Trial of Officers.

Manawatu Herald, 27 June 1903, Page 2

Trial of Officers.

alleged serious assault ON A CIVILIAN. A court-martial, presided over by Major-General W. H. McKinnon, C. 8., sat at Wellington Barracks, Dublin, for nine days to inquire into charges against seven officers of a crack Imperial regiment of behaving in a manner unbecoming officers and gentlemen in connection with an assault committed on Hardwioke Forster Stanford, a civilian, at Capetown, on December 24th, 1901. Stanford deposed that after calling at his hotel the prisoners stripped him, beat him, and ducked him in a fountain. They cut off half his moustache, treated him indecently, and blasphemously crowned him in imitation of Jesus .Christ, and then, photographed him. Judge Advocate Gumming stated that the only issues before the Court were those of stripping, exposing and indecent usage, the authorities considering, in regard to the charges of beating, ducking and blasphemy, that Stanford had obtained satisfaction when at Capetown, the Courts having awarded him £ISOO damages. The officers denied the charges of indecency and blasphemy, and stated that they punished Stanford for refusing to leave a ball. A verdict of not guilty was returned, and the officers’ swords were returned to them. The Standard says they were fortunate to secure an acquittal, and condemns their dastardly, and vulgar brutality* Most of the newspapers express surprise at the decision of the Court.