The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-01 00:00:00

TEE MURDER AT DEYONPORT.

Thomas Lynch, a private in the 65th Regiment,
stationed at the Raglan Barracks, against whom a verdict
of "Wilful Murder " was returasd by a coroner's jury oa
Thursday, was before the Devonport heath on Friday
morning. The magistrates present were the mayor (Mr.
R. C. Smith). Messrs. J. W. W. Ryder, T. Carus, it. J.
Laity, J. May, R. M. Wakes, J. Glamor, and G. Dansey.
The prisoner appeared to pay little attention to the me-
media's, but was evidently very dejected and full of
thought. Mr. J. Beer prosecuted on behalf of the mili-
tary authorities, and in addressing the beech remerked
that the prisoner stood charged upon the cowmen
warrant for the wilful murder of John Thomas John-
ston, who up to the time of his death was • private
in the 65th Regiment of Foot. The prisoner being in
custody upon the verdict of the fury, he should have sim-
ply to ask the beech to commit the primate: to take his
trial at the ensuing swims tor the county. He was sorry
to say that the case was a very simple oat, and the oviducts
very dear against the prisoner. Mr. Beer proceeded to
state the 'acts of the case u follows:—The regiment to
which the prisoner and deceased belonged had lately tau
up their quarters at the Raglan barracks. On the 'Teeing
of Tuesday last., between eight and nine o'clock, the prisoner
came into the barrack-room returning from a walk, in a state
of intoxication, and expressed himself pleased with the place.
The deceased, who was also drunk, came over to him sad
asked what he was talking about. Prisoner replied,
" Nothing about you." Upon which the deceased said,
" You're a liar." and struck him • violent blow on the
eye. A short struggle ensued, bat both men were removed
from the barrack-room to the guard lock-up. When in the
room the prisoner, who appeared to begg tly enraged,
tried to renew the quarrel, sad ohal4oted the deceased
to fight, but Johnston reflood, saying, " on are an older
man than lam; se sway." This reply did not appear to
have the slightest effect on the prisoner, who sat on
the guard bed muttering something to the effect that
he had been shamefully served by Johnston, and was
heard by a prisoner confined in the guard-room to
say, "Your tons is short, and so is mine ;" upon
which the deceased said, " I know you well, sod re-
member your running after me in New Zealand with a
firiesibzooet." About ten o'clock the prisoner and the
d both laid down on the guard and, according
to the statement of Wm. Pickering, • sentinel is the room,
fell asleep. All was quiet until about • quarter to three
the following morning, when the prisoner got out of
bed and proceeded in the direction of the urinal at the
extremity of the room. He almost immediately was seen
to seize with both hands the handle of a scrubber, a
ponderous stick about five feet in length, and deal two
blows on the bead and right ear of Johnston. who was at
the time fast asleep. The unfortunate man expired almost
instantaneous'', having moved or spoken after being
struck. The prisoner was seized by his comrades, who
had been aroused by the noise, but did not offer any re-
sistance or give soy explanation to the inquiries of the
horror-stricken bystanders. When charged with the offence
by Mr. Superintendent Lyno, prisoner said—" I never
intended to kill him, but be struck me unfairly, the black-
guard." With regard to the reply made by the demised to
the alleged throat of the prisoner, the bench decided not to
accept it as evidence against the prisoner.—The Mayor
inquired of the witness Pickering if it was usual to allow men
who bad been quarrelling to devil' the same room together.
The witness explained that the regiment had not as yet
• guard-room of rte own, and were only occupying the one in
question temporarily. Mr. Beer was unable to complete the
case for the prosecution, the surgeon being absent, and the
hearing was adjourned.