TAR AND FEATHERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1712, 31 December 1919, Page 2

TAR AND FEATHERS.

SEQUEL TO ARARAT INCIDENT. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. MELBOURNE, Doc, 25. Intense interest A\ r as taken in the oases against seven returned soldiers who were charged with having inflicted grievous bodily harm on J. K. McDougail, for some years a member of the Federal Parliament, which came before the Ararat Police Court yesterday. John Keith McDongall, farmer, ol Ciaigiola, Maroona, said that about 20 minutes past 10 on December oth Harold Williams and Barker called at his house, and said that they had had trouble with their ear. and asked fora pindi bar. His brother Dugald went to got one, and after sneaking to his wile, he asked the men to have, a cup of tea, but they refused. 1\ ilness went out and helped the men to push the ear some distance, when he saw other cars. A whistle was given, and he was surrounded, thrown to the ground, and his legs bound. He was thrown into a car and taken to Ararat, when' he was given a liberal coating oi tar and feathers on the road. Ho asked the men to give him a chance to explain, and they said: “You have delivered speeches against recruiting.” ! Ho said that h(j had never said one word against recruiting. The defendant, R. E. Williams, pju'tly stood up in the car, waved Ins hand, and said: “We will show Australia what the Anzafs can do. We will tar and leather an ox-member of Parliament. and the news will ring to the ends of Australia to-morrow.” The two particular accused made mention oi Rvan and Mannix. said that he was not a Catholic, and they replied. “You are Averse than one.” They said that they would tar a'nd feather Mannix and Rviin next. 3 Each of the defendants were committed for trial. The ease will lie heard at the Ararat Court on February 10th. Bail Avas alloAvcd.