“TIME OF HIS LIFE”

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1921, Page 10

“TIME OF HIS LIFE”

TARRED AND FEATHERED. GRANT HERVEY SUFFERS. The indignation of a section of Mildura’s residents caused by the words and acts of Grant Hwvey, editor of a Mildura newspaper, reached a crisis on Tuesday of last week, when a Citizens’ Vigilance Committee over 100 strong, decided to end his career in Mildura. Hervey had been to Melbourne, and as soon as his huge figure was seen on Mildura railway station on Tuesday morning citizens began to gather in groups. As soon as the committee had made final arrangements, earload after carload of professional and business men and others raced up Deakin Avenue, Mildura, along Twelfth Street to Carnia Avenue, where Hervey’s residence was surrounded. He was invited to come out to stand his trial by the self-elected court, which proposed to try him and sentence him in the one act, but he locked all the doors and windows and yelled defiance, threatening that the first man to enter the house would be shot dead. No one took the risk.

At this stage Mrs. Hervey went across to a neighbor’s house and used the telephone, and Constable K. Holton, of Mildura, soon arrived by bicycle. After interviewing Grant Hervey in his house, the constable urged the crowd to disperse. Subsequently the whole of the members of the Mildura police force arrived on the scene, and obeying the order of the sergeant, the crowd moved away just on 1 p.m. SCOUTS WATCH RESIDENCE. Nevertheless the siege had not been raised, for scouts were appointed to watch the residence, with instructions that should Hervey appear in the street the alarm was to be given so that he might be captured. At 4 p.m. the scouts were called into town, where a mass meeting was held. Subsequently motor cars left for the intersection of Fifteenth Street and Deakin Avenue, and were drawn up in the pepper trees at the side of th roat? and hidden from sight. Then the occupants hid in the culvert under the bridge. Four or five cars went by, and finally a car known to the Vigilance Committee to contain Hervey approached. A wood cart was then crossing the bridge, and the car had to stop. Great was the amazement of the occupants when a large number of men arose from the culvert.

Some one said to Hervey, “Come out of that car.” He was quickly overpowered, tied by the arms, placed in a powerful car, and driven to the aviation ground, two men holding him as he sat iin the car. At the aviation ground, Hervey was ordered to take off his coat, vest and shirt, while a man opened a tin of tar. ONLY TROUSERS LEFT ON. At the same time one of the men in the car addressing Hervey, stated the reasons for the action that was about to be taken. At that stage Hervey only had his trousers, boots, and socks on. He asked, “Do you want the pants pulled off? and received the reply, “No you can slip them ovex’ your knees. He was about to step from the car when someone said, “Tie the rope about his legs.” It immediately went about them, and in that state he was helped to the ground. “Take your boots off,” was the next order. “The ground is rather rough to sit on,” replied the victim, and so he was allowed to stand up.

“Now, is there anything else that you want to do?” he asked. “Yes, we are going to give you the time of your life,” someone replied, and with that a tar brush slapped tar all over his shoulders. Gradually his form was covered to the waist oii either side, and then the men went further, putting it all over his legs. Then kapok was stuck all over the tar, and soon the big man resembled a huge gorilla. He was left standing in the open, with his arms stretched up to the skies, calling on God to forgive his opponents, “who had not realised what they had been doing.” The cars then left the ground, bound for Mildura, and an aeroplane that had been flying overhead during the ceremony descended. The cars made for the Mildura fire station, where the bell ropes were tugged violently for several minutes. Over 1000 persons assembled in about 15 minutes, and soon the road at the fire station was packed. The police found Hervey at the aviation grounds endeavoring to remove | the kapok. Petrol was obtained from the aerodrome, and after scraping some of the mixture off his body he dressed I himself, boarded the police car, and proceeded to the police station at Mildura. Detectives were in town on Wednesday making inquiries.