THE HORSEWHIPPING CASE.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1917, Page 1

THE HORSEWHIPPING CASE.

F V imiF.R 1"A RTICr I/A RS. AUCKLAND, .Oct.' Jfl. Ouiiner Clements, who is 21, was gassed and wounded at the battle of Messines, and returned to Auckland three weeks ago with other invalided soldier.*. THE ASSAILANT’S STORY. In a statement made to a: “'Herald’ representative. Clements said that on his return from the front he was informed that certain statements about his late sister had been made by .' Elliott. “As T was advised that 1 had no legal remedy,” he continued, “I decided that 1 would thrash Elliott? at the first opportunity. Thaf opportunity did not arrive until to-night. Accompanied by my brother-in-law and armed with a raw-hide horsewhip, T went to Elliott’s house at ML Eden, eirriiving (there, at half past seven. We stooped outside. In a few minutes Elliott and a lady—his wife, 1 think—came out of ' the house. Tie was wearing an overcoat. As the former approached the door of the taxi, T accosted him. asking him ii lie was Howard Elliott. He replied in the affirmative. T thereupon said: ‘Why did you slander mv dead sister V ‘Who are you. or who was your ’sister?’ asked. Elliott. 1 raised my thong and 1 struck him across the shoulder saying, “1 am a brother of the nun who was drowned at Tauinaiunui.” . 1 had struck five blows when Elliott; wrenched the thong from me, but MeEe.ntee regained possession of it and handed it back to me. I continued to administer a thrashing, and presumably Elliott broke away and attempted to run through his gateway, but, McEntoe blocked his escape. In the struggle that ensued Elliott fell and rolled in the gutter. When h« rose again 1 once more struck him a few blows with the thong. By this time a number of people had oqngiegatod and formed a ring around us, several of them calling out to me. to ‘lay it on to him.” When 1 considered'l had punished him sufficiently, 1 let Elliott go, and he went, back into the house, whither his wife had preceded him. Meantime the driver ul ' the, taxi had driven away. Believing that Elliott had rung up for the police.’ as turned out to he the ease, nn brotjhor-Sn-la'w aind I awaited them. When they arrived wo offered no objection to being arrested, • jis b©l<m» beiing arrested • I had vindicated *> dead sister's’ honour.’* ' When Sub-Inspector Broberg received a telephone message Loin Elliott’s house, he despatched to the scene, in a, motor-car several officers. They found Clements and AfeEntee outside the house, and arrested them, and conveyed them to the lock-up. MR ELLIOTT'S STATEMENT.

\ statement was made this evening bv Air Howard Elliott. It was to the effect that he left his home in MountEden ab0ut.7.30 o’clock. At the gate he was accosted by three men, who said' that he had made statements reflecting on their worm*? folk- Two of

them seized Iris .arms and urged a third, who was a returned soldier, to use a? stick over his (Mr Elliott’s) head nnd to disfigure him to prevent him speaking at •’ public meetings. Mr. Elliott said that in the course of the struggle* iie was dealt a violent blow on the side of the head with a stick, and he was also struck across the face.