Leeds Mercury – Friday 27 July 1900
Abduction By A Miner
John Wood (39), miner, was charged with the abduction of Elizabeth Brown (15), at Conisborough, on 25th April.
There were other counts charging prisoner with assaulting the girl.
Mr. Schofield, who prosecuted, said the prisoner was a married man, and lived for some years near to the girl’s parents at Clay Cross, Derbyshire. On the 25th April he asked the girl to leave home with him. They went to Grassmore Station, and proceeded by train to Conisborough, where they lived together until 6th June, when the girl was discovered by her father, who took her home.
The girl had repented of her folly, and desired before that date to return, but prisoner burnt her clothes and shoes.
Evidence was heard in support of the opening statement, from which it appeared that the girl was sixteen years of age on the 17bh June, though she looked much older.
Prisoner said the girl’s mother suggested he should take her away with him, and that she would be able to look after his little boy.
The jury convicted the prisoner of abduction, and he was sentenced to eighteen months’ hard labour