LYNCH LAW AT OPUNAKE.

NZ Truth, Issue 120, 5 October 1907, Page 5

LYNCH LAW AT OPUNAKE.

HARMAN EDWARD HILL'S HIL-

Grand Jury by a Majority Find No True Bill.

The Tarred and Feathered Hero's Malodorous Doings.

The now famous "tarring and feathering" case at Opunake, which has been the talk of this coast for the past few weeks came to an abrupt conclusion on Monday last, when the Grand Jury at the New Plymouth Supreme Court found No True Bill, and the prisoners were discharged. Not m their wildest dreams, nor m the dreams of their partisans, who numbered nearly one hundred persons, and who journeyed specially from the Coast town to hear the case tried, did the delinquents expect to be released so quickly, the general opinion being -.that the Grand Jury would return a true bill, but that a common jury would acquit the accused, and as a matter of fact not a little regret was expressed that they could not go to trial and have the whole matter brought fully under the gaze of the public, who could then judge for themselves as to the merits of the case.

The prisoners' dock m the Supreme Court had been enlarged during the week by prison labor, but it was time wasted, as the dock was not used at all. There were only two cases and m both the Grand Jury returned "No Bills." His Honor Mr Justice Denniston, who presided at the New Plymouth Supreme Court, must have thought that sentiment would weigh with the Grand Jury as he expressly directed them ' against this, and told them that it was his duty to guide them nd his directions were that they should return a true Bill, but much TO HIS HONOR'S SURPRISE they acted m opposition to his charge, though they were not unanimous, and the Judge ruled that a majority could decide. "Have you any presentment to make ?" asked his Honor when he had recovered from his shock The foreman had none, except to remark that the jury had requested him to intimate to the Court that the decision had been arrived at only on account of the unsatisfactory nature of the evidence, and not from any personal feeling. His Honor said that he had read the depositions very carefully, and that evidence, apart altogether from that of the prosecutor, he was bound to say justified the view he had put before the jury. The • accused were, formally discharged. Addressing Mr Kerr, the Crown Prosecutor, His Honor said it rested with him to determine further procedure m the meantime, and after giving strong utterance to his opinions expressed before he discharged the Grand Jury. From enquiries made by a "Truth" representative it is very unlikely that any further action will be taken by the Crown.

The alleged unlawful assemblists were Charles Cameron, James Hickey. Daniel O'Sullivan, Harry Dickinson, Charles Hodgson, Richard ODea, Oliver Cross, and George Looney, all of Opunake, and they were a very respectable, well-dressed lot. They were allowed their liberty shortly after 1 p.m., and the rest of the day was put m very quietly, and m the evening the whole party visited the theatre where Fullers' company entertained them for a couple of hours and by eight o'clock next morning all were ON THFTR WAY HOME. Harman Edward Hill is the name of the person who was degraded by them. He is a Canadian by birth, and has been m this country about seven years, during which period he has had a particdlarly rough time of it more especially the last three years. Pie is a creamery hand by occupation and has worked m nearly every creamery between Patea and Stratford. He is a man of short stature, very dark, and possessed of a nasal organ that promptly suggests that the owner is an individual whose company is not to be courted. To a representative of this paper, who had some conversation with him he appears to be the sort of fellow not at all responsible for his actions. Presenting every TRAIT OF THE SENSUALIST, Hill may well be classed as a sex maniac, and those sort of maniacs are better shut up, if only for the sake of womanhood, be they young or old. His paramour, Mrs Lister, has always been a woman ofr more or less loose ways. She 'omes from Wanganui, and before marrying her present husband, who is a gardener, was always looked upon with suspicion. Since her "lover" got such a severe handling m Opunake she has shifted to Stratford and has rented a small cottage m the main street there, m the window of which hangs the placard MRS LISTER. PLAIN SEWING DONE- HERE. It was there that Hill repaired on Tuesday naming on his return from IJew Plymouth, and it is his boast that he gets three meals a day and a bed there without payment. The blackguard is very fond of opening his mouth, and on :previoiiß occasions fee has been dismissed from employment for this weakness. His whole Eife m New Zealand has '">een a b^l ©ne, and many stories are m circulation, about him. Once »:Vien working m a creamery at Oaonui he enticed a little child of tender years to his whare with the intention of seducing her, but his vile purpose was just frustrated m the nick of time by the arrival of a .'.oaple of Iriends of the child's parents, who took the child a" ~ .".nd HORSEWHIP]-- !-;H THE VILE MONf-'TER. Tkis is not the only, lime that Hill

