Family feud turns violent in Hedley

EDITOR’S NOTE: In recognition of Canada’s 150th anniversary, The Herald is reprinting historic stories from the South Okanagan focusing on the biggest news story of each year.

SEPTEMBER 3, 1925: Mrs. J. Willy shot in two places, and her husband’s leg grazed by a bullet, and Mr. and Mrs. J. Dery badly bruised, were serious results of a fistic combat and shooting affray in Hedley which was aired before Magistrate T.A. Pope of Penticton and Mr. Campbell of Keremeos yesterday.

J. Dery of Hedley, the wielder of the gun, was fined the nominal sum of $25.

The circumstances which led up to J. Dery being charged with unlawfully shooting causing grievous bodily harm, was the climax of a bitter enmity between the Dery and Willy families which has existed for some time and broke out with considerable fury.

It seems that various disputes culminated when Willy and his wife went to Dery’s yard to attack him, the evidence produced in court showing that Willy had been the aggressor. A fistic combat, which was marked by the free use of fists, hairpulling and other tactics, followed between Mr. and Mrs. Willy and Mr. and Mrs. Dery.

Mrs. Dery, it is stated, was beaten up severely, and fainted. Her husband, fearing that she would be killed, ran into the house and got his revolver, firing one shot in the air in order to scare off the attackers.

It was stated in court that Willy had not been intimidated, but approached him with a rock in his hand ready to throw at him.

Fearing death for his wife and injury for himself, Dery stated that he had fired three more shots, one grazing Willy’s leg and the other two hitting Mrs. Willy.

Medical evidence produced at the trial indicated that Mrs. Willy will be completely recovered from her injuries in a month.

The magistrates found that Willy has been the aggressor and that Dery was justified in defending himself, but that he had gone too far.

As the fault of the meeting lay with Mr. Willy, who admitted in court that he had lost his temper and should have stayed away, the penalty for the shooting was reduced to a nominal fine of $25 and costs.

M.M. Colquhoun of Penticton defended Dery.