The Sun. — 1862-07-22 (London, England)

BETWEEN THE SOLDIERS AND THE POLICE.—John Gleeson, James Bellew, Patrick Loveley. and James Kelly, all privates in the 3d Regiment of the Buffs, stationed at the Tower, were placed at the bar before Mr. Alderman Finnis, charged with being drunk and committing a violent assault upon the police. It appeared from the evidence of the constables that on Saturday night, at about 10 o'clock, policeconstable Jas. Mills, 514, was on duty in St. Maryat-Hill, Eastcheap, when a gentleman who passed him told him he was wanted in Little Tower-street. He accordingly went there to see what was the matter, when he saw a number of soldiers, amongst whom were the four prisoners, fighting. Before he had time to say anything to them, one of them, he could not say which, went up to him and asked him what he was going to do. He replied that he was going to do nothing, and did not wish to have anything to say to them, intending to go for the picket. He did not express his intention, however, but before he had time to proceed any further he was struck on the side of the head by one of the soldiers—he did not know if it was either of the prisoners—and at the same time another soldier got hold of his legs, and tried to throw him on his back. In the meantime Gleeson and Bellew took off their belts, and began to strike him with them about the head. (The officer had a piece of strapping plaster on his forehead, about four inches in length, which he said covered a wound he had received from one of the prisoners.) He also produced his hat, which was literally cut into pieces. He took out his truncheon and struck the soldier who had bold of his legs, and so released himself, after which he defended himself as well as lie could from the blows dealt him by Gleeson and Bellow with their belts, and at last managed to back himself into a public-house called the Ship, outside of which the row took place, and the landlord shut the door and fastened it. During the disturbance Leonard Pugh, another officer, 708, having been told that one of his brother officers was being murdered by the soldiers, pro:' aeaded to his assistance. He saw eight or ten soldiers altogether, and saw the officer Mills struggling with Gleeson and Bellew, and another man had hold of his legs. He went to assist him, when Loveley, who was standing about a yard and a half from him, raised his belt and struck him a fearful blow on his head. (This officer also had a large piece of plaster on his head.) He saw Mills go into the public-house, and he then went for assistance. After proceeding a short distance he met policeconstable Thomas, 601, who hearing what was the matter, proceeded at once to the spot, and on the road saw the prisoner Kelly running towards him with his hat off and his belt in his hand, who, when he same up to the officer, made a desperate blow at him with his belt, but be evaded the blow, and merely received a slight graze on his finger. Kelly then dropped his belt, which was picked up by a eiviliaz, and the officer took him into custody. Previous to this, however, Wale, another constable, hearing of the disturbance as he was going off duty, went to the assistance of his brother officers who were being ill-used, and saw a number of soldiers with their belts off, amongst whom were the prisoners. He went towards Kelly, who was flourishing lis belt, and he made a blow at him with it. He evaded it, however, and the prisoner was in he act of striking at him again when the officer struck him on the arm with his truncheon, upon yhich he ran away and was met by the officer Thomas. The prisoners Gleeson and Bellew seemed to have