received such' attention. At Hawera a few months ago a narber named Crane broke his skull -with & stockwhip handle on account of his being too cheeky to his wife, and the skunk had the damned effrontery to apply to the Court to have Crane bound over to keep the peace, but the Magistrate dismissed the case, and told Hill he got no more than he deserved. It would be thought that this would have cured Hill ; but not a sign of a cure did he show, and one day, when he Knew Crane would be away at business, he again invaded the sanctity cf his home and endeavored TO RAPE THE FEMALE OCCUPANT, but once again he was frustrated by a boarder of Crane's, a man named McSweeney, who was ill m the house at the time. Again, did Crane take the law into his own hands, and then called m the police, but after consultation with his wife decided against taking actiou, as it would give too much publicity to their domestic privacy. The police then advised Hill to shift, and he got a billet again at Oaonui, but , after ten days he was given a week's wages and told to go. Opunake was next visited by this wretch, but it is pretty safe to assume that after the dealing he got there that neither he nor his paramour will ever defile the township with their pestiferous presence again. It is understood that enquiries are now being made by the police at New Plymouth to see if this fiend cannot be CHARGED WITH FORGERY, as it is alleged that he forged another man's name to a telegram some few weeks back. Should the charge be sheeted home Hill will, no doubt, receive such punishment as the Law allows for forgery.

The fact that the Grand Jury deI clined by a majority to find a true bill against the eight accused men, has given rise m various parts of the colony to all sorts of statements concerning the reasons actuating that majority. The "New Zealand Times" has actually had the audacity to declare the failure of the Grand Jury to return a true bill, a miscarriage of justice, though the fact seems to have been lost sight of that the Crown witnesses could not positively identify those who were alleged to have given Hill what he seemingly richly merited. What Hill underwent has been told before to-day m these columns, and such a story can, m the circumstances, be repeated. When Hill first went to Opunake it was not long ere mostly everybody got the strength Of him. He was not long as Lister's place when someone casually inquired of him if he had obtained work. His reply was curious. "No," he said, "I don't want work, lam getting three feeds a day, a bed and a. thrown m for nix, so I'm all right." This reply was sufficient provocation for any clean-mind-ed man to knock him down promptly. It left no doubt as to his meaning, and as the husbond (Lister) was out stone-cracking all day TO SUPPORT HIS WORTHLESS WIFE, and to keep the home together, it was thought advisable that Lister should be put on his guard. Lister was duly advised to kick the lodger out, but he took no notice of the warning, but he fully realised it a few days later, when he found Hill and his wife together m his (Hill's) bedroom. Hill was ordered out of the house, but Hill thought he was boss, and caught old man Lister by the throat and threw him out instead. Lister complained to the police, but received no aid there. His Own wife turned on him, and he was obliged to go and doss m a whare. From this time, Hill, arrogant blow-hard that he is, openly proclaimed of his dirty doings. He boasted of Mrs Lister's adulterous pranks with him and moreover, the dirty dog defied any interference from anybody m Opunake. One man remonstrated with him, and the reply* Hill made, that he would debauch the man's wife and daughter sholld have earned liim sudden death. The pornic brute indulged m other pranks that are unprintable, but he went too far. He boasted of other alleged "conquests" involving the wives of reputable men, •and it was decided that if the police could not drive him out of town then others would. Fully 80 or 90 men agreed to kick the libidinious wretch from Opunake.. A raid was made on Lister's House. Poor old Lister, sick unto death with a hacking cold, too weak to stand, was found lying m a bunk m the whare covered with a flour sack. This sight ROUSED THE DEVIL IN THE RAIDERS. The old fellow Was covered up with the coats of some of the men, and Hill was sought. Mrs Lister opened the door and denied that her precious paramour was indoors. She was a liar. Hill was inside. He was discovered seated comfortably before the fire. A nice contrast truly. The husband, cold and shivering m a whare,' the fancy man snug and comfortable l:? f ore the fire m the sitti oom. Hill was then told m melodramatic te r ms that he was about $o be shown how Mormons were treated m Opunake. He was dragged outside. A long '■■•■ -■> was tied round him and he was hauled into a ditch, the contents of a night-soil pan were emptied over him. He was next taken to a creek, where he was thrown m and dragged up ; ir "' down till the unhappy wretch was ncarlv dead. He was hauled out of the creek, and his hair was cut close to the skin, his

