EVICTION SCENE IN SCOTLAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2093, 2 September 1890, Page 3

EVICTION SCENE IN SCOTLAND.

An exciting scene took place at Cullen, Banffshire, on Saturday. On the previous day Mr Alexander M’Gregor, sheriff, officer,; endeavoured to evict James Mitchell, carter, and hia wife, at the instance of a Mrs Harthill, but as soon as the fisher people of Seatown became aware of what was r going on they returned the furniture to the house by the back door as fast as it was carried out at this front door by Mr M’Gregor and his assistants. They finally became so threatening that the officer had to declare he was deforced. Thereafter the crowd visited Mrs Harthill’s house and burned her effigy. On Saturday another attempt was made to carry out the eviction with the aid of Inspector Chapman, two sergeants and ' fourteen policemen. A great many women, with their sleeves rolled up, collected in front of the house, while Mrs Mitchell remained within, and barricaded the door. On the arrival of Mr M’Gregor he was at once surrounded by the angry women. The policemen with drawn batons, however, soon cleared the section of the road in front of the house. The sheriff officer’s, assistants at once attacked the door with a pickaxe, amid the wildest vows of vengeance by the crowd, hut the door withstood all their efforts, to the great delight of the spectators. The window, which was then smashed in, was found to be too small, for,a comfortable entrance to bo made. While near the window, the sheriff officer was greeted with shawer* p | crockery apd h$ retired with an ugly out in the' hand. The sight of blood flowing very freely was greeted with cheers of exultation by. the crowd. Returning,to the window a little later a small tin pail came from within, and struck hip* on the face, cutting him and causing blood to flow. The pickaxe having failed, after considerable delay a big axe was procured, but only, a small strip of, the door was broken, when the head of the ase fell in, and was captured by Mrs Mitchell. Ah assistant ] being sent for another implement, he considered ■ discretion advisable, and did not return. A large sledge hammer, however, was got and while the d«nr was being broken down frequent volleys of whiting were .fired from within, covering Mr M’Gregor and his sole remaining assistant; • On the door being demolished, Mrs Mitchell was taken into,; custody to the great indignation of the crowd, which, fortunately was not very large owing to the absenm of most of .the fishermen on the West Coast. During, the proceedings an effigy of Mrs Hart-

hill was exhibited and then torn to pieces by the excited females. The throwing of stones and stale herrings was resorted to, and excited gesticulations and blood-curdling threats were freely indulged in. Only the good ; turn out of police prevented a serious riot. Mrs Mitchell is a daughter-in-law of Mrs Harthill, but has married a second husband. There is stated to be a dispute as to the ownership of the house.