"TARRED AND FEATHERED."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13996, 31 August 1907, Page 10

"TARRED AND FEATHERED."

AN OPUNAKE SENSATION.

EIGHT MEN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL,

(Pes Uxited Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, August 30. About a month ago the township of Opunake, indignant at the alleged circumstances _ under which a man named Hill wa-3 living as o hoarder in a house where lis lodged, and having, it is stated, failed to induce him to learc tlio district, took united action, descending on the house, and finishing up by tarring and feathering the vielim. The circumstances were investigated at the Magistrate's Court before Mr FitzHerhert to-day, Tlio accused wero Charles Cameron, Daniel O'Sullivan, James Hickoy, Harry Dickson, Charles Hodgson, Richard O'Dea, Oliver Cross, and George Looney, They were charged that on August 3, at Opunake, they did, together with divers other persons to the number of 20 or more, cause and take part in an unlawful assembly king an indicia hie olieiice. Sergeant Hadfirell. in opening the case, said that on (ho night mentioned a large number o! persons proceeded to Mrs. Lister's house in Opunake, where a man named Hill was staying. Thoy were told that Hill was not iti, but that was incorrect. Ultimately the men forced an entrance to the Jiouse, Mrs Lister and her daughter being roughly handled, and the man Hill was. taken out and propelled down the road by the feet of tJio crowd, soused with mud find water in the water table, tarred and feathered, dragged again, and thrown into tlio creek, and continually ducked and dragged in the. water. Then he was forced to take an oath to leave the district. Hill and others had identified somo of those taking part in the affair,

Herman Edward Hill was called. He said he had stayed at Mrs Lister's for ten weeks as a paying guest at. her own invitation. At about 8.30 on the night of August 3, he got up from the fireside, remarking to the landlady-, "If anybody comes for me I'm out; I'm going to bed." He wont to his room, and shortly afterwards hoard a knock at the. door. Mrs Lister, accompanied by her daughter, went to the door, Mrs Lister taking a candle in Iter hand. He heard a question asked, "Is Hill in?" Hi's Lister replied, "No, he's not in." A voice asked, "Where is ]ic? I want to see him on a. factory matter." Mrs Lister replied, "Down town. I suppose." Someone replied in an authorarive lone, "He's not down town, Mrs Lister." Witness heard a sort ot shuffling, and heard Mrs Listor say, "Go out of my house." Witness then walked out of the bedroom through the sitting room, and met Cameron. Just after that, and before lie had time to look uround, the back door of (ho kitchen was opened, and he was " collared from behind and bustled out of the house" through the front donr. He resisted, and his ejection was rough. Five or six men handled him, and ho saw about 20 waiting outside. He was carried through the gate and bustled to about 15 yards from tho front door. He was thrown down on tho road, and they pushed him along with their feel in a very rough manner. Subsequently one said, "Where's the rope? We'll rope the —. Ho thought O'Sullivan said this' He was struggling and shouting, and one trial to gng him with a handkerchief. They placed a half-inch rope round his waist, and tied a slip noose on it, and dragged him along the unmet-ailed road. The Sergeant: How did they drag you? Witness: Just as a team of bullocks would drag a. log to a timber mill. Witness continued. They dragged him for four chains, and into a water table, whore they throw mud and water in hiß face. Then they threw him out on an embankment. He licard someone say. "Where is the tar and brhfeh?" and they started to tar his head, face, and ears, and then throw feathers on him. One struck a match to 6et fire to hi* hair. Then someone unfastened his brace buttons at the back, held up his Test and shirt, and tarred his back. Then, they hauled on the rope apm, and dragged him another four chains along the road to a small unrailed bridge, whore he was thrown bodily into the stream, which was about 2ft 6in deep. The distance from the bridge to the water was about 3ft 6in. Not liking to got themselves wet, they tried to pull hiin out again on to the bridge. That proved impossible. He tried to crawl out on the shallow side, and was pulled back into the water. Then they kept pulling him from side to side, jerking him into the stream each time. He attempted to get out, once or twice, but was kicked hack. This went on for five minutes. All were laughing, seemingly quite delighted with themselves. The noise could be heard fully 200 or 300 yards. None came to his assistance. None remonstrated as far as he was aware. He was quite "done up " by this time, the tar burning his eyes and face. Then they took him by force into the cottage near the bridge. There was a candle burning in the room. They soiled him crying out "apologise." Witness said Looncy held him down. They all sang out "apologise, apoligise to this man," reforing to Lister. He asked, I'apologisc for what? What do you want me to say." Looncy asked, "Will you loayo town before daylight in the morning?" Looncy handed a pair of scissors to a man. and the latter cut witness's hair. Constable Kickman came on the scene and they all bolted by the back door except Dickson, who called out "Don't rim away, boys, 6tay and see it through now." Hickoy returned and said in the presence of the constable, "If he doesn't leave the town we'll do it strain." Witness accompanied the nonstable to the Police Station. Fully 20 followed behind. When he arrived at tho station he was coy and shivering, and suffered from the' effwft of the tar. After receiving attention from the constable, he returned to his lodgings. He tried to borrow a revolver from the constable for self protection, but was refused. He left Opunakc on the Monday afternoon, acting under the advice of the constable. He had not, to his knowledge, given accused any reason to interfere with him. Ho was still suffering from the effects of the assault. Mrs Lister and her daughter gave evidence on somewhat eirailar lines. In the course of the examination tho Magistrate said he conld not understand how Mrs Lister should lie in one house with Hill and Mr Lister on the couch in another house. Constable Hickman a.lso jave evidence of the disturbance. Sergeant Haddrcll was proceeding to adduce evidence of alleged threatening behaviour on the Sunday following, but Mr Spcnce. for the' defendants, objected. It was elicited, however, that as tho outcome of tho disturbance, tho police were reinforced. Mr Spcnce, without having cross-examined witnesses, submitted that the police had failed to adduce any evidence of;unlawful assembly as contemplated by section 83 of the Criminal Code Act. They had brought evidence of combined assault upon the man Hill, hut there was no cvidonco that these men assembled with the intention of tumultuotirdy disturbing the peace of the comrmmity. There was no Uumili, and there had been no complaints from the neighbourhood. There had l been no proof of "unlawful assembly," and ho contended: there was no ease to answer. . Mr FitzHerbert. held that a prima facie case had been made out. He considered there had been evidence of an unlawful assembly, of a rout and riot. Accused pleaded "Not guilty," and the defence was reserved. Mr Spcnce asked for bail. The' Magistrate remarked that this was a serious affair, and 1 the first happening of the kind, ho thought, in the colony. These men brqijo into the house, seized the man, dragged him, tarred and feathered him, dropped him into a creek on a winter's night, and then tried to compel Jmn to make an a.pology. Had the man been delicate the consequences might have been' very grave, and these men arraigned on a far more serious charge. He would, however, admit the accused to bail, each in his own recognisance of £50 and another surety of £25 each. Bail was immediately fortlicoioin£.