eye-brows were shaved off, and he was tarred and feathered from head to foot. In this state the miserable dog was taken back to where Lister lay sick and helpless. Hill was forced to kneel by the bedside of old man Lister and there apologise for the • wrong he had wrought and to swear that he would be out of Opunake before sunrise next morning. Otherwise he would be taken to the jetty and thrown into the sea. At- : tracted by Hill's screams of murder, ' the police next arrived on the scene. Hdll was pointed to as the individual who had screamed. The policemanwas told as Hill was pointed to -"That is what wo have been doing," and the policeman's attention was drawn to Lister, and>*oTie of the men exclaimed.

"AND THAT IS OUR OBJECT." Hill was removed to the police station. He was followed by a huge crowd, who sang, "Why Don't You Get a Lady of Your Own," etc. Mrs Lister during the night took Hill back to the fold, and the crowd discovered next day that Hill had not kept his promise to leave the town. Another "lynching" expedition was organised, and it was intended that the threat of the previous evening would Jje carried into execution. When the raiders got to Lister's house, they found that two policemen were m charge of the place, and the police informed the " Vigilantes" that the doctor who . was attending Hill declared it to be an impossibility to remove him m his then state, and the police further gave the assurance that if it was left to them they would shift Hill as soon as it was possible. Three cheers were given for the police and groans and hisses followed for Hill and Mrs Lister. The next morning Hill, was removed to Rahotu. A detective from New Plymouth came to town, and, as everybody knows, Police Court proceedings were the result, ending m eight men being committed for trial. Such is the story as told to "Truth" by one "who took a prominent part m the proceedings. It is not for this paper

TO JUSTIFY SUCH PROCEEDINGS. That men m Opunake were practically forced by Hill's infamous conduct and still more infamous boasts of hi<* lecherous doings, to take the law into their own hands and deal out Lynch Law to a monster, none will deny. The Grand Jury have refused to find a True Bill anainst these men, they have been discharged, and m all probability nothing more will be heard of it. That these Opunakeitcs have, by their idea of Justice, given a terrible warning to others similarly inclined as Hill is, there is no doubt. Suffice it to say . that Opunake. m having got rid of Hill, and Mrs Lister, is now a far. happier town.

"Truth," as usual, was the first paper m New Zealand to give anything approaching a true statement of this how famous Opunake case. Shortly after we dealt with the case we received a communication from an Opunake resident dealing with our version. I'n'ortunately the case was sub judice, and any comment on the matter was impossible,. There is, we were told, another side to the "tar and feathering" story, and this is contained m the following letter, which we promised to give publicity to when the case was decided *—

THE TAR AND FEATHER INCIDENT.

THE OTHER SIDE OFTHE

STORY

'(To -the Editor, "Truth.") 1

Sir, — I read with much amusement, minded . with ennui» the account of the above sensation, and as I know the full particulars of the outrage, I should very much like to put your correspondent (war correspondent as you term him) on the right track. Your war correspondent, as you term him, has a wall eye, and is probably blind m the other, and if he does not submit to you any better truth m other matters than he did m this, he did not deserve the few shillings that you probably sent him for his report. I like reading "Truth" myself, but if it is going to be truth, let it be truth ; not filth and falsehood. Now, to start with, this young man, 'the victim of the" wrath of the brainless abortions of Opunake, is a quiet, easy-going, respectable chap, of good parentage, and a remittance man. Some few yen---?- ago he was under the engagement of the Pipana and Oaonui Cos., and through them, not giving him adequate remuneration for his ability he left their services. Throuerh not being m good health, the doctors ordered him back near the coast. Now. Sir, as he was m this township, not m the best of health, this business man's wife thought she would nurse him all she could get out of him. and at that time the business man, as your correspondent mentioned, did not object, because he was on the verge of bankruptcy. he and his wife trot all they could out of thin young man. They also wanted him to assist them

