Mob Assails Chairnan

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 November 1916, Page 3

Mob Assails Chairnan

THROB ATS OF HANGING. An account of violent behaviour at a conscription meeting in Victoria, of which some particulars were irecd.ved by cable, was publshed by the Melbourne "Argus" on October 28th. It received its information in the form of the following telegram from Mr. George Gordon, of Albert street, Port Fairy:— Mr A. -S. Rodgers. M.H.R.. asked me, as chairman of his meeting at Orossley, to send you a report of what occurred. Mr Rodgers attempted to add'ress a large number of men at the Cross ley Roman Catholic Schoolioom on Wednesday night, in favour of the referendum. No local man being willing, Mr Gordon, of Port Fairy, took the chair. For over an hour, amidst a tremendous uproar, Mr Rodgers tried to make lrsmself audible, but failed. The two police present powerless to do anything to keep order. and, with Mr 'Rodgers. Re-dru/itiing-©ergeant Stevens, iand 'the chairman, were bespattered with eggs in all stages of decay. Finally Crcsslovy broke 'its neutrality, when somebody called for three cheers for the Kaiser, followed bv a roar of cheers for Germany. "The mob by this time had worked itself into a frenzy, and, at the earnest request of the chairman and Sergeant Stevens, 'Mr Rodgers abandoned the meeting and left the room with Constable Nelson, and was fortunate enough to get away in the darkness without injury. The crowd not btfng able to find Mr Rodgers, turned thoir attention to the chairman. and, amidst yells of ''Hang the he was seized and brutally kicked. An attempt was made to fasten a buggy-trace round 1 his neck, whilst a search was made for a rope. Amidst gveat excitement, "the chairman -waa pushed to the place selected for his execution, but a man holding a white flag over his head intervened in his be half. In the confusion the light went out, and Mr (Gordon quietly walked through the crowd to where Sergeant Stevens had the jinker ready A young man seized the horse by the head, and rapidly led him out of the yard to the road As the wheels moved a wild yell rose fromi the crowd when they realised that their victim was escaping and as the jinker realched th road hands attempted to tear Mr. Gordon out of the vehicle. The horse galloped Off, and' the attempt failed, a volley of metal pursuing the jlinke.r"