The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-01-12 00:00:00

SERIOUS, CHARGE AGAINST

POLICEMEN. •

At the Surrey Sessions on Tuesday before Mr. Hard-
man, George Gulley, 27, and John Puriney, 30, both
members of the Metropolitan Police (V Division), sur-
rendered to their recognisances to answer an indictment
charging them with maliciously assaultirag John
Brosnan so as to inflict on him grievous bodily harm,
with causing him ac ual bodily harm, and with a
Common assault.

John Brosnan, the prosecutor, said he worked at a
brewery, and had been in regular employment for the
last ten years. On the 24th of November he had
been spending the evening with some friends at
Batterrea, and left there for home about a quarter
to one o'clock in the morning, On reaching the
end of Hope street he saw the prisoners engaged
in lashing three vehicles together with a rope.
He crossed the road and stopped to look on.
One of the prisoners said to him "What do you
want?" He replied, "Nothing." Then Culley gave
him a push on the chest, saying, "You go home."
Witness replied " I am going," but before he
had time to move Culley caught hold of him and said,
"All right, Toms, you are a big, powerful chap, but
we have you now, and we mean to pay you." Wit-
ness said, "My name is not Toms ;" whE reupon Caney
said "Oh, yes, it is," and struck him with his fist on
the eye. He then pulled witness towards the fence,
Pudney assisting, and as they were dragging him
along Pudney said, 'Put his head under the cart-
wheel." As soon as they got him to the fence
Pudney held him while Culley struck him three
times on the eye, and cut it. After that Pudney
pulled out his rattle, and after springing it struck
witness with it on the side of the head, causing
a wound from which the blood streamed down his
face. He called out "Murder," and several persons
living in the street nut their heads out of the windows
and cried" Shame." On the rattle being sprung, another
constable named Smith came up and said, "Don't hit
him any more; I think you have given him enough."
They then frok him to the station, and on the way
Gulley again struck him twice on the same eye. Pudney
did not accompany them to the station, but arrived
shortly afterwards, and witness was charged with
assault. He was kept at the stztion some time before
he saw a doctor, although he was bleeding very much
from the head,—ln cross-examination, witness denied
that he was drunk. He did not lift either hand or
foot to either of the prisoners, nor did he see either of
them fall during the struggle.
In answer to the Chaim vitnesa said he did not
know who Toms" was at to :fair ; but he had since
I ascertained that he was a young man living in Batter.
sea, who resembled witness very mach,
The ; rosecutor's evidence was confirmed by that of
several other witnesses.
The prisoners received a good character from their
superior officers.

The Chairman said he never had a more important
case brought before him. He could not imagine any-
thing mora serious than the conduct of the prisoners,
if they were really guilty of the offence with which
they were charged. Very great power was placed in
the hand 4 of police constables, and upon the whole
they used that powir very nroi,erly. It was a power,
however, that required to he exereistd with great
diereti)n, and its wrong exercise called for the most
exemplary punishment. The prisoners, therefr-,
stood in a most serious p-sitkn, and he asked the
jury to give the _case their most careful consideration
The Jury found both prisoners Guilty; but recom-
mended them to mercy on account of tneir previous
good characters.
Mr. Harritnan said the Jury had arrived at the only
concttpion it wa, possible for them to arrive at. He
sentenced the priners to eighteen months' imprison-
ment each, with hara labour.

A shocking accident happened to the eldest son of
Hardig, Wood End Hall, Whitchurch, on
Friday. Mr: Harding, when rabbit•shooting, had
occasion to get through a hedge, and whilst dragging
his loaded gun after him it exploded, and the full
charge went into the lower part of his back. He was
removed to his homa, where he now lies in a very pre-
carious condition.