TO BURN THEIR HOUSE DOWN to get the money to prevent them going bankrupt. But this young man would have nothing to do with their dirty business. So the husband turned dog on him, and did not forget to bring two others out with him to waylay him, or part his hair with the business end of a riding whip, and I feel sure that you and the other readers of "Truth" will agree with me v '.en I say that they are cowardly curs. I may here mention that even that case ;s not finished with yet, and as mono- can do lots of things, "Turnbull's foundation may be shook off the Magisterial Bench." Well, to continue the story : This young r—n remained m the towr<-Hp and was offered a position with one of the companies with which he had been previously e^-ag^d, and which he accepted. Finding the wage not enough for the work, he stood up boldly and told them so, whi"h they resented. He resigned the nosition. and then went back to cont : -« to orgar^e a union araoncr the ! -iirv factory workers and creamery rnan-an-ers rith which he had been previously connected. And I can say with every confidence that it was throi"'- 1 ' -'-inir the butter faeWv nu-norers a dressing down -H-ir---~'i one of the loe.il *-avp--f-. heron*-'*-f:r-mo of them were ouposed -m the urion, that caused the ■ "Manage: "

of the Opunake "Grease Factory" to be the principal leader of the outrage. Now. Sir. your correspondent said that when this man asked for work they looked at him with unseeing eyes, which is not m accordance with truth, for I know for a positive fact that he was engaged to manage a butter factory five miles from Opunake for a private firm. In the meantime, he was still boarding m the township with a very respectable family, whose respectability both I and the local police can vouch for. The husband of the mistress of the house, allowed •

THE "GREEN EYED MONSTER" to t-ake possession of him, and would have him put out .at any v cost ; but, as the mistress of the house was paving the rent of the house and keeping her family. ak.o this lazy, bow-legged, idioticlooking, blind-blazing, . f ft -headed son of a sausage of a husoand ot hers, she would not allow this iodye- ci hers to be put out by him, so he (the husband) left the house himself. He was not. put out, or turned out, as your correspondent stated, so much so, that when the crowd found out on the second night of their arrival that this was falsehood, that he, the husband, was lying to them, they would have maltreated him only for the police, so when these most important persons of Opunake had got themselves into the soup, they appealed to the rest of the public of Opunake to assist them out of it, so the principal publican, who, it is commonly alleged, persuaded them to do this dastardly act and who filled them up with beer before and after the offence, str.it ~d the subscription list. Of course, the principal publican would gain a little by it, because it would bring a large crowd to the township, who would probably swamp his beer, that is, if the case was held m Opunake, but although they got lawyer Spence, for whom they subscribed the exes., to battle hard to get the case heard m Opunake, it was promptly refused, therefore they v.- ere remanded to New Plymouth, thus letting Opunal-c see they were not the ruling township of the Dominion. One more word to your correspondent re this case. Tl.c mobsters m question did not use tl.e receptacle he stated they did. I grant you that Orr* , * , r* 1 --o has no sanitary drainage system, and neither will havo as long as DuPei Dudley is chairman of ri the Town Board, but it only shows that yoiu correspondent is as den^e as the frothy filth 1 c writes. Therefore, sir, I will rcircotfullv ask you to publish this to ventilate "the cause that needs assistance, for the future, m the distance;" as the case is not over yet. I also trust that there is no such thing as "UNWRITTEN LAW" IN THIS COUNTRY. Th.j little wizened-faced editot of the little Opunake rag had someth'.. to say about the ire of the people be-' ing aroused, and the man m question was forced to apologise to the man he had wronged. I can give credence to this shovM you want more. Ihave already written to the editor of the "Opunake Times," but iv* has refused mv lott-er.*— Yours £c, NOT A WAR CORRESPONDENT. Opunake.

"Truth" does not i-rop-ise toioj-ly to the writer of this letter. He has set forth to give H.ill a .good character. We have, adopted a different course, and if Hill feels aggrieved, he surely will not be wanting m sense or knowledge as to what course he should take.