The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1884-01-12 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SERIOUS, CHARGE AGAINST  POLICEMEN. •  At the Surrey Sessions on Tuesday before Mr. Hardman, George Gulley, 27, and John Puriney, 30, both members of the Metropolitan Police (V Division), surrendered to their recognisances to answer an indictment charging them with maliciously assaultirag John Brosnan so as to inflict on him grievous bodily harm, with causing him ac ual bodily harm, and with a Common assault.  John Brosnan, the prosecutor, said he worked at a brewery, and had been in regular employment for the last ten years. On the 24th of November he had been spending the evening with some friends at Batterrea, and left there for home about a quarter to one o'clock in the morning, On reaching the end of Hope street he saw the prisoners engaged in lashing three vehicles together with a rope. He crossed the road and stopped to look on. One of the prisoners said to him "What do you want?" He replied, "Nothing." Then Culley gave him a push on the chest, saying, "You go home." Witness replied " I am going," but before he had time to move Culley caught hold of him and said, "All right, Toms, you are a big, powerful chap, but we have you now, and we mean to pay you." Witness said, "My name is not Toms ;" whE reupon Caney said "Oh, yes, it is," and struck him with his fist on the eye. He then pulled witness towards the fence, Pudney assisting, and as they were dragging him along Pudney said, 'Put his head under the cartwheel." As soon as they got him to the fence Pudney held him while Culley struck him three times on the eye, and cut it. After that Pudney pulled out his rattle, and after springing it struck witness with it on the side of the head, causing a wound from which the blood streamed down his face. He called out "Murder," and several persons living in the street nut their heads out of the windows and cried" Shame." On the rattle being sprung, another constable named Smith came up and said, "Don't hit him any more; I think you have given him enough." They then frok him to the station, and on the way Gulley again struck him twice on the same eye. Pudney did not accompany them to the station, but arrived shortly afterwards, and witness was charged with assault. He was kept at the stztion some time before he saw a doctor, although he was bleeding very much from the head,—ln cross-examination, witness denied that he was drunk. He did not lift either hand or foot to either of the prisoners, nor did he see either of them fall during the struggle. In answer to the Chaim vitnesa said he did not know who Toms" was at to :fair ; but he had since I ascertained that he was a young man living in Batter. sea, who resembled witness very mach, The ; rosecutor's evidence was confirmed by that of several other witnesses. The prisoners received a good character from their superior officers.  The Chairman said he never had a more important case brought before him. He could not imagine anything mora serious than the conduct of the prisoners, if they were really guilty of the offence with which they were charged. Very great power was placed in the hand 4 of police constables, and upon the whole they used that powir very nroi,erly. It was a power, however, that required to he exereistd with great diereti)n, and its wrong exercise called for the most exemplary punishment. The prisoners, therefr-, stood in a most serious p-sitkn, and he asked the jury to give the _case their most careful consideration The Jury found both prisoners Guilty; but recommended them to mercy on account of tneir previous good characters. Mr. Harritnan said the Jury had arrived at the only concttpion it wa, possible for them to arrive at. He sentenced the priners to eighteen months' imprisonment each, with hara labour.  A shocking accident happened to the eldest son of Hardig, Wood End Hall, Whitchurch, on Friday. Mr: Harding, when rabbit•shooting, had occasion to get through a hedge, and whilst dragging his loaded gun after him it exploded, and the full charge went into the lower part of his back. He was removed to his homa, where he now lies in a very precarious condition.