The Express.
London, England, 1860-04-20 00:00:00

SHOOTING 4 SEDUCER.

TRIAL OF AN OFFICER AT BOMBAY.
The case of James Rant, formerly sergeant-major
in the 14th Dragoons, who shot Cornet Browne of the name
regiment at Kirkee, near POOOll, for seducing his wife, has
been tried in the Supreme Court of Bombay. According to
the evidence given by Browne and two of his fellow-
officers, on the 27th of January last Hunt rode
up to the comet's house, mid, asking for a pri-
vate interview, was taken by Browne into his bed-
room. Of all that followed we have two versions, nei-
ther of which is it possible to corroborate, for the prisoner
and the prosecutor alone know what happened. Browses
statement is, in brief, that Hunt told him he knew his guilt
by ending one of his letters and by his wife's cool maim.
and called upon him to give up any letters from Mrs. Hunt
he had in his possession. There was some more convers.
Lion, in the course of which Hunt drew out a pistol, and
mid be had come over for the purpose of shootang has be-
trayer, and be did not know whether he should not do so
yet. At last, on Browns owning that Lieutenant Beemish
probably vow aware of what had hien going on, Hunt raised
the pistol and shot him. Hunt's dory varies from this, in
asserting that Browne used taunting and insolent expres-
sions, lan /king at Hunt when he asked for the "satisfaction
of • genthman," and saying he " gloried " in having seduced
Mrs. Hunt. Browne swore distinctly on the trial that he
had net mid a word during the interviefoke.,

amination of the prosecutor —L
:
Question by Mr. Hunt—Did you, daring our damna-
tion, admit to ins that you had seduced my wife? A—l
think I did.

Qumtion by Mr. Hunt —Why did you not admit this im
your deposition without cross-questioning? A—Because
presumed that it was a well-known fact that I had done so.
Question by Mr. Hunt—What reason had you to presume
it was • well-known fact ; was it from your having publicly
boasted of it, or from what cause? A—lt was because
Hunt told me he had suspected it from the previous Sun-
day, and that his wile's confession and her letter
corroborated his suspicious.
Question by Mr. Hunt—Did you ever publicly boast
that you had sawed Mrs. Hunt? A—l decline answering
that question.
Question by Mr, Hunt—Did you not more than once
publicly sues
boast in thesues-rooms of the 6th InniSkilling
Dragoons and 14th Light Dragoons that you had seduced
Mrs. Hunt? A—l cannot say I ever did so. If by pub-
tidy is meant before two or more officers, I may have let
out
it. smithies in an =guarded moment, hut I never made a
boast of
Q—Talking of the matter before two or more officers, do
you consider It a hoist or not? A—Yes, Ido consider it a
&mat.

Question' by Mr. Hunt—Have you not stated to several
parties that your brother officers and others had said to you
that Mrs. Hunt was pure and immaculate, and that you
had made up your mind to seduce her ? A-1 decline to
answer that question.
Question by Mr. Hunt—Have you not, within the last
three days, admitted the subject of the previous question to
be true? A-71canDot remember.

