THE TARRING CASE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2824, 9 October 1885, Page 2

THE TARRING CASE.

The notorious Plutt tarring case, Sydney Niramo Muir v. James Walden, for assault, is at last settled, the jury at the Supreme Court, Wellington, having, after three hours and 20mins.’ deliberation, returned into Court with a verdict of “not guilty,” although his Honor Judge Richmond had summed up dead against the prisoner. Theie were two separate charges of pounding and ill-treating, and of choking with intent; and, as many of our readers are probably not acquainted with the particulars, we append them. The Wellington Post, referring in August last to Mr S. N. Muir, stated :—. “A certain gentleman has lately been submitted to the painful indignity of tarring and featheiing, for alleged misconduct. The individual referred to was formerly a. well-known officer of a Volunteer corns in Dunedin, and now holds a prominent puoilion in the force, and, if ail that is said be true t

the punishment, severe as it was, cannot be considered altogether undeserved. It appears that the wife of a well-known legislator residing in the Hutt has been the subject of considerable attention on the part of the gentleman, and, in spite of constant reminders that these attentions were not welcome, he refused to desist. At length some persons (unknown) waylaid the man, tripped him up, put handcuffs on him, and, after removing his nethei Raiments, a copious coat of coal tar was applied to his limbs. He was gagged, but in the coarse of his struggles he managed to remove the muffler and set up a scream, but he was effectively silenced by the insertion of a tar brush in his mouth. After this he was painted all over his body, and, with his clothes tied round his neck, he was forcibly propelled towards the hotel where he resided. Reaching this place he found the door closed, and he was compelled to find his way in through a window, and when once between the sheets he had ample time to reflect on his misdeeds and their unpleasant consequences. Since that time he has been industriously engaged in removing the tar from his body, but the process is a somewhat tedious one, and it will be some time before the indiscreet masher will be able to present himself. It is to be hoped that the severe lesson given him will have the effect of cooling his amatory ardour, and that he will see the advisableness of leaving the col on v at the earliest possible date. That the punishment was cruel is not to be denied, and the only justification for it is to be found in the tact that he had been frequently warned to discontinue his obnoxious conduct towards persons who were practically defenceless.” On the announcement of the verdict by the jury in Court yesterday of “Not guilty,” the crowd gave vent to cheers, which were taken up by those outside who were unable to get into Court.