The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-29 00:00:00

ASSAULT BY AN OFFICER.

ROCHESTER, Aug. 28.—The county magistrates were
occupied a considerable time this morning, at the magis-
trates' office in this city, in investigating a charge of a
violent and unprovoked assault, preferred by Louisa
Pierce, against Ensign Strover, an officer attached to the
Royal Engineers' establishment at Brompton.
Mr, M. Stephenson, solicitor, appeared fur the defen-
dant, who was attended to the court bji several of the
officers belonging to the corps.
The complainant, a young person of prepossessing ap-
pearance, deposed that she was returning from Chatham
to her residence at Brompton on the night of Saturday,
in company with two other friends, and they were pass-
ing along the embankment opposite the Marine Bar-
racks, when they overtook the defendant in company
with' two officers, all of whom were walking dow❑ in the
roadway. Immediately they passed them some obser-
vations wore addressed by the officers to complainant
and her friends, and thereupon defendant and his com-
panions commenced throwing stones at them. Com-
plainant ran down into the road to ascertain the names
of their assailants, and to remonstrate with them on
their behaviour, when the defendant struck her two
violent blows in her face with his fist, and another
with his walking stick, at the same time calling her

By Mr. Stephenson—Witness knew of no reason for
the attack upon her, and was quite positive she threw
no stones. She had only seen him once before, and that
was the same evening. The two officers who were with
the defendant also threw some stones. On complainant
going down into the road she was very excited and
frightened, but did not attempt to strike them. A gen-
tleman had insulted her the same evening in Watt's-
place, by trying to pull her veil up. When the defen-
dant struck her it was about half-past eleven at night.
She did not attempt to arouse the Marine guard, as she
did not know she was allowed to do so. The reason
she was out so late was because she had been to pay a
bill at Rochester, and afterwards partook of some re-
freshments at a confectioner's.

Kate 0 wden said she was proceeding home with com-
plainant on Saturday night, and on passing the defen-
dant and two other gentlemen, they commenced swear-
ing and throwing stones at them, several of which struck
witness. Complainant ran down the steps to see who
threw the stones, and witness saw the defendant strike
her with his fist in the mouth, and again under the eye.
fie als9 gave her a blow with his stick, and called her
a ---. On witness asking him why he did it, he said
he did not know, but it served her right.

By Mr. Stephenson —The other female's name who
was with us is Sarah, but she is called " Topsy". (A
laugh.) I have made no endeavour to bring her as a
witness. The officers commenced the disturbance by
speaking to us and throwing stones at us.
Ensign Irwin Montgomery Greig, R.E., was then
called, and, in answer to questions put by Mr. Stephen.
son, said lie saw the complainant, with two other girls, in
Watt's-place. He spoke to them, and received an
abusive answer, and one of his friends told him not to
speak to them again. He afterwards saw them near
the barracks, and spoke to them, when they gave him
an answer which was certainly net civil. He could
not remember what it was, but thought complainant
called him " a little devil."
This being the whole of the evidence, the court was
then cleared, and on the public being admitted in about
five minutes,
Mr. Davies, addressinglthe defendant, said the magi-
strates convicted him of an assault inflicted under most
unjustifiable circumstances. The bench carefully re-
frained from calling it an aggravated assault, because,
bad they done so, the defendant would have been com-
mitted to prison, and thereby endangered his commis-
sion. Although the present assault closely answered to
one of those aggravated offences, yet the magistrates
would not in his case put the wise provisions of law
in force against him. As an officer he was bound to
protect the weak, and especially those helpless creatures
who were thrown, as it were, on the publio for proteo-
tion. It was a most unmanly thing to assault those
females after associating with them.
Defendant denied that he associated with them.
Mr. Davies desired defendant not to interrupt him.
He had been convicted of an assault, and the magistrates
therefore ordered him to pay a fine of 51.
The penalty was immediately paid, and defenclaut left
the court with Nisi fijud,4,