The Kentish Independent, Saturday 20 July, 1878.

Alleged Assault On A Soldier.

James Power, 50, Margaret Rail, 23, and Ellen Hurley, 16, all living in Rope Guard Rails, Woolwich, were charged on remand with assaulting James Clark, a private in the Army Hospital Corps, who was now able to attend.

Mr. Edwin Hughes appeared for prisoners.

Clarke now stated that he was in a beerhouse on Monday evening last, down the street by the Arsenal wall and the church. Being a stranger to the place he did not know the name. (It was the "Sir Colin Campbell," Rope Yard Rails.) He paid for two or three pots of beer for an Artilleryman and some others who were there. On his leaving they wanted him to pay for some more beer, and because he refused the Artilleryman assaulted him, and he was knocked down. He believed a civilian also struck him, but he could not identify either of the prisoners having done so.

By Mr. Hughes:- He was not drunk at the time. He had a fight with the civilian before he became insensible. He remembers nothing after he became insensible.

Mr. Hughes said that he had witnesses to prove that prosecutor was drunk at the time. He called Thomas Bowers, who stated that he was at the "Sir Colin Campbell" on the night in question, and that prosecutor became very drunk, and that he carried him out of the house and laid him on the cellar flap outside. The woman Rail came past shortly after, and she went indoors and got some water, and was about bathing the man's face, when an Artilleryman said that the best thing they could do would be to throw a pail of water over him. Prosecutor on hearing that seemed to recover himself, and got up and rushed at the soldier, and they fought, and he was knocked down. Witnessed went for the police, and afterwards helped to put prosecutor on the stretcher. He did not see either Power or Hurley in the crowd.

Margaret Duffin, a married woman living in the same neighbourhood, corroborated the greater part of the last witness's statement, and also added that she saw prosecuted get up after he had been knocked down, and run after the artilleryman. Before getting to the door of the beer-house, something was thrown at him, which struck him on the head. She believed it was either glass or glass bottle. After that the artilleryman ran away.

Mr Hughes said from his instructions it appeared that Power was in bed at the time of the occurrence, but thinking that it might be one of his lodgers in trouble, he got up and went out. Seeing that it was no one he knew, he went indoors again.

Rail admitted throwing a cup at prosecutor, but that was only to save herself when he was running after her. The other prisoner (Hurley) had nothing whatever to do with its.

Corporal Bridges, A.H.C., in answer to the magistrate, stated that he was on duty at the Herbert Hospital on the night the prosecutor was brought in. He understood the nature of wounds, and in his opinion they were caused by cuts from glass.

Mr. Hughes produced several testimonials as to Rail's character while at service.

Sergeant Brenchley said that in justice to prisoners he ought to be stated that they were hard working people, and that nothing was known against them.

Mr. Balguy said there was considerable doubt about the case, and the prisoners would therefore be discharged.