KIDNAPPING AN EDITOR.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1226, 28 August 1885, Page 3

KIDNAPPING AN EDITOR.

A strange outrage is reported to have occurred at Laud port, Hauls. In one of the local publications some strictures on the behaviour of so ns of the sublieutenants of the Ro'ml Navy while ashore have recently appeared, and they seem to have given no little offence, but no suspicion that anything would arise from them was entertained. Shoitly before 2 o'clock on Sunday morning, July‘2l, however, Mr Proctor. :he proprietor and editor of rbe paper in question, who not long since was assaulted by a local ollieial for some comments he deemed objectionable, was aroused by a noise at his outer gate lie wo it down in hi.s nightdress, and found sons - person at his si lo | door. Ua M<‘ Proctor ioqii ring what was wanted, he was informed that some person outside had broken his leg, and that he woubl die unless bran iy was given to him. Mr Proctor returned upstairs, dressed, came down again, and lit tbe lamp in the shop Meanwhile a man who was lying on the ground outside was moaning piie-ms y, and Mime other persons were around him. Mr Procter went to his assistance, kneeling down, and doing ailhe could to, as he supposed, restore liim. Mrs Proctor also" came down, placed her fur cloik under the m in’s bead, an I rendered other assistance, in a little time a policeman came no. an I he was sunt off by the party for a stretcher, that tbe iuj ‘.red man might be carried to tlio po icesution. While he was gone snspici n was aroused in the mind of Mr Procter, whoattemple 1 to regain his house. He was then elbowed by the party, who endeavoured to force him into a cab. which was standing by. A desperate struggle now ensued, in which the man with the supposed broken leg took part. Some material resembling indiarnbher was placed over Mr Proctor’s mouth, and several times he was forced with violence into the cab, and as often ho contrived to get out again, though once or twice ho was in danger of being thrown under the horses fe;t and the wheels of the vehicle. The policeman, who had, hoard Mr Pmotor's cries for help, hurried hack, and on his approach the whole of the assailants, with whom Mrs Proctor bad also been engaged, made off, leaving however, some sticks and hats behind them, dooa afterwards a young man came tip under tno pretence of making inquiry into the aff ur, Imt he was imme iiately incog* niaed as one of the assailants, ami was given into custody. At the poliee station head* mi tied that he was a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy, and ho endeavoured to get M r Proctor to a-ttle the affair o i payment of a sum of money. Mr Proctor, however, declined the offer, and has left the matter in the hands of the po'ice. The suggestion is that the object of the assailants was to force Mr Proctor into a cab, and then to 1 d rive him t > the water, where lie was to be ducked” in punishment for his strictures on the young officers.