WOMAN BRANDED

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11497, 18 April 1923, Page 8

WOMAN BRANDED

OUTRAGE BY MASKED MEN. CROSS ON BREAST. Two masked and hooded men entered the house of Mrs Nevada Standish, at Tillamook, Oregon t and branded her an the breast with a hot metal cross. An admission that he had been investigating reports to this effect was made by the district attorney, and whilst no formal charge had been made, he added that he was prepared to order a grand jury investigation if Mrs Standish' asked for it. He also said he had spoken to those -wha had seen the scar of the' cross on the woman's breaht. According to the district attorney Mrs Standish had been acquitted on appeal after being twice tried on a charge of being implicated in “moonshine’ ’/operations i It was shortly after midnight that the two, hooded men appeared at Mrs Standish’s house, where she was alone with her son, aged three years. Her hnsband was ill in hospital. Mrs Standish was in bed, bat when the knock at the door was heard she got up arid opened the door. Both' men thrust their way into the house, and one of the men seized her and put his hand over her mouth. The other took from his pocket a small cross, which he held hy a pair of pliers over •matches until it was hot, after which he placed it on the woman’s breast. As he did so one of the men said:' “You have been wanting the cross, jmd we will give you a fiery one.” Ordering the woman to say nothing shout what had happened, the men then left the house.