The Portland daily press., 1891-07-08
THEY GAVE PRATT A BATH OF TAR.
This Outrage Perpeirated In the Law
Abiding Say State
Because lis Victim Had Testified
Against a RumseIIer.
the Peculiar Condition of Things In
Massachusetts Town.

WEST MEDwAY, Mass, July 7.-John
Welch, Michael Henry. Charles Gormley and
Peter Gallagher were arraigned before Judge
Fairbanks this morning charged with as
saulting Herbert Pratt and smearlng him
with tar ten days ago. The court room was
crowded and there was the utmost interest
in the case. No evidence was submitted and
the case was continued to July IS to give the
prosecution more time to prepare.
The court consented ON request Of counsel
for the defence to hear the evidedce of +. o.
Byrne on Saturday, July IL. at O'Clock.
Divested of the imaginative features the
story of the West Midway assault is briefly
told. During the several years when the
residents annually voted that no intoxicat-
ing liquors should be sold within the limits
of the village, James Henry, we'll known
and even influential inhabitant has placed,
so 1t is alleged, on tap continuously in the
basement OF his house. and in his barn all
sorts OF spiritu0us drinks. Last March, at
the regular town meeting. 1t was determined
to enforce the prohibitory ordinance. Three
special officers were employed to prosecute
persons engaged in the illegal practice Of
selling liquors. Several raids upon the
property Of suspected individuals were
made at once, among them being one on the
premises of James Henry.
Henry was convicted, fined 800 and SEN
fenced to term of three months in confine-
ment. He had his case appealed, however,
and 1t is now waiting the action Of the supe-
rior court which will sit in September at
Dedham. On June q, Henry was again de-
clared guilty Of violating the temperance or
dlnance on another occasion. He was fined
$40; but he again made appeal to the superb
or court In both the trials, Herbert Pratt
was the principal witness. IT was his testi-
mony that convicted Henry.
Mr.. Pratt Is man of about 80 years Of
age He has lived In West Midway for only
few years, and so far has made but few
friends. He Is employed as an operative In
a shoe factory in the village. A week ago
last Saturday night he was asked to go ON a
fishing trip by an acquaintance, j. f. Welch,
who had on and off been employed In vari-
Gus capacities by Henry. Pratt accepted
the invitation, and with Welch and George
Gibbs drove five miles to a fishing spot at
the town from Medfeld. About midnight
the three men started on their return home.
On their way to the place where they had
left their horse and wagon they were sud-
denly overwhelmed by a party of half
dozen masked men,one of whom struck Pratt
a heavy blow on the head and felled him to
the ground. Gibbs escaped and took to his
heels. Welch, 1t Is said, remained with
the assaulters and was not m0lested.
Pratt. the story goes, still
PAAoohOt vi bho bAOuhuy was OLuOICu W Ic-
move his clothes, preparatory to be tarred
and feathered. When he refused to comply
with the order, most Of his garments were
rudely torn from his body. A bucketful of
liquid tar was hurled over him. Several
minutes had elapsed since Gibbs had escaped
The assailants thought that he would return
Immediately with assistance. The bag of
feathers which they had intended to apply
to Pratt was not opened. The men ceased
in their vicious work, rushed to their wag-
ons and were off. Pratt made his way to
his horse and drove home. The facts soon
got about. Next day warrants were issued
for the arrest of John Welch, Peter Gala
CHER, Michael Henry, John Henry and
Charles Gormby, of whom suspicion was en-
tertained as being the guilty ones. They
we're released on a deposit from each man Of
$500 bail.