CLERGYMAN ATTACKED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16671, 16 October 1917, Page 4

CLERGYMAN ATTACKED.

S(SSIfWHIPPING Ift|j9 REV. H. ELLIOTT BEATEN, •• ; . "'if RETUBtfED SOLDIER'S fi ■1 - ■ 'II TWO HEX ARRESTED :^ To be horsewhipped in front of ha'of gate by a returned soldier was the expa ence last evening of the Rev. How|^ Elliott, national lecturer to the Protests Political Association. The sequel wag' tj, arrest of Gunner Christopher Charl, Clement?, of Remuera. and his brotf^ in-law, Mr. Herbert Eugene McEnteefiß of Remuera, both of whom were charge with assault. Gunner Clements U, ; {]j brother of ft nun who was drowned nil a year ago at Taumarnnui, and as to a circumstances of whose death Mr. Elliot has recently made reference. Guniie Clements, who is 21 year; of ,age,'f|| gassed and wounded at tne battle M ; Messines, and returned to Auckland thrj weeks ago with other invalided so]iji&j Two hours after their arrest the two i&j| Gunner Clements being in his artillery I man's uniform, were released on bail % ! £25 each, the bonds being signed by M M. J. Sheahan in the presence of Mr.- J Trevithick, J.P., and Mr. J. J. Bulla . solicitor. '|| In a statement made to a Herald ri ! preventative later in the evening Otfrm| j Clements said that on his return froj the front he was informed that certaij statements about his late sijfy had been made by Mr. Elliot* I" As I was advised that I ;hlj Ino legal mnedy against him," he oori i tinned, "I decided that I would thra^ Mr. Elliott at the first opportunity. T}s opportunity did not arrive until to-night, Accompanied by my brother-in-kw^an^ armed with a raw-ride horsewhip, I .sss ■■ to Mr. Elliott's house in Wynyard Road, i Mount Eden, arriving there at about half. | past seven. I knew that ho would M '■ leaving home for his meeting at the Tow Hall at about that time. A quartet an hour later a tasicab drove up>asij stopped outside the gate of Mr. Elliot^ residence. ;/S| "" In a few minute? Mr. Elliott anift lady—his wife, I think—came out of 'M house. He was wearing an overcoat, m the former approached the taxi, I tin costed him, asking mm If he was Mr, Howard Elliott. Be replied in the im mative. I thereupon said: — J|| "Why did you slander my dead sister : ";:./ M " Who are you, and who was your it& tor," asked Mr. Elliott. ||| " I raised my thong and struck ami across the shoulder.. saying 'I am 5 . thai brother of the nuu who was drowned;^! Taumarunoi.' I had struck five blows when Mr, Elliott wreched the thong from me, but Mr. McEntee regained ppif session of it, and handed it back to mi? I continued to administer the thrashing and presently Mr. Elliott broke away anil-; attempted to run through his gateway); : but Mr. McEntee blocked his escape. :-,m the struggle that ensued Mr. Elliott M and was rolled in the gutter. When ha'; rose again I once more struck him a few blows; with the thong. By this time a : number "oi people had congregated— tom only about 100 yds from view Road— they formed a ring around uu, several M them calling out to me-to 'lay .it on-to| bim,* Wten I : considered I bad puiisheiv ; him sufficiently I let Mr. Elliott ■ goi-Tftniu j he- '; went >back ■ into the house. B>£ jlieving that Mr, Elliott had rung up'MJ the police--as turned out to be the case-iv : my brother-in-law and I awaited tneis| When they arrived' we offered no ;bbje» tion to being arrested. I had vindicated-y myrdead sister's honour." „ . '■■'.-.. / ;f£||l When Sub-Inspector. Br'oberg r«eiv!M§ a telephone message from Mr. Elliott's! house he despatched to the scene in '■». ; ; motor-car Sergeant Bowman, ConstabMs Gourley, and two other officers. They; -found Gunner; Clements and Mr. t McEnte»'| still -outside the house, and arrested and-', conveyed to the lock-up, where theys were held until bailed out.. Th? two men,;W I who gave an ! undertaking not to go near.' Mr/Elliott again, !; will appear at mm Police; Court this morning, when, \i:\i'J understood, a remand will be applied on their behalf. *■ ' ' '. • ffli :!.# s•■••'■■;;■ ' ■—— j^wsM ■-~■ ..- y-\ssM STATEMENT BY BEY. H, H. EL&IO3T " '■".";>''"■"":;.*'•.'; ; '■",', " x ' ,', ,'. i ' | STRUGGLE AT THE GATE. " ■■■:'■■.' ■ .. ■•-■,. A statement made last evening by the ; ' Rev. Howard Elliott was to the effect that ' ; he left his house in Wynyard Road; Mount Eden, about half-past seven o'clock. At the t -gate ho was accosted by three men;;':who- said that he s had made etatementi reflecting -ob- their women folk;. Two of them seized his arms and urged the third, ' who :• was; a Returned soldier, to use tha stick over Mr. Elliott's head and to disfigure him to prevent him speaking at the publio meeting. The noise at the gate attracted the attention of Mrs. Elliott) '•■ who called loudly for help, which \ was forthcoming from Mr. Elliott's next-door v neighbour. , The taricab- driver who J had-' been waiting to convey Mr. Elliott to th* - if ™> ako went 'the assistance of;;' Mr. Elliott. After a severe struggle Mr." Elliott broke free and went back to hid' - house. The police subsequently made l\n : arrests. Mr. Elliott said that m-tMI | course of the struggle ho was dealt ? | violent blow on the side of the head with: . I a stick, and he was also struck across the : ! face. ■' *•-?;'•' RH'ERENOES AT THE TOWN HaMS! ■ ; v;?^ MR ELLIOTT'S LATE ARRIVAL. ' • Tho assault on Mr. Elliott, which toiled place as stated, when he was about (O."-,-leave his residence for the Protest nS Political Association's meeting at '$W& Town Hall, caused him to arrive there late. He thus was prevented from taking his place on the platforri at the opening of the meeting. He arrived some time after the meeting commenced, but in ample time to deliver his speech, which was" the 1 last on the programme. . ■ After the first speech-that of the Re?. '::• C. K. Meyers— been concluded, the ■ • chairman, Mr. S. M. Moore-Jones, madoJlf the following statement:-" I have a veryunpleasant announcement to make. You % \ will have noticed that the Rev. Howard! .! I'.Uiotfc was not with us when we walked J on to the platform before the commence- " merit of the meetin?. lam informed &?? tftat he has since arrived, and that 'ihbfsfl; cause of the delay was an attack that was - : made upon him at his gate as ho was ~- ; leaving his house. (Cries of Shame! /. Shame!) I will leave the matter at that, , j and you will draw vour own conch* H' 1 , signs. " The chairman's announcement created - some sensatioi amongst the audience, bnt j it soon subsided, and the meeting pro* - ' . ceeded. » When Mr. Elliott, who received mfljfl I ovation on rising, spoke he made passing reference to the incident that had 'befijjb||| announced by the chairman, and ■ ■tK&l|g§ proceeded with his speech. > i [ v ===== >>. I