HOME WRECKED

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 171, 21 June 1926, Page 3

HOME WRECKED

MOB OUTRAGE IN MELBOURNE. PUSH INVADES PARTY* SYDNEY, June 11. Another mob outrage was perpetrated in Melbourne last. Saturuay when, using pickets, bricks, bottles and stones, 20 men forced their way into the home of Mr Henry Penny, at Brown street, South Yarra, and effectively broke up a party in progress there. Early in tho evening Mr Penny was receiving the guests when he noticed that three strangers, not sponsored by any of his friends, had forced their way into the house. He asked them to leave, but when they refused he wa3 forced, with the assistance of his friends, to eject them. They left the vicinity, of the house, and Penny thought he had seen the last of them. Apparently, however, they went away and.got together a mob, for soon after It p.m. Penny’s homo was invaded by 20 men armed "with all kinds of weapons. One of the attackers fused the lights in the building, and a terrific light waged in the dark, Penny’s friends, though hopelessly outnumbered, ranging themselves behind him in an effort to repel the invaders. Windows were broken, crockery and glassware were" smashed, and all the defenders were injured by tho flying missiles.

Tho women sought refuge in one room, while their menfolk fought up and down the passages. Penny was felled by a brick which struck him on the forehead, while his mates were all injured more or less seriously before the attackers withdrew, • apparently satisfied with their reprisals. The Praliran police were informed as soon as one of the attacked men could fight his way out to a telephone, but by the time the police arrived the raiders had gone, leaving a number of their victims unconscious. Penny was taken to hospital, 'where a number of stitches were necessary to close a wound in his forehead. He was returning to his home with a friend at 1 a.m. when tlve same mob met them. On that occasion they centred their attack on Penny’s companion. He was kicked, punched and beaten to tho ground, only tho timely arrival of police on beat duty saving him from serious injury.