The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-11 00:00:00

Court-martial on Lord Pelham Clinton, R.N.

D OYAL FREE HOSPITAL, Gray's-inn-road,
XV in the immediate vicinity of the Great Northern Rail-
way Terminus, King's-cross.
Patron—Her atost Gracious Majesty the QUEEN.
Vice-Patron--His Royal Highness the Prince of WALE 3,11. G
President—ll is Grace the Duke of BUCCLEUCH, K.G.
Treasurer—Edward Masterman, Esq.
The numerous and urgent appeals of the sick poor for ad-
mission compel the Committee to entreat the bounty of the
affluent and humane, as the medical officers are daily obliged
treat as out-patients many distresiin cases which, with
more adequate funds, they would gladly admit into the wards.
The premises of the Hospital are capable of containing 500
beds.

The Hospital is not endowed, but is wholly dependent on
voluntary contributions and legacies, which are received by
the Treasurer, Edward Mas rerman, Esq., Nicholas-lane; also
by Messrs. Coutts and Co. ; Drummond and Co. ; Herries and
Co. ; Ransom and Co.;• Prescott, Grote, and Co.; Smith,
Payne, and Co. ; Glyn and Co. ; Jones Loyd and Co. ; Barclay
and Co. ; Denison and Co. ; Mims, Deacon, and Co.;
Overend, Gurney, and Co. ; Nisbet and Co., Berners-street ;
Masterman and Co. ; I. Barned and Co., Liverpool ; and at
the Hospital, from 10 tiH 5.

STANFORD S. SMITIT Secretary.

QOllO ESTATE, HOUSE, AND GENERAL
BUSINESS AGENCY OFFICES.—Persons requiring
Freehold or Leasehold Property, or having Business and
(louses to be dispose i of, should apply to Mr. CHARLES
MURRAY, Auctioneer and Valuer, 26, Gerrard-street,
Soho, W.

Valuations for Probate Administration. Fire Claims, Rail'
way Compensations, &o. Rents Collected.

