THE OPUNAKE TARRING AND FEATHERING CASE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12897, 31 August 1907, Page 12

THE OPUNAKE TARRING AND FEATHERING CASE.

* (press association TELEGRAM.) NEW PLYMOUTH, August 30. About a month ago indignation was roused in tho township of Opunake, at tho alleged circunistaui. s under which a man named Hill was living as - boarder in the house where be lodged, and having, it .h stated, failed to induce him to leave, tho district took united action, descending on the house and finishing up by tarring and feathering the victim.

Tho circumstances were investigated at the Magistrate's Court, before --ir I _t_horb_rt to-day. Ino accused were Charles Cameron, Daniel O .Sullivan, James Uickey, Harry Dick*uu, Charles Hodgson, Richard O'Dca, Oliver Cross. und George Looney. 'imey wero chained with that, on the 3rd of August, ai Opunake, thoy did, together witu aivcrs other persons, to the number ol twenty or more, cause and tako part in an unlawful assembly, being an indictable offence.

Sergeant Haddrell, in opening the cane, said that on the night iiieutioried a large number of per sou.* proceeded to Mrs Listers house iv Opunake, .hero a man named Hill was slaying, liic-y wero told Hill was not iv, but that was incorrect. Ultimately tlie men lure. . an ontranoe to the house. Mrs Li«ior and her daughter wore roughly handled, and tho man Hill was taken out, propelled down the ru.ul by urn leet of the crowd, soused with mud anu water in the water table, tarred und leathered, dragged again and thrown into the creek, continually ducked anu dragged in the water, and then forced to tako an oath to leave the district. Hill and others had identified some of thoso taking part in tno affair. Herman Edward Hid said he had' stayed at Mrs Lister's for ten weeks as a paying guest at her own invitation. At about H. 30 on the night of August 3rd he got up from the fireside, remarking to the landlady, "If anybody cornea for mo, I'm out: I'm going to bed." He went to nis room, and shortly afterwards hoard a knocK at the door. Mrs Lister, accompanied by her daughter, went to the door, Mrs Lister taking a candle in her hand. Ho heard a question naked, "Is Hi., in?" Mrs Lister replied "No, he's not in." A voice asked, ""Whore is he? I want to see him on a factory matter." Mrs Lister replied, "Down town, I suppose." Someone replied in an authoritative tone, "He's not down town, Mrs Lister." Witness heard a sort of shuffling and hoard Mrs Lister say, "Go out of my holme" Witness then walk. 1 out of his bedroom through the eitting-rootn, nnd met Cameron just after that, and before he had timo to look nronnd, the back door of the kitchen was opened, and he was "collared from behind and bustled out of tho house" through the front door. He resisted, and his ejection was rough. Five or six men handled him, and ho saw about twenty waiting outaide. He was carried through th© gate and bustled to about fifteen yards from the front door. He was thrown down on th© road, and they pushed him along with their feet in a very rough manner. Subsequently one said, "Where's the rope. We'll rope the ." He thought O'Suliivan said this. He was struggling and shouting, and one tried to gag him with a handkerchief. They placed a half-inch rope round his wliat, tied a slip noose, and dragged him '' along an unmetalled jroaa. ~, , Sergeant Haddrell: How did they drag youP Witness: Just as a team of bullocks would drajs a log to a timber mill. Witness. continuing, said they dragged him for four chains and into a water table, where they threw mud. and water in his face.. Then thoy throw bim out on the embankment. He hoard someone say, "Where is the .tar and brush P" and they started to tar his head, face, and ears, and then threw feathers on him. Ono struck a match to .et fire to his hair. Then someone unfastened his brace buttons at the back, held up his vest and shirt, and tarred his back. Th.en they hauled on tho rope again and dragged him another four chains along tho road to a small bridge, where ho was thrown bodily into a Btream, which was about two feet six inches deep. Tho distance from the bridge to the water was about throe feet six inches. Not liking to got themselves wet they tried to pull him out again, to the bridge. 1 hat proved impossible. He tried to crawl out on the shallow side and was pulled back into tho wator. Then they kept pulling him froni side to side, jerking him into the stream each time. He attempted to got out once or twice, but was kicked back. This went on for five minutes. All wero laughing, seomincly quite delighted with themselves. Tho noiso could be heard fully 200 or 300 yards away. No one came to his assistance, and no one remonstrated ns far as ho was aware. Ho was quite "done up' by this timo. and the tar was burning his eyes and face, then thov took him by forco into a cottaizo noaV the bridge Thero was a candle burning in the room. They seized him. crying out. "Apologiso." JMnraa said Looney held him- down. They all sang out "Apologise; apologi. > to this man (referring to Lister). Ho asked '•Apologise for what? What do you Want mo to say?" Looney asked, "Will yon loave the town before daylight in the morningP" Looney handed a pair of scissors to « man, nnd the latter cwt witness* hair. Constable Hickman camp on the scene, and all the crowd bolted by the back door except Dickson, who called out. 'Don t run away, boys, stay and see it through, now" Hickev returned rtnd said, in the presence of the constable. "If he doesn't lo.ve the town, we'll do H again." Witne" accompanied tho constable to the police station. fully twenty followed behind When he arrived at the station, be was cold and shivering and suffering from tho effects of the tar. After rereivin.. attention from the constablo he returned to his lodgings. He tried to borrow a revolver from the constable for self protection, but was refused. Ho loft Opunake on tho Monday afternoon, acting under the advice of the constable Witness said be had not, to his knowledge, given aroused any cause to interfere with him. He was still suffering from tho effects of the assault. ■ Mrs Lister and her danjnter gave evidence on somewhat similar lines.

Constable Ilickman also gavo evidence regarding the disturbance. Sergeant Haddrell was proceeding to adduce evidence as to alleged threatening behaviour on the Sunday following but Sir Spence for defendants ob.ieci«l. It was elicited, however, that as tho outcome of the disturbance the police were reinforced. Mr Sj _>nee, without having crossexamined witnesses, submitted that the police had failed to add-ice any evidence of unlawful a**cni_y a.s content - plated by section 8.3 of the Crimin. I Code Act. They had brought cvi deuce of a combine.! nj-.-v.ilt upon th' 1 matt Hill, but there w:i.s no evidence that the.se men .i-embh-d with the intention of tumultuoui-ly disturbing tbr peace of tlie community. He-re . -«• no tumult, and there had Wen tv complaint.* from the neighbourhood There hud been no proof oi "unlawful assembly," and he contended there wiw tio east- to answer.

Mr Fitsshei 1 _. t If Id that a prima facie eas* ha<l l>cen made out. He considered there hail been evidence ol an unlawful assembly—of a sort o. riot. Accused pleaded not guilty and the defence -was- reserved. Mr Spenc* asked for bail. Tho Magistrate remarket! that this

was a wriotw affair, and the first happening of the kind, he thought, in the colony. These men broke into a liou.se. seized a ruin, dragged him out, tarred and feat_.«.n _ him. dropped him into a creek on a winters night, and then tried to compel him to make an apology. Had the man been delicate, the consequences might have been very grave, and these nun might have boon arraignetl on a far more serious charge. lie would however, admit the nccii.e<l t.» luail each in his own recognisance oi £50, and another S':reiv of L2~> ejuh. liail wiu immediately forthcoming.