PASTOR HORSEWHIPPED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 27 September 1928, Page 8

PASTOR HORSEWHIPPED.

ATTACKED BY WOMEN. SEQUEL 'TO HOST COUIR'T ACTION. SENSATION -IN 'SYDNEY 'SUBURB. SYDNEY, -Sept, 14. Wielding a -stockwhip and cane two’ women. savagely attacked -a Baptist pastor in a street at Petersham last night- and indicted severe ipunshment on him before the man was able to make his escape, .writes the Sydney correspondent of the Auckland 1 tStai “I’ve been waiting -for you for the past two hours, ’ ’ shouted one of them. “I bought this whip to-day to get at YOU.’’ With that she rushed on him and slashed him across the face and Body. Her companion, who was aimed with a .stout- .cane, ‘ also attacked the Ecv. Yates and beat him about the body. His 'companion, a young woman ran away and left, him to the mercy of his assailants. They set about him and whipped linn incessantly with whip and cane. His screams for- help brought a big crowd into the street,-bat none offered to comae to lii,s assistance. “You beat us in Court,” again shouted one of Hie women, “but you won’t beat us here.” She continued to beat him with the whip, the lash of which struck the man in the face many times, inflicting large weals across the face .and hands. He sought to escape their attack, but. he was beset at front and rear. His appeals for help from the crowd fell on deaf ears. However, he managed to beat a retreat up a lane, and, still pursued by the two angry women, he managed to reach the Petersham police station. He 'took refuge in the police station yard, but was followed in there by the two women, still wielding the whip and cane. Finally the station sergeant heard his call's for help and intervened, holding the women off from the man. “Give us in charge, go on!” they both screamed: “You’re frightened!” The police sergeant 'sent the women out of the station, but the man refused to take action against them through the police, stating that he would take a civil sumnrons.

■ Neighbours in the vicinity fold an intriguing tale of how Rev. Yates won a court case against the two women some months ago when they sued 'him for assault. He was acquitted. Prior to that, incident it is understood that he became enamoured of one of the women whom he met in Parramatta Road one day when she was waiting for a bus. lie offered her a lift into town in *his car and continued the acquaintanceship for some time afterwards. While on a tour of the north he wrote her several passionate' 'letters which were produced in court when he was tried for assault. In the letters he con- - fessed that he, though a married man with grown-up children, was infatuated with one of the women and wanted her to wait until he could get a divorce, and then -marry him. She herself was living apart from her husband whom she also was suing for divorce. Yates is alleged to havegiven advice and introduced her to his solcitor who hail acted for her in obtaining a divorce. But before the decree nisi was pronounced finally, her former husband called on her in an endeavour to make friends again, and wa s found with his 'former wife by Yates. Yates, it was alleged at court, fumed and raged, and when called later on the woman -threatened to kill her. He struck her several times, and it was for these blows that he was taken to court on a charge of assault. However, he was acquitted, and last night’s whipping episode was evdently the sequel to that, court case. He asked the police for protection during the night, and a constable was stationed at his 'gate throughout the night. No attempt was made, however, to force an entrance. It was one of the most sensational happenings in the district and brought thousands into the street. A peculiar feature was the failure of anyone in the crowd to go to Yates’ assistance when lie was being whipped by two angry women.