The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-14 00:00:00

MILITARY OUTRAGE AT A RAILWAY

STATION.

At the Guildhall, Rochester, on Tuesday, a case
came before the Mayor and the magistrates, which
was considered of so serious a character as to be sent
to the quarter sessions. It arose out of a fracas at
the North Kent Railway station, at Strood, through
a corporal and two soldiers, whilst in a state of intox-
ication, demanding tickets, and on being refused, un-
sheathing their bayonets and threatening violence to
the railway officials.
The three prisoners, Edward Dann, corporal of the
64th regiment, and Michael Rourk and John Daug-
herty, privates of the 18th, were placed in the dock,
when

Major Kennedy, of the 18th regiment, addressing
she Court, said with regard to Daugherty, he had
been twenty-one, years in the service, and had only
lately returned from India. He had been absent from
this country for fourteen years, and the three good -
conduct conduct badges which be wore would speak of the
good character he bore in his regiment. The fact
was, on the day in question he came from Gravesend
in company with the corporal, and although he might
have taken part in the assault complained of, he had
not any bayonet. It would of course be for the ma-
gistrates to dispose of the case as they thought fit,
but as Daugherty had already been in gaol four or
five days, and taking into consideration his good
character, they would perhaps dispose of his case
summarily.
Mr. Church, in reply, said the railway company
could of course have no feeling in the matter as re-
garded the prisoners; their object was the protection
of the public. It was a very grave offence, and he
would rather leave it in the hands of those gentlemen
whu had a local knowledge of the place, more so than
those who lived away from it, and he had no doubt
they would deal with the case as they best deemed fit.
Major Kennedy—l say nothing with regard to the
men who drew their bayonets—that is an offence both
civil and military. I beg to hand in a certificate of
Daugherty's good character.
The Mayor, having consulted with his brother
Magistrates, directed Daugherty to stand aside for
the present, saying that their intention was, supposing
the exparte statement which had been made to be
borne out, to send the other two men for trial at the
session.
The case was then proceeded with, the prisoners
Dann and Rourk being charged with riotous conduct,
and with using their bayonets to the danger of the
servants of the railway company.
Several witnesses were examined, from whose evi-
dence it appeared that on the evening of the 7th inst.
the prisoners arrived in a fly at the station, shortly
before eight o'clock, and demanded tickets for their
conveyance to Gravesend. The station-master, seeing
they were intoxicated, refused them, and after some
altercation they went away. About twenty minutes
to .nine o'clock, at which time the station was filled
with passengers waiting to go by the nine o'clock
train, the prisoners returned, in a worse state of in-
toxication, and again demanded tickets, which were
again refused. The prisoners thereupon became very
violent, creating considerable alarm among those
waiting to go by the train, Dann placing himself in
a position to prevent them from getting their tickets.
He then called out " unsheath bayonets—if we can't
go by tickets, we will go at the point of the bayonet ;"
at the same time drawing his weapon, which
he held in a menacing attitude. Rourk fol-
lowed his example, and with his bayonet
made several lunges at William Ireland, one
of the company's constables, who had come to
quell the disturbance. Considering that his life was
in danger, he called to the station-master, who gave
him a loaded pistol to defend himself with, which he
presented at the prisoners, telling them to keep back
and give up their arms, instead of which they became
still more violent, and Rourk again approached him
with his drawn bayonet, which in each instance he
fortunately parried. Tomlin, the head porter at the
station, then came up with a constable's staff and
knocked one of them down, and after further resist-
ance they were ultimately overpowered, handcuffed,
and taken to the station-house at Rochester.
The prisoners, who made no defence, were com-
mitted for trial at the quartersessions, the magistrates
expressing their willingness to accept bail.
Daugherty was then charged with an assault, to
which he pleaded guilty, and the Court, taking into
consideration the statement made by Major Kennedy
as to his long servitude, inflicted a mitigated penalty
of 2/. and 7s. costs, which was immediately paid, and
he was then liberated from custody.

---
We were informed the other day by a gentleman
from the western division of the county that the Duke of
Richmond is having all his farms revalued, with the inten-
tion of adjusting hia rents on the basis of wheat at 101. a load.
If this be so, it is a very wise step on the part of his Grace,
and it will go far to convince the farmers that their leaders
have abandoned all hop() Of regaining Protection.—Brighton
Guardian,
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