The report of the officials connected with the Steam Re-
serve who were directed some time since to make an inspec-
tion of the various vessels comprising the Chatham Steam
Reserve, prior to a number of the steamers which are no
longer fit for actual service being either broken up or sold
out of the service, having been under the consideration of the
Admiralty, their Lordships have decided on the immediate
breaking up of a number of the paddlewheel and screw
steamers now encumbering the channel of the Medway be-
tween Chatham harbour and Sheerness. The steamers, the
orders for the breaking up of which have already been re-
ceived, are the paddlewheel steamer Dragon, 6, 1,270 tons,
660 horse power; the Hermes, 6, 830 tens, 220 horse power
paddlewheel steamer; the Alacrity, 4, 675 tons, 200 horse
power, screw sloop; the Renard, 4, 680 tons, 200 horse
power, screw gunvessel; and the Wrangler, 4, 477 tons, 80
horse power, screw gunvessel. The vessels to be broken up
will be removed round to the Thames, at Charlton, where
extensive docks and premises have been taken by the Ad-
miralty to be used as a breaking-up yard for ships of war.
'rhe contract to supply the labour for breaking up the
vessels has been taken by the firms of Messrs Castle
and Sons and Mr Beech. The boilers, engines, and ma-
chiaery of each of the ships to be taken to pieces will be
retained by the Admiralty, together with the whole of
the copper bolts and metal, which latter, will be returned by
the contractors. The Dragon will be towed round from
Chatham to Charlton in the course of a few days, and the
other vessels named will afterwards follow.
The screw corvette Scout, 21, 1,462 tons, 400 horse power,
is being rapidly pushed forward in her internal fitments, as
she is required to be ready for commission by the end of the
present month, the order for her to be completed for the
first division of the Chatham Steam Reserve in the place of
the Clio, 22, 400 horse power, having been altered by the
Admiralty, who have determined in placing her in commis-
sion, her destination, it is understood, being the coast of
Africa. Arrangements had been made for fitting the cor-
vette with eyebolts in the wake of her engines and machi-
nery, to enable her sides to be covered with chain cable
when going into action, but instructions received at the
dockyard direct the work to be stopped.
The Barracouta, 6, paddlewheel sloop, 1,053 tons, 300-
horse power, Commander John D'Arcy, which has been
employed during the last four years on the North Ameri-
can and West Indian station, arrived at Sheerness yester-
day afternoon, and will be inspected by Vice-Admiral Sir
Charles Talbot, K.C.8., Commander-in-Chief at Sheer-
ness, after which she will be paid out of commission, and
placed in the third division of the Steam Reserve.
The Ringdove, 4, screw gunvessel, 674 tons and 200 -
horse power of engines, Commander Ralph A; 0. Brown,
was paid out of commission yesterday at Portsmouth, atter
a foreign service of nearly five years, having been commis-
sioned in October, 1869. During this period she has been
employed off the coasts of China and Japan, and has gone
over upwards of 250.000 miles under steam and canvas.
George Bettesworth, leading stoker on board, received the
medal and gra`uity awarded by the Admiralty for long ea-
. vice. Commander Brown's service in the Ringdove completed
a 10 years continuous service in Chinese and Japanese waters.
He joined the navy in 1819, and, after having served in the
Penelope and her tender, the Teazer, on the West Coast of
Africa, went out as midshipman in the Hornet, screw
sloop, and served for the first nine months under the csm-
mend of Commodore Elliott against the Russians in the
North of China. He was present and in charge of the Hos-
nel.'s pinnace at the capture of the 17 junks at St John's
Deep Bay and in the operation against pirates in Escape
Creek, Fateham. He commanded the Hornet's small arm
company at the assault of Canton and the Bogue forts, and
was promoted to lieut. in May, 1857, and in May, 1859, paid
off the Hornet as her first lieut., under the command of
Capt. Viscount Gilford. In Sept, of the same year ho fitted
out the Sphinx, 6, paddle, as first lieut., under Capt. Day,
and again went out to China,where he commanded a rocket
boat at Taku and Tien-tsin. He was several times after-
wards engaged with Chinese rebels and pira es, and after-
wards sent in acting command of the Sphinx to the North
Pacific in search of the shipwrecked crew of the English
ship Norna, whom, after a four months' search, succeeded
