Witnesses Against the Dynamiters Assaulted.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 122, 3 October 1885, Page 3

Witnesses Against the Dynamiters Assaulted.

The wife of Hestor, of Liverpool, who testified against Cunningham, the dynamiter, recently, has been assaulted by the latter'a friends. He told a reporter : "It is very hard on me, as I will have to leave the neighbourhood in which I was born and bred. Two policemen have warned me to keep my eyes open, as a man is now hanging about to kill me. I could not help being a witness against Cunningham ; the police learned that I carried Cunninc ham's box from the steamer, and summoned me, and I was bound over to appear as a witness. Monday night, as I passed Midghall-street, a gang shouted, 'We belong to the right gang, we do.' I asked what was meant by the 'right gang.' A man named Kerrigan abused mo, and I thrashed him. Next night a great crowd gathered at the same place and chased me for several blocks. W hile I was running away Kerrigan and Mb two sisters \> ent to my house, smashed the windows, and assaulted my wife, beating her badly. A crowd gathered, yelling, 'Hang the informer.' I lost much time over Cunningham's trial, and made Uttle over my expenses." Hestor's wife confirmed these statements. Both are scared and in danger. • '■ jEestor is the porter who carried Cunningham's box frpm the steamer Adriatic last December, and testified in Court to this effect. Since then it had become the habit of many people passing his house to call him informer, and sometimes to shout. "What did you do with the £100 bloodmoney?" This annoyance passed into the stage of violence, and Mrs Hestor was brutally beaten by an Irishman and two Irish women, who were convicted and sent to hard labour. The example just set may prove to be their security,