ARMY HOOLIGANS.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 926, 26 June 1903, Page 4

ARMY HOOLIGANS.

EDUCATED BBUTES-

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright

Loudon, Juno 24 ;

A court-martial, Major-General MacKinnon presiding, sat at Wellington Barracks, Dublin, for nine days, to enquire into charges agaiust seven officers of crack Imperial regiments of behaving in a manner unbecoming to officers and-gen-tlemen in connection with an assault committed on Hardwicke Foster Stanford, a civilian.

Stanford deposed that after calling at an hotel prisoners stripped him, beat, and ducked him in a fountain, cut off half his moustache, and treated him indecently, blasphemously crowned him with an imitation Jesu3 Christ, and then photographed him. Judge Advocate Cumming stated that the only issues before the Court were those of stripping, exposing, and indecent usage. The authorities considered in regard to the charges of beating, ducking, and blasphemy that Stanford had obtained satisfaction when at Capetown, the Court, having awarded him 111500. The officers denied the charges of indecency and blasphemy, and stated they punished Stanford for refusing to leave a ball. A verdict of not guilty was returned. The officers’ swords were returned them. The Standard says they were fortunate to securo an acquittal. It condemns their dastardly brutality. Most of the newspapers express surprise at the decision of tho Court.