TARRED & FEATHERED

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1921, Page 4

TARRED & FEATHERED

EXTISAOUDINA 11 V A'PI’ACK ON AN KDITOIt. SYDNEY, Nov. 2. The famous Victorian fruit irrigation area of Mildura has been further distinguished bv an extraordinary attai'k upon a local newspaper editorMr Ora lit Hervey - whose acts and words had excited the resentment of a, large body of residents. Following upon an action on the part of the editor which bad aroused folding to a climax a body of about UK) professional and business men and others assembled in motor-cars and awaited the arrival by train of the editor, who had been visiting Melbourne. They followed him to his residence, and established themselves as an informal Court outside, prepared to try their victim, and carry out summarily a pre-arranged and humilia'(inn sentence. The editor, howevei, was ill a defiant mood, and informed the emissaries wln> invited him to come and stand his trial that the first man lo enter the house would be shot dead. No one cared to make the experiment, and in the meantime the editor’s wife emerged from the house and proceeded to a telephone. Shortly afterwards the police arrived and after interviewing the editor in his home advised the assemblage to disperse. This they were reluctant to do, hut oil the arrival shortly afterwards of the entire police force of Mildura. they saw the wisdom of it,, and retired, leaving scouts behind. Meanwhile, it had become known that as well as summoning the police the editor had summoned a 11110 tor-ear. by which lie proposed to leave the town by a certain route., The road in question had a narrow culvert near the town, and thither the licet, of cars proceeded, and were obscured behind a group of willows, their occupants accommodating themselves under the culvert. So, when a large car containing the unsuspecting editor reached ‘the culvert and drew up behind an in-nocent-looking wood cart which was making a slow crossing, great was liis amazement when a large number of men arose from tlio culvert and' compelled him to leave the ear. Tile reasons for the action which was about to ho falcon were solemnly explained to (hi* editor who was then compelled to divest himself of his clothing, and in a few moments ho presented a forlorn snootnele, tarred from head to foot, and then feathered. The motor-ears then hastened to the town, leaving him deserted. and the fire-hell was rung, sum. moning a large crowd to whom the result of the day’s proceedings were announced. A number of men gave their names to tbo police as having been concerned in the affair.