The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-05 00:00:00

THE SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A

VOLUNTEER.

At Brighton yesterday,
Mr. Bigge, stipendiary magistrate, sad Mews. J. Alfres,
J. Cordy Burrows, Mr. Alderman Alger, Mr. W. N. Hollis,
and Colonel Fawcett took their seats shortly after U
o'clock, aid the Marquis of Donegal' occupied a seat on
the bench. Lieut.-Colonel LS. Dickson, Lieut.-Colonel
Wood, and sever' volunteer commanding and other officer

were present.
The prisoner on being placed in the dock bowed to the
court. He is in person of slender build, and somewhat
above the middle height. He has a sharp eye and dark
hair, with a small military moustache, and was attired in
his full uniform as a private in the London Irish. The
evidence upon which he had been remanded was In the
that instance read over. _ - '

- - - --
Corporal Cox again entered the withar box, and in
answer to further questions said—l cannot tell where the
ten rounds of ball cartridge came from. The volunteers
buy them for pool shooting. They pay a little more for
them at private shops.
Robert Gillott—l am a private in the 28th Middlesex
(London Irish) Volunteers, residing in Clifford-street, Soho-
square, and am a musician. I saw Butler in a public-
house on Sunday morning, near the Railway-elation, about
11 o'clock ; I tuink the name of the house was The
Feathers. He pproduced some ammunition, which I saw
was ball eartaidge, and talked about shooting some one—
I think he said the Prince of Wales. Prisoner
was half drunk and I thought be would get
into some trouble, and so I reported him to the
commanding officer. He took the ball ammunition out of
his pocket and placed it in my hand. When he said he
was going to shoot some one, I believe he mentioned the
Prince of Wales. I said, " Don't be so foolish;" then it
was he placed the ammunition in my hand, and I gave it
him back. lie did not nee the name of the Prince of
Wales at first, and when he did so I looked on it as a jest,
but I thought he would get into trouble, so I reported it
to Corporal Cox. I left prisoner at the pnblio-house. I
heard from him that he brought the ball osrtridge down to
fire at the range. This was on the Monday, when he was
taken into custody. When his poeket was examined he
had blank cartridge as well. That was served out on
Saturday afternoon,,at Somerset-house.
Prisoner, on being asked if he desired to put any
questions, said he did not. He was drunk, and had no recol-
lection of using such expressions as those attributed
to him. He came down at 8 o'clock, and intended to
stop a week with his brother, who resided at Brighton,
Robert Butler examined—l am brother to Patrick But-
ler, and first saw him at a quarter put 12 on Sund, when
he was brought to my house in Edinburgh-road, quite
drunk and incapable of walking by himself. I got him to
bed, and he remained there upwards of an hoar. I tried to
get him to eat, but he could not. I expected him before,
and he was going to stop with me. After he got better he
had a walk with me for two hours, and he slept at my
house on the Sunday night. He was too late when be got
up in the morning to join his corps, so he went on to the
Race-hill to find them. He was then sober. He told me
on the Monday morning that he had ten rounds of bell
cartridge, and he did not know whether to take it with
him or leave it behind. He was quite madam about it. He
had the ball cartridge in his hand looking at it, andmid le
bad purchased it. He was not capable at knowing what
he did or and when he was brought to me.
The magistrate wished to know if the prisoner desired
to say anything in answer to the serious charge which had
been made against him ; and at this paint a telegram was
handed to the bench from the solicitor whom the ac-
cused had engaged to defend him, asking that the case
might be flied for 2 o'clock, • course the magistrates de-
clined to adopt. Having been cautioned ea to any state-
ment that he might make,
Thepriumereaid—l purchased the ball-cartridge in Long-
ue* from mere annuity, as it wee, I believed, different
from the governmeot amumnilies, and se I Wended is
have acme shooting at Brim I wrote lie iny brother
shout a fertaight age that I was net vale sure if I could
come down. I went to SOlSseset-lhowe for my am
munition on Saturday • On lb* Mosikil I had
with MI bats-Oat at Irish .aaol I bad • quartarast

that and some brapdy with time other veleaM...l
then we had some ale at two other pv,bli.
have• no recollection whatever of having theadesit:
shoot the Prince of Wales. If I did so it must bars bola
a mete jest. I had had eo brenkinct, sad was Ss
for liquor. The Lord IMAM I MGM 004 barn say
city against the Prince of Wllida, or against ay Ale pa,
eon I have nothing further to say.
ye. here consulted with the other aid
wish rho Ws of Donspll, and then turning tem,
boom said— • have resolved•• telegraphic fon
your solicitor, wishing us to put this CUM offrutMelem,
We ilia not take that earns, but one that is file lift
egralible to our own feelings II well as, we bahmoo
everyone else, including yourself. (Shouts of velum
from all parte of the wart interrupted the ankh et the
sentence, and the prima, nulled and bowed gnaw
The explication you have given, as well se the 'videos,
the witnesses, tends to show most astidactorily time
have brought yourself late this dilemma by your own
sod drunkenness. It would have been a sreiandiely
upon that splendid regiment which we saw here enNsa.
day, and which we are slew glad to welcome as
occasions, could anyone in its ranks have been sulky
ow
of the intention which ham been imputed to you, IV,
Here that a mars loyal body cf volunteers is not
service, and in the conviction that you are not Ohm*,
you are now discharged.
A renewed burst of cheering resounded *roam ,
exert se the prisoner bowed and left the dock, alb
dreds waited outside and cheered him and followed ldmi
he left the court with his friends.