TARRING AND FEATHERING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2204, 7 October 1907, Page 1

TARRING AND FEATHERING.

I THE OPUNAKE CASE. I FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED. I Preßs Association. I NEW PLYMOUTH. Oct. 5. I Further developments are probable I in connection with the Opunako tarI ring and feathering caso. I On Saturday, Hill, the victim, wrote to tho “Daily News” on the subject, remarking, inter alia:—“l hereby wish to stato most emphatically that I did not fail to swear to the identification of tlio accused in tile Opunako tarring and feathering case. I positively deny tlio statement to tho effect. I would also liko to say that I was treated most unjustly at the hands of some of the Grand Jury on that caso.”

This afternoon fourteen of tho Grand Jurors resident in the town

were seen, and each and every one stated that Hill, when under examination by them, absolutely refused to identify accused as tho person who assaulted him. He identified one of them as having been in Mrs. Lister’s

louse, but stated that this man had

I neither spoken to him nor, as far as I Hill was aware, had he taken any I part in the assault. Ho also identified one of tho accused as having been in the houso where he (Hill) was taken after tho assault, but distinctly stated that this man had not assaulted him or even spoken to him. Of the fourteen jurymen who subscribed to the above facts four were | amongst tlio minority who favored returning a true bill solely on account of tlio Judge’s direct charge. It is stated that every one of the jurymen will deny Hill’s letter in the press. The Grand Jurors state that they are in an unenviable position in the matter. It is stated that neither tlio Judgo nor the Crown Prosecutor is quite clear regarding the nature of the jurors’ oath, and whether they are nermitted to mako public tho full facts of a case as presented to them j by the chief witnesses under examination.

As previously indicated, there is little probability of the Crown, in view of the. facts available, moving for a new trial or a change of venue. Thero is, however, a probability of somewhat serious charges being laid against one of the principal Crown witnesses involving perjury in the present case, and an equally serious charge arising out of a previous mis-

demeanor under circumstances somewhat akin to the Opuna'ke incident.