The National Register.
London, England, 1813-10-03 00:00:00

HOMICIDE.

On Wednesday last James Wall having taken out slops hi order to
supply the men of the Centaur at Spithead, it beii:g pay.day on
• toard, while waiting to be Admitted into that Alp was =hot by
Lawn, nee a private of Royal Marines, • who discharged
a imiskt.t at him loaded with ball, which penetrate:l tit; ongti the
thick part of his thigh inflicting a dangerous wound. The marine
fired ball against most positive order, and is now in confini.ment in
Gosport bridgwell, l gagwer ror WI conduct. WWI following

REGISTER.

depositions were made by the parties concerned, on the examinailon
before the Magistrate :
Lieutenant Tarleton. of the Royal Marines, of the Cratere, de-
posed, that on the 22d of Septeinher, the said Ship was lying at
Spithead, and that the ship's company were paid their was-!son the
21st; that it is customary, after payment of Ships, to admit siopseliers
onboard for several days, for the purpose of the ship's company
being supplied with necessaries; and upon these occasions many
Lo its come off with slops, and the persons are so eaoer to get into
the ship, that is it with difficulty they are kept off from the ship's
sides. Guard-beats are therefore appointed. and orders given to
the sentinalg to tire blank cartridges, to inihnidito persons in the
boats from coming Meng side until they are called. The measarcs
became necessary to prevent improper intercourse n it.:l the Asp's
cornearly, and to prevent liquor being produced into 'gigs, which
in sonic cases have introduced great disorder and insnbo:divation:
On the 21st, the day the ship was paid. strict orders were giro
that no shore boats should conic alongside ; the seminal% word
ordered to fire blank cartridges to keep them off ; strict orders
were also given that the sentinels should on no account be permitted
to hate in their possession any rimning bally, and • their c.irtouchs
boxes were ordered to be examitie,.l. On (1w these orders were
continued, and this deponent gave them to Serjeant Thomas Wyborn.
John Rickets, armouree; deposed, on the .nd he examined and
swinged the sentinal's musksts for the relief that went oil at eight
o'clock in the morning, and is sure no musket a 34 loaded either
With powder or ball ; at the time, he delivered to each sentinal
two Rank cartridges, and examined their (.41.1(inch-boxes. Corporal
Hott was present at the same tune, and he p.atictilarly cautioned
every seminal against using balls, as did the First Lieutenant, and
this deponent is sure that Lawrence Finninghani recvi ea the same
order and the same examination, previous to his going on his
post at eight o'clock in the morning.
William Hancock, private marine deposed, that hell)! sentinel on
the starboard side of the poop on the morning of the 22d (opposita •
to Finningliam's post) between nine and ten he heard Fi.iningharn
call out," Shove your boat farther off from the ship !" which be
repeated several times. This deponent heard no ensurer wade,
though it was possible an answer might have been made without.
his hearing it. After Finningham had ordered the boat to shove off
two or three times, he stepped from a carronade-slide upon some
hammocbs which were stowed in the neither, and presented his
musket, having levelled it downward* towards one of the boats, and
fired; upon which a man'etied out be was wounded, and the First
Lieutenant instantly hailed the boat, and the wounded man was
taken into the ship, and attended by a Sureeces Assistant. When
Finningham fired, the First Lieutenant was on the quarter deck, as
was Lieut. Sullock, the Officer of the watch, neither of whom gave
Finningham orders to tire. The First Lieutenant had befirte given
Ibis deponent orders to fire twice with blank-cartridge.
Martin IVellstead, of Portsmouth, tailor, deposed,. that he in
company with John Davis, of Portsmouth, slopsellcr, and Win.
Mutton, of Portsea, also a slopseller, was, on the 224 of September,
on board a wherry with their slops, at Spithead, about thirty or forty.
yards from the Centaur, in the expectation of being admitted into
the ship ; that whilst solyine, alongside, James Vt.all slopseller
of
Portsea (who was in partnership with this deponent and John Davis),
came into their wherry from smother ; that a guard boat. had been
appointed from the ship to keep of the wherries) there being fourteen
or fifteen); that their wherry was without the guard boat , e sentinel
on the poop hailed their wherry, and desired them to keep off,
though they were at least thirty yards from the ship. and a, hero.e
deposed, outside the guard-boat ; the sentinel iieded Yoa Jr-te-
leeking—, if you don't keep your boat Qtr, !Widow yotta. bruins out,'"
or words to that if], et ; that Mr. H. Thekilisen, one et the pereins
in the beat, vres,vreil, " we will directly," and the wow man iiroantly
pulled the inside oar to keep the wherry still further t,tl ; the 'e was
no intention before this to get nearer the ship—however, the
paid
sentinel levelled his musket at. the per,ees in the wht rry, hod fired.
Instantly the said James Veal; exelaneed,".oll a di ad man•.
my poor wife aid fmily," and fell bael. upon the liantpeis on which
he was sitting ; hall had passe:' throe-_it his rielit arm, rear the
elteos, and through part of his riellt tl,igh, in the tote parr, near
the Lip hone ; the Commanding isnicer ii:-tacitly ordered tie'
boariLand Veall's woeeds toter (I,•e•sed by the Surgeonk.
and lie was afterwards u» -liere to his e•
James's-street, where he now hoigni.he's, att.
It is a remarkale circumstance, ''
killed by
James

(hauls

~ on
T.dC4l. by a mirgeolt.

632