FOR ABDUCTION

YOUNG MAN’S OFFENCE SCHOOLGIRL LEAVES HOME (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) WHAKATANE, Wednesday “Abduction is considered a serious offence,” said Mr E. L.' Walton, S.M., in the Whakatane Magistrate’s Court, when sentencing Arthui Mitchell Wray, aged 25, to three months’ imprisonment on a charge cf the abduction of a girl under the age of 18. On a charge of escaping from lawful custody, Wray was remanded on the application of the police^ Sergeant M. Farrell said accused was formerly a contractor engaged by the Education Department to convey children to and from school. The girl concerned was among the children, and* some sort of friendship grew up between them. Accused sold his business and left the Otakiri district. The girl left home on the following night, and certain documents showed that they had agreed to meet at a quarry. Accused was arrested at Taupo, where he and the girl were living as man and wife under the name of Mr and Mrs Smith. The magistrate said there was no possible chance of accused mistaking the girl’s age. as she was only 13. To take a child away was striking at the foundations of family life, and he would be failing in his duty if he did not regard it seriously.