in finding and rescuing. He was made Commander in Sept.,
1862, by Admiral Sir Jas. Hope, and appointed afterwards
by that officer to the Ringdove, Since the arrival of the
Ringdove at Portsmouth, Commander Brown, his officers
and crew, have been formally tried by court martial for
having grounded that vessel on the Bombay shoal while on
her passage from Hongkong to Labuan. Commander Brown
was reprimanded, the master admonished, and the remain-
der of the officers and crew were acquitted.
The Prussian screw corvette Vineta, Capt. Struber, an-
chored at Spithead yesterday, last from Kiel. The corvette
exchanged the customary salutes with the King's bastion of
Portsmouth garrison and H.M.S. Victory, the flagship of
the Port Admiral. Capt. Struber afterwards landed, and,
accompanied by Vice Consul Vandenbergh, paid his respects
to Admiral Sir M. Seymour, G.C.B , and Major Gen. Lord
W. Paulet, C. 8., the Naval and Military Commanders in
Chief.
The Racoon, 20, screw corvette, Capt, Count Gleichen,
sailed from Spithead yesterday afternoon for Gibraltar.
The Himalaya, screw troopship, Capt. E. Lacy, at Ports-
mouth, has had some defects discovered in her after crank,
and the result of a survey held on board yesterday indicates
the probability of this efficient troopship being paid out of
commission.
The Fervent, gunboat, 60 horie power, intended as a ten-
der to the Malaita, training frigate for the Royal Naval
Reserve, arrived at Bristol on Wednesday from Plymouth.
She was armed with an Armstrong 40-pounder and other
guns of heavy calibre, but yesterday she started again for
Plymouth for lighter guns.
Some weeks since attention was called in The Sun to a
new system of coloured night signals, which have been in-
vented by Lieut. Chas. J. Brownrigg, Flag Lieut. to Vice
Admiral Sir C. Talbot, K.C.8., Commander in Chief at the
Nore. This invention having since been thoroughly tested
by actual experiment from ship to ship, the captains um-
der whom the test was conducted have reported most
favourably of the invention to the Admiralty ; but their
lordships have declined to adopt it, on account of Com-
mander Colomb's system of signals being about to be intro
duced into the service. Lieut. Brownrigg has, however, re-
ceived their lordships' commendation of his system, on ac-
count of the greatingenuity and simplicity which it displays.
The following promotions and appointments in the corps
of Royal Marines Light Infantry were announced in divi-
sional orders at headquarters, Chatham, yesterday :
Col. and Second Commandant William H. March, of the
Chatham division, to be Col.-Commandant at the Ports-
mouth division, vice Col.-Commandant J• G. A. Ayles, re-
tired—Lieut.-Col. H. Marriott, of the Woolwich division,
to be Col. and Second Commandant at the Chatham divi-
sion, vice March— Capt. J. H. Stewart, of the Chatham
division, to be Lieut.-Col. at the Woolwich division, vice
Marriot--First Lieut. Gasper Lo Grand, of the Portsmouth
division, to be Capt , and appointed to the Chatham divi-
sion, vice Stewart—Second Lieut.: J. C. Peters, of the
Portsmouth division, to be First Lieut. at the same divi-
sion, vice Le Grand—Col. and Second Commandant G. B
Payne, of the Portsmonth division, to be Col.-Comman-
dant and appointed to the Woolwich division, vice Col.-
Commandant W. F. Hopkins, C. 13., retired—Lieut. Col.
Brevet Col. S. N. Lowder, Aide-de-Camp to the Queen, of
the Chatham division, to be Col. and Second Commandant
of the Portsmouth division, vice Payne—Capt D. Blyth,
of the Chatham division, vice Lowder—First Lieut. S. J.
Graham, of the Woolwich division, to be Capt., appointed
to the Chatham division, vice Blyth—Second Lieut. W. G.
Armstrong, of the Plymouth division, to be First Lieut.
and appointed to the Woolwich division, vice Graham.
The following appointments were made yesterday at the
Admiralty :—Lieut. G. H. Lawson and Lieut. C. R. Harris,
to the Hibernia—Lieut. E. F. Day, to the Rattlesnake—
Lieut. J. W. Gambier, to the Defence—A. F. Gibbons,
master, to the Fisgard, for the Niger—William Skipwith,
midshipman, to the Victoria—A. M. Cramsie, naval cadet,
to the Victoria—Thomas Silk, assistant-paymaster, to
the Victory—Charles 11. Cealy, assist—paymaster, to the
Cumberland—George W. E. C. Mackay, clerk, to the Vic-
tory, as supernumerary—Charles G, Johnstone, Edward
St. Leger, and G. C. L. B. Townsend, assist.- clerks, to the
Victory—James A. France, engineer, to the Asia, as
supernumerary—and Thomas Marsh, of the Orlando, con-
firmed as first•class assist.-engineer.

