The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-07-14 00:00:00

CALCUTTA SITREMR (WIRT OF JUDIC.:TURE,
FRIDAY, DECDMIIIek elk

TRIAL OF CHARLES FOSTER.

In proceeding to lay Erfurt our readers a report
of the more interesting trials at the late Sessions, we
begin with ►hat which excited the greatest share of
public attention.
On Friday the Bth of December, Charles Fuller,
a private in Ellis Majesty's 17th Foot, was brought
to the bar, to answer an indictment for the murder
of a native washerinsis, named Mania. The pri-
soner pleaded Not Gmilty.
The first Witness culled was Thomas d'Arceyi a
private in the 17th Foot, who proved the prisoner
to be en Englishman, and couseqautly subject to
the jarisitction of the Court.
Etwwrree Milne was then sworn, she deposed,
that she is the widow, of Manich, a washermen,
mho died six tnontlisand a half ago, at flaunts. Her
husband was employed to wash fur the soldiers at
that station, but she does not recollect for what regi-
ment. One evening, about seven p. ra. (die can-
not take upon her to name the day of the month.)
the prisoner Foster, accompanied lily two other
Europeans, came to Manick's house. The other
Europeans stool in the compound—while Foster
cline up to her has and, who was sitting there,
rind said, " Master Dubber., whereare my clothes ?"
The deceased replied, that they were ready, and
desired his servant Korghee to go into the house
and bring them our. Before Knrghee returned,
no other word whatever having passed, in the mean
time. Foster took out a bayonet, (which he wore,
not in a sheath and suspended by a belt as usual,
but concealed some where about his person,) end
stabbed Manick, as lie was sitting on the grouact,
in the right side, just below the ribs ;—and con.
tinned to repeat the stubs. until he hail inflicted
eleven wounds. On the first blow, Manick fall
and called out, " Doke Kahiti, you are wounding
tall without lily being in fault." He contini‘ed ex-
claiming Done sahib, until he received a stab in the
face, near the mouth—after which he was silent
The anon fy were very drop, some of them paw-
ing through and through the body. Mee, after
eirikmg the deceased on the breast, the prisoner

was uuahle to withdraw the bayonet, without
pressing against the body of the deceased with
his left hand. The last wound was that mar the
mouth ; which sa3 very deep, and lacerated the
tongue. While this scene was passing, the witness
was standiug ut about the same distance from he
deceased. as what die now stonti hula the pri:•-
enter. Two or three persons approached, with the
imention of assisting her louesand ; but Foster ran
sot then and they fled. The two other Europeans
we-- .11 tae ime, standing in thee cosnosound, about
: s for off as the Jury hum the Viltioess:—they said
er dtd nothing. Atter stabbing her husband eleveu
times, Foster, accompanied by the two others,
sr %abut of the compound, havisg the bayonet still
its his hand. The witness then imenedittely went
up to her husband, whom she found dead. She
did tint see them 'stoner, after he left theeignputoold;
but Kurghee, Gungioo, and Lnehkurre, Dhobees,
and Sooltein Sing, a army, followed him. After
this the body was placed un a cot, and tarried by
four 'Pe° de to the mess-room in the catitotioneuts,
which were distant about half a guile Coin the
house of the deceased. The witness accompunied
the body. After playing it in the mess-room, a
Doctor and other Gentlemen came an I mantled
the woionds. Finding the man dead, they then di-
rected the people to take away the body fur that
night, and to return with it early the following
morning. Charles Foster was then preseut, in the
custody of sepoys; and when the Gi•itltmen asked
the witness who had,killed her husband, site pointed
out Fo,terstis the man. One of the repo a, who
guarded the prisoner on that ecca..i 1111 l war Soolteiti
Sing—srho held the boyoutt in his head. covered
all orer with bland. Sooltein Sing was a ceotinel
°a duty that ceenieg, sod was not before known to
the witness. The women knew the prisoner at the
tut well;—he belonged to the etimoomy for whi..h
he• hudsand had washed for the f••nr last years:
and, ever since the Regiment had come to Rlistk►a✓
(which was-alumit two years before the accident,'
she had been in the habit of seeing him constantly.
Nest day, the witueb was allowed to takeaway the
body anti burn it.
The witness♦ being asked, at the instance of the
prison►, how he was dressed when he entered tl e
contootind, she replied that she did not take notice
whether lie wore a shirt or a jacket—but that his
dress was white, stud that he wort punjatnas. lu
answer to a question Gout Sir 1111.1,1 AM Bua-
ROUGH% die said, that .lie knew of no quarrel on
any former occasion, between the prisoner and die
deceased.

The next witness called, wast:iingoo, a washer-
man. He Jived next door to Manick, and knew the
prisoner. whom he was in the lialait office ng come
occasiorialiy to the house of the deceased for linen.
The wttne•s and some others, hating finished their
writ, w re sitting with Manick in Ins compound,
shout six months ago, at 7 p. m. when Foster and
two other Foropcans came in. Foster came op I.
itlailick, saying, .4 where is the washernian ?"
' which Itlunick replied, t. What do you say, Sir ?•'
The Prisoner' then slid. Where is my linen ?"
and Meuick answered that it was ready, desiring
hia rerraat. at the same time, to go and fetch it.—
The Prisoner then came up to Mailick, and taking
out a bayonet from his waist (where it was conceal-
ed.) stablied the, deceased in the manner deserilw•d
by the preceding witness. Alter the first wound,
Alaoick leognn to roll to and fro on the ground—
bat, the Prisrmer seized and srcnred hint, and re-
peated the blows with great velocity. Maniek died
under the wound.; and the prisoner went off after-
wards towards the cantonments; with the bayonet
still in h•s hand. The witness followed him close,
sad gave intelligence at the Bazar f ;mewl, where
Cotwal and Srpoys are stationed, and which is
shout as far distant from Merrick's, as the high road
.is frem the Court-house. The wit,ie hsving told
the Cutwal. that a grenadier had kiiled Maniek
Metier. and was making his escape, the Cwtwul
deflated a Sepoy, named Straitens Sing. who, ac-
companying the witness. stopped Foster. with the
blyonet still in his hand, oo his route to the bar-
racks. The Sepoy, on mopping, desired him to
pot the bayonet down on the ground; which the
Prisoner haring done. Attkiti•in SISIZ took it up, and
condo. ted the Pri•nuer I. Slip entr,d's
wliile the entuess returat•d to NI %Zit Vs Items-. The