A "Ragging" Case.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12291, 25 June 1903, Page 5

A " Ragging " Case.

EXTRAORDINARY BEHAiWOUR OF OFEUGQERS. ACQUITTED BY~COXJRT MARTIAL. EXPRESSIONS. 00? SURPRISE. United Press Association. — By, Eleotric.. Telegraph.-— Copyright.. Received Jihie 25, 7.47 a.ml , Lonjion, Jtfn'e. 24. -' '".. A .court .martial, over which Major— General, MacKinnon presided, sat, n the ,. Wellington v Barracks, Dublin, iavl nine clays to inquire into charges a— gainst, seven of^cer^ ijuv crack flniperial re|fiinen%S' of bek6>via^iijfea manner trnbecoining 4.0 !o'ffi\cer^ and gentlemen in connection with tJie assault com— niitteii on H/ardwiqWe ForsUr Stan-^-for,a, a civilian. , ' Stanford deposeKl that after calling at hhe Hotel Nelson' in Cape Town; t3ie prisoners stripped, an;'d beat .him, and ducked hinn in. a fountain, cut off half his moixsiaeKe, treated him iade--cently, - blasp-hem,o"usly crowned hirniin imitation of Je^xs Ghjis^, anS then photographed him. , . , ' VTuidge ASrlvocatQ. Cuni'ininff said €h6 only issues before the , Co r urt were those of- strip^rng and exposing the coim(plainant to ivs6cent usage, as the, aJuith;orities corisjderod in. regard to the charges -of beaming', clucking, and blasphemy that Stanford had obtained siatisf action when' at '.Cape Tow.n, the Co'u/ts haying awarded him £,1500 damages. The officers denied the charges ctf indecency and blasjphemy. They stat--ed that they pjuni&hed. Stanford for refusing to lea\'e~ a ball. A verdict of noi g ; uilty was -returnocl an& the officei^s' sworids ' were returned to them. The Standard v says they were fortunate io secure an .acquittal, and condemns their dastardly and .vulgar brutality. Mosib, of tine newspapers express surprise at the decision of the Court.