TARRING AND FLAGELLATION OF A DOCTOR AT FIJI.

Evening Star, Issue 2924, 3 July 1872, Page 3

TARRING AND FLAGELLATION OF A DOCTOR AT FIJI.

Arising out of the case of Craig, charged with detaining the children, a learned doctor was tarred. This clever /Esculapius was directed by the Chief Justice to visit Craig a few days after he had been subjected to most brutal’ill-treatment from the police, in order to say whether he was in a (it state for incarceration in gaol. He immediately thereafter rushed off to the Supreme Court, and stated, when placed in the witness-box, that Craig might be confined to prison without aggravating his condition, and he swore that he might he removed. This was done at night —Craig being taken from his house to the prison on a stretcher, being so weak and helpless that he could not stand. Thereupon measures were taken by the friends of Craig to “get at” the doctor. A messenger rushed up to him with breathless haste whilst he was at the bar of a publichouse discussing tho merits of pale brandy, entreating the doctor to visit a man who had been taken suddenly ill. Away they sallied, and within an hour it was rumoured that the doctor had been tarred. Not being satisfied with tarring, the doctor must needs challenge a member of Parliament to mortal combat. This challenge was given verbally, in the presence of witnesses, by the doughty chirurgeon, which the M. P. uacepted manfully in a written communication. However the doctor had not pluck enough to go on with the case—he threw up the sponge. The M.P., however, was not satisfied; he was not to be insulted publicly without obtaining redress. Communications in writing were exchanged between the would-be or would-np.t-be cp.mbatauts, in one of which .Esculapius is good enough to reiterate many obnoxious charges against his adversary, interlarded with much personal abuse. This brought matters to a crisis, and the morning of Wednesday, April 24, at 11 o’clock, the doctorwas publicly horsewhipped in the streets, numbers of persons standing by and enjoying to see him receive a severe flagellation. This was administered by the courageous M.P., who had asserted previously to his friends that be would “ make the doctor eat his last insulting letter,” and be did so. For beyond administering to him

a sound thrashing, in which his garments were torn in ribbons, the M.P, stood over him, and, thrusting the letter, rolled up in a ball, into his mouth, forcibly pushed it down the doctor’s throat. —Fiji Gazette.