OPUNAKE TARRIES AND FEATHERING CASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8550, 7 October 1907, Page 3

OPUNAKE TARRIES AND FEATHERING CASE.

FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS PROBABLE. By Telegraph—Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, October 5. Further developments are probable in connection with the Opunake tarring and feathering case. On Saturday, Hills, the victim, wrote to the Daily News, inter alia:—Sir, — I hereby wish to state most emphatically that I did not fail *,o swear to the identification of the accused in the Opunake tarring and feathering case. I positively dwny the statement to that effect. I would also like to say I was treated most unjustly at the hands of some of the grand jury in that case." This afternoon fourteen of the grand jurors resident in the town were seen. Each and every one stated that Hill when under examination by them absolutely refused to identify the accused a& the persons who assaulted him. He identified one of them as having been in Mrs Lister's house, but stated that this man had neither spoken to him, nor, so far as Hill was aware, had he taken any part in the assault. He also identified one of the accused as having been in the house where he (Hill) was taken after the assault, but distinctly stated that this man had not assaulted him or even spoken to him. Of the fourteen jurymen who subscribed to the above- facts four were amongst the minority who favoured returning a true bill solely on account of the judge's direct charge. It is stated that everyone of the jurymen will deny Hill's letter to the press. The grand jurors state that they are in an unenviable position in the matter. It is stated that neither the judge nor Crown prosecutor is quite clear regarding the purport of the jurors' oath, and whether they are permitted to mako public the full facts of the c<*se as presented to them by the chief witnesses under examination. As previously indicated there is little probability of the Crown, in view of the facts available, moving for a new trial ,or a change of venue. There is, however/a probability of somewhat serious charges being laid against one of the principal Crown witnesses involving perjury in the present case, and an eqully serious charge arising out of a previous misdemeanour under circumstances somewhat akin to the Opunake incident.