Last evening Mr. C. C. Lewis, one of the coroners for the
county of Essex, and a jury of the inhabitan s, opened an
inquest at the Bell and Anchor Tavern, Plaistow, on the
headless body of a man, supposed to be that of a young
German named John Fuhrhop, and which had been found
in the neighbouring marshes on the afternoon of Tuesday
last, as already reported. The body lay in an outhouse of
the inn, as did also the head, which had been found on
Wednesday, and they were then seen by the jury. The
murder has caused great excitement throughout a very
populous neighbourhood,and the inquest-room was crowded
during the proceedings.
As already reported, a man named Karl Kohl, of 4, Hoy-
street, Plaistow, sugar baker, is now in custody on suspicion
of being concerned in the murder.
Josiah Gaster, of 1, Bromley-street, Poplar, was the first
witness called,and he proved the finding of the body among
the reeds in the Plaistow-marshes on Tuesday,at 20 minutes
past 1 o'clock. This witness repeated the evidence which he
had already given before the magistrate at Stratford.
Wm. Brigley, sergeant of the K division of police, said
that on Tuesday, at a quarter to 2 o'clock, he was on duty
in the North Woolwictr-road, when he met the previous
witness, who told him that the headless body of a man had
been found in some reeds on the Thames bank,at the north
side of the river. Witness went to the spot and saw the
body lying quite straight on its back, the left arm by its
side, and the right arm across the breast. He searched the
trousers pocket, and found in it a bit of paper containing
German words (it was a small scrap of a note or letter),
and a farthing, There was very little blood, lie searched
in the neighbourhood on Thursday morning, and about 40
or 50 feet from where he saw the body he found a pool of
blood in a ditch, Some 45 feet from that he came upon
the handle of a hammer. The blood in the ditch was large
in quantity, and it seemed to him to be mixed with water.
The head was found near the river by the Thames police
on Wednesday, and it was identified in his presence as be-
longing to the body.
Henry Zuckh, a German, living at 2, Hoy-street,Plnistowr
was called. He said he knew the deceased, and first saw
him about five weeks ago, when he told witness he had lately
come from Hamburg. Yesterday (Wednesday) week he last
saw him alive. The deceased lett his house in the evening,
about tea-time, with the prisoner Kohl, and witness did not
again see him alive. The next day Kohl called at his house,
and said he had left the deceased in the Commercial-road,
and had not seen him since. Witness asked him if the man
(meaning the deceased) had got any money. He said he
had £4 10s. Witness remarked to Kohl that if he met a
street-girl he would perhaps spend the money with her.
Kohl and witness were alone when that converaation took
place. Kohl said if he spent the money he would turn him
out of the house, as he would have no money to go to Ger-
many with. Kohl said he had lent Funrhop, the deceased,
a copper to go over the iron bridge. He did that, he said, in
order that he might not have to change the £4los. Kohl then
left witness's house to go home. It was then about 1 o'clock
in the day. He came to witness's house again in the even-
ing, but he said nothing about the deceased of any import-
ance. Witness now identified the body of the deceased by
the boots. The deceased had called to ask if he could repair
them, and witness knew them again from one of the boots
being worn on the inside and the other being worn on the
outside. He was certain they were the boots the deceased
had spoken to him about. They were of German make. He
had seen the head of the murdered man, and he was able
to identify it by the appearance of the features.
Thames Police-inspector Uoode was called, and deposed
that about half-past six on Wednesday morning he went on
shore on the reed bed at Plaistow in search of the deceased
man's head. He looked about for a considerable time, but
was unable to find it. About half-past 7he saw a man named
Jones, and asked if he knew the exact spot where the body
was found. He said he did not, but he believed it was about
30 yards from the spot where they then were. He went
across a ditch to the reed bed And called out to witness, " I
think I have found the head." Witness ran to the spot
where Jones was standing and saw a hole which Jones
pointed out, and which he said was a rat's hole. Blood
was observable in the hole. Witness removed the earth
and found the head of a man about three inches from the
surface. There was a cut extending from the right eye-
brow to the lower lip, as if done with a chopper, and a scalp
wound on the forehead, He had it taken to the Graving
Dock Tavern, where the body then lay.
Mr E, J, Morris, surgeon, said he saw the body of the
deceased about halv-p ist 11 in the evening of Tuesday last,
There was no head to it. The muscular fibres about the
neck were all eaten away, apparently by rats. The clavicles
and cervical vertebree were laid bare. The akin and part of
ihe muscular fibres on the left shoulder were partially
eaten away, and on the right arm the flesh was eaten away
in two places, as was also the flesh of both hands, more
particularly that of the left hand. The flesh on the right
cheek was also eaten away by rats. He found an exten-
sive fracture on the occipital bone on the left side, pone •
trating into the brain. There were also two fractures on
the frontal bone. Ile should say the wounds were inflicted
prior to death. The wounds were mereehan sufficient to ac-
count for death. The one at the back of the head appeared
to have been inflicted with a chopper, but those on the front
seemed to have been occasioned by hammer. The head
was not cut off until after death.
Elizabeth Warren, wife of James Warren, 3, Nelson-
street, Plaistow-marsh, labourer, said she knew deceased.
He had two handsome front teeth in the upper jaw,
and she identified the body by that circumstance among
others, He was a German, and she only knew him by his
Christian name of John. He came to lodge at her house
between five and six weeks ago. The man Kohl, now in
prison, brought him to her house. He lodged with her 13
at 3,
h likeo u t
;
days. He left her house a month ago last Monday night,
but called next day to take away his clothes, accompanied
by a German named Butcher, whom she had known by
sight about the marsh. While deceased was at her house
Kohl came backwards and forwards to see him, and occa-
eionally took him to London. When deceased left her house
on the Monday night he had four sovereigns and 7s 6d in
silver. Kehl was then present and saw the money. The
de-
ceased owed her £2 for 13 days washing and lodging and
board. Both Kohl and deceased disputed the amount,
which they thought was too much. She received 25a from
deceased, and the next day he called with Butcher, who paid
her the balance, 153, and he and deceased took the luggage
away. It was a large portmanteau and in it were his clothes,
including a dozen shirts, ten pairs of socks, three flannel
shirts, three pairs of trousers, two of them black and the
other gray, two coats, a gray suit, a dark overcoat, a tra-
velling rug