The counsel for Mr. Hunt made rather a weak defence,
arguing that it was possible the pistol went off by accident.
Thejury having retired to their room for deliberation for
more than an hour, returned with • verdict of "Guilty,"
strongly recommending, however, the prisoner to mercy, on
account of the aggravated injury he had sustained.
Sir M. Sausse (the chief justice(—llia the province of the
jury to recommend • prisoner to mercy ; and in this in-
stance, in my opinion, yours is a very proper recommenda-
tion. On which counts of the indictment have you found
the prisoner guilty? Foreman—The jury were not unani-
mous as to which of the several intents the prisoner was
guilty of.
The j• were therefore directed to retire again to their
room, and returned in nearly half an hour with the vet,
dict-1" Guilty of intent to do some grievous bodily harm."
Sir M. Sousse-1 think your recommendation to mercy a
very proper one,and I will not pass any severe sentence upon
the prisoner, as far u it is in my power to carry out your
recommendation.
THE 5E2,..-TENCE.
MONDAY, MARCH 26.
After the morning jury were empannelled, the ('lerk of
the Crown called up James Hunt, to receive his sentence.
The prisoner having appeared at the bar, the
Clerk of the Crown said—James Hunt, have you any.
thing to say before the sentence of the court is passed upon
VDU 7
The Prisoner—My lord, it is impossible for anyone to
tell what I have suffered in laxly and mind since this un.
fortunate occurrence—no one can say what has been my
sufferings, and how much my health has given way slues it
came to my knowledge that Browne bad seduced my wife ;
and, under all these orcumstatres, begging your considera-
tion, 1 throw myself upon the mercy of the court.
is lordship, in glassing sentence, said—Prisoner at the
bar, you have been found guilty by the jury with shooting
at one William Sandy* Browne with intent to do him some
grievous bodily harm. This is • crime for which some years
ago you would have forfeited your life ; but the laws were
subsequently altered, so that now a sentence for such an
offence cannot exceed transportation for life. The offence
is considered next to that of taking away life, ono for which
there is a severe penalty ; but I am very happy in the pre-
sent case, from the nature of it, from the very strung recom-
mendation to mercy of the jury, and from the very high and
honourable character which you have received, to be re-
lieved from that painful duty of pants( too severe • sentence.
It is a painful duty of the court to be compelled to pass •
sentence upon a gallant soldier of his country ; but it is the
painful duty of the court to teach others by example the
enormity of this offence, by carrying out the law. In the
present case the jury have most urgently recommended
you to the mercy of the court ; and I can see that
the jury have given that strong recommendation on the
account of the offence not being premeditated, but one
that arose on the moment, from the excited state which
you were in, consequent on the injury you have suffered
from the knowledge of the treachery of the prosecutor. I
think it is the fairest inference to drew from the evidemee
in this awe, that had it not been for that last answer, the
offence would not have been committed. You had, I think,
front the aggravation you received, obtained all the satis-
faction you required, and I can only consider it an im-
portant circumstance in connexion with the case. You had
obtained all the letters which your wife had written to
Browne, and could not have looked for more, and I am
strongly of opinion, that had you stopped there, and asked
no further questions, you would not receive the sentence
you axe about to receive today. But it was impossible for
you to stop there, and when he offered to let you inspect
the drawers personally, having satisfied yourself that you
had secured all the letters in his possession, you then asked
if any other. person was acquainted with the fact that
he had had criminal connexion with your wife. You were
no doubt desirous to screen your wife's guilt, not only for
your own sake, but for her own sake, and for the sake of
her daughter. But when you were then informed that at
least one person was aware of it, and perhaps more, you
were under the impreasion that that would be your ruin.
I believe that at that time you must have felt the painful
relation in which you were placed, and the painful relation
in which you would be placed by the scoff's and sneers of
the officers and others with whom you were acquainted, and
smarting under this thought, and having brought that
instrument of death with you, you made use of it ; and
that you afterwards went out into the verandah, telling
what you had dune, and then going for the doctor, can
only be explained by the remorse which so soon fol-
lowed after the act. These facts all lead me to believe
that you did not act under premeditation. But the
punishment I will have to pass upon you, will be long
enough for you to reflect upon the enormity of the offence
of which you have been found guilty. Others must be
taught that if they suffer from violent wrongs, the law
points out the mode of redress for those wrongs—the law
will not allow them thus to redress their wrongs as they
confinement at
think fit. The sentence of the court upon you is, that you
itrihreewii.thidm,..„„oounetinghLweetbk'es socoluitaryrt., spoke in a loud
be sentenced to the County Gal for the term of twelve
er,
every
calendarthhe mouths,
endpii.o.
clear voice, and during the poising of the sentence perfect
silence reigned in the crowded court.rooni.
There is great popular sympathy in India for Mr. Hunt,
and a memorial has already been drawn up, praying for •
remission of his sentence. The B”ndoly Standerd says
" Mr. Hunt bad earned the esteem and regard of the whole
regiment, the officers at which, upon his retiring therefrom
a few months ago, presented bun with a handsome teeth
menial. He is • soldier who has gallantly reread
his country, and would seem, until this miserable man
creased his path, to have been unusually happy in his
domestic relations, his wife being a woman of educa-
tion, and of great personal attractions. The selfish wrong
done to him by Browne has, of course, stirred the deepest
feelings of indignation in the community. It is felt that
the real criminal is at large, and the victim is in the gaol.
Surely it would be well in • case like this for her Majesty to
be moved graciously to extend perdontoune who has deserved
well of his country; and at the mum tinie to mark her
displeasure at the crime which has seat him there, by
directing Cornet Brownes name to be removed from the
army list, and with it that of Lieutenant Beamish, who
seems to have played the infamous part of panderer to his
guilt. We look naturally to her Majesty to redress •
wrong which the law fails to do; and the judicious mani-
festation of a regard for public feeling iu this cue, would /10
far to fortify the resolutiou of future juries in dealing with
these painful and embarrassing meet.

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