The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-14 00:00:00

ROCHESTER QUARTER SESSIONS.

At the Rochester Quarter Se,ssions, on Saturday,
before James Espinasse, Et q., recorder, Edward Dann,
corporal in the 64th Regiment, surrendered to his
bail, and was indicted, together with Michael Rourke,
a private in the 18th Royal Irish, who was brought
up in custody, for having, on the 7th of August last,
at Strood, assaulted and beaten 'William Elijah Ire-
land, a constable in the employ of the South-Eastern
Railway Company, with intent to do him some
grievous bodily harm. Mr. Rose was for the prose-
cution, and Mr. Addison for the prisoner Dann.
The prosecution was instituted by the South-Eastern
Railway Company. Mr. Charles Richards, station
master, stated that on the evening of the 7th August,
a few minutes before eight o'clock, the prisoners, ac-
companied by another soldier, came to the door of the
private booking-office, and demanded tickets to go by
the train. He told them the tickets were not issued
there, and, being in a state of intoxication, he told
them they had better leave the station. About twenty
minutes before the departure of the nine
o'clock train they came again to the station, in a
worse state of intoxication, the prisoners having their
bayonets in their side belts, and placing themselves in
front of the aperture where tickets are issued, de-
manded their tickets, which he still refused to let
them have, telling them they were not in a fit state to
go by the train. Both prisoners said they were de-
termined to go, saying if he would not let them they
would let him know. Finding that they were ob-
structing the passengers, witness went from his office
to them, when he was seized by one of the party. He
called Ireland, the constable, to his assistance, when
Dann ordered Rourke to draw his bayonet, and to
take Ireland prisoner. Rourke immediately un-
sheathed his bayonet, and caught hold of Ireland, pre-
senting the point to his breast. Ireland called out that
his life was in danger, when witness handed him a
loaded pistol from the booking-office to defend him•
self with, when Rourke made several lunges at Ireland
with his bayonet, which he fortunately parried with
his pistols, and as he was in the act of making another
lunge at Ireland's side, Tomlin, the head porter, with
a constable's staff, struck him on the side of the head,
and knocked him down. Dann was still at the aper-
ture, with his bayonet drawn, flourishing it about,
and causing considerable alarm, the station being
crowded with passengers. Confirmatory evidence
having been given, the jury, after a few minutes'
deliberation, found the prisoners guilty, on the fourth
count, of a common assault, and recommended them
to mercy on account of character. The Judge, ad-
dressing the prisoners, said they had been found
guilty by the jury, who had taken a most merciful
view—a most merciful view, indeed, of the case.
They might congratulate themselves to the end of
their lives that death did not ensue from their out-
rageous conduct. lie considered their offence of a
very serious nature. From the uniform they wore
they were looked upon as a protection to their coun-
trymen ; but that uniform, he was sorry to say, they
had disgraced. He should take into consideration
their previous character. Dann he sentenced to be
imprisoned for four calendar months, and Rourke,
considering the nine weeks he had already been in
gaol, to the further term of two calendar months.