The Express. — 1847-11-09 (London, England)

MURDEROUS ASSAULT BY SOLDIERS.—At the Guildhall, Rochester, on Saturday, Joseph Syrne, a corporal, I and David Carew, a private, belonging. to the 50th (Queen's Own) Regiment, were brought up in custody, before the mayor and magistrates, charged with • most unprovoked and brutal assault on Mr. W. Stephenson, surgeon, riding at Boley-hill, whose blackened eye bespoke the ill-usage be had sustained.—Complainant stated that on Wednesday evening, between ten and eleven o'clock, he was returning home after visiting • patient. He proceeded through Twopost-alley, leading from the High-street to Holey-hill, and on pissing the stabling of the King's Head Inn, the prisoners suddenly rushed out upon him, the prisoner Carew saying, "Come on," at the same time seizing him by the collar of his coat and making use of the most foul and disgusting language, and aiming at hint • blow which fell on his jaw. A struggle ensued, and complainant bay ng bold of Carew by his collar, with his right hand succeeded in parrying off the blows, at the same time calling out lustily for the police. Carew then made a violent effort to get away, in which Mr. Stephenson had the nail torn off from the forefinger of his right hand ; at the same time, Byrne threatened him if he dared to call for the police. Carew then ran at him with great force, and struck him a violent blow on the right eye, exclaiming, with an oath, " Take that you rascal." The prisoners then ran away, and Mr. Stephenson, returning to the High-street, obtained the assistance of two policemen, and the prisoners were immediately apprehended at the gateway of the Castle-garden, and after great resistance were safely lodged in the stationhouse. The magistrates, who viewed it u a most outrageous assault, observing there was nothing that could be offered in  justification or palliation of the offence, inflicted the most severe penalty awarded by law, although they felt it was insufficient ; to meet the justice of the case would be to deal more severely with the prisoners than the law provided. They woes convicted in &penalty of 51. each, and, in default, to be committed to Maidstone Gaol for two calendar moaths.— The court then proceeded to hear another charge of assault against Carew, equ►lly unprovoked, committed upon Mr. George Ashdown, a gentleman residing at Stoke. it appeared that a few minutes after ten the same night, as he eras crossing Rochester-bridge, when about midway, he met the prisoner Carew and another soldier, supposed to be Byrne, but to whom complainant could not positively swear. On coming up, Carew struck him a tremendous blow which knocked him down. and for • time rendered him insensible. On recovering, he found his hat was gone, and so severely had he been hurt that he was compelled to keep in bed the next day. For this offence the court indicted a tinnier penalty, and in default to be committed fur two calendar months, such term of imprisonment to commence at the expiration of his former sentence. The prisoners, it appeared, were quartered at l'pnor Castle, and broke out of barracks on the evening the above outrages were committed. Both prisoners were removed in custody.