Australian Royalty: Genealogy of the colony of NSW

This transcript is from a contemporary newspaper account provided by Dot Martin, probably from the Bathurst Free Press & Mining Journal)

Abduction: George West was indicted for that he did on the 13th , January 1860 at Sofala unlawfully take one Catherine Coops a girl under 16 years of age from, and against the will of, one William Davis, the lawful guardian of the said Catherine Coops for the time being. Plea: not guilty The prisoner was not defended. Sir W. Manning briefly opened the case and called Peter Coops who deposed:

I am a Sawyer; the prisoner is married to my eldest daughter; they have been married three or four years; I have another daughter Catherine 14 years of age; My wife with my sanction placed my daughter in Mr W Davis service; She was there about a fortnight before the weeks-end that this took place; While my daughter was with Davis, I received information that she was missing on a Friday, and on Sunday morning I found her at Wattle Flat.

Hannah Coops deposed; I am a native of the country; I have a daughter named Catherine under 15 years of age; I placed her in the service of Mr. Davis of Sofala; I didn't know how she left. By the prisoner; You told me the Sunday morning that you had given my daughter a pound and had sent her to Bathurst., and that you had taken her away from Davis because you owed him a spite, and that you were determined to pay it if you waited six months for it.

Deposition by W Davis Publican Sofala. I had a girl named Catherine Coops in my service; she was placed there by her father; while she was there the prisoner came several times to my house and spoke to the girl, but being her brother-in-law I took no notice of it, but my suspicions were aroused by seeing him going into a bedroom which he thought was hers; on Thursday the prisoner came to my house and I saw him "give the office" to the girl with his hand as if he wanted her to come out; in order to watch I then pretended to be drunk; on that night the prisoner came to my house and demanded the girl to take her home; my wife said she mustn't go then, if she wanted to go home, but must go by daylight; I saw her all day on Friday and saw her go into her bedroom that night; on Saturday morning she was gone. By the prisoner; the girl had been in my service a fortnight before she went away; you have often been in my house; I don't think you were looking in the bedroom for me or my wife; the girl went away either on Friday night or Saturday morning.

Mr Coops recalled; It was against my will that the prisoner took my daughter away. Catherine Coops; I reside with my parents at Wattle Flat; I am not married; I lately resided at Mr. Davis' at Sofala. The prisoner is my brother-in-law; I have seen him at Mr. Davis'; he threatened he would take my life if I did not go away with him; he said he would meet me at the gate at 10 o'clock on Friday night; I met him at the top gate, and he lifted me over it, and he then took me where his horse was, and he lifted me on the horse, and took me on the top of the race-course, and said he did not want me then; I was going away from him, and he told me to come back or he would take my life; he again lifted me on his horse and took me to Spring Creek where we laid in the bush all night; he had connexion with me; he left me about sunrise for Sofala and said he would come back at 12 o'clock, which he did, and on that night he took me into the scrub and he did the same to me as on the night before; on Sunday morning he left me, and before he went he gave me 11 (Pounds) and some Shillings to keep for him until he came back; he did not come back; I was in the bush all Sunday night and on Monday I went into a neighbour's house; I have known prisoner three years; he had connexion with me three years ago; some days previous to my going away with prisoner he gave me 1 (Pound) to go to Bathurst; I refused several times to go with him but he threatened to take my life. By the prisoner; you always threatened to take my life, if I told my parents that you had connexion with me; you took me away forcibly from Mr. Davis; I was always in dread of my life, and I thought it better to go with you as I might some day escape; I came out of the back door; the fence is about as tall as a man; you pulled me over the gate; the back door was open; it was not locked; you sent for me to a neighbour's house and I went to you; but I did not know at the time that it was you who wanted me; you did not give me a 1 (Pound) note at the gate; and I never said so before the magistrate; Mr. Davis threatened he would give me the horsewhip if I spoke to you; when I went away with you, you took me 2 miles and a half; I was at Mrs. Taff's; I told Mrs Taff that you had taken me away from Mr. Davis's employ; my brother and the Sergeant of Police found me at Taffs. I did not tell them anything about it; I never told anybody I was going to Bathurst; I don't remember you leaving a bundle at Davis's; I took nothing but a frock in my hand when I left Davis's; I don't remember anything else.

Thomas Bowen deposed; I was in the service of Mr. Tilling; I remember the prisoner coming on the Friday night about 12 o'clock and fetching his horse away.

By Prisoner; I don't remember seeing anyone with you.

John Staunton deposed; I apprehended prisoner on Sunday the 15th January. By prisoner; I apprehended you at Big Flat; I took you out of a tent from your wife; I read the warrant to you and you said that you were perfectly innocent of the charge.

This closed the case for the crown.

The prisoner in addressing the jury contended that he had not induced the girl to leave Davis's but that she wished to leave because Davis threatened to horsewhip her, and that she could not agree with Mrs. Davis. That if he had taken her away as he was charged, he should have been at a greater distance than 4 miles. The Judge having summed up the jury returned a verdict Guilty.

Sentence; Two years imprisonment in Darlinghurst Goal.

Note: The sentence in italics is extremely difficult to read in the original and this is a guess as to what it means based on the context. RGF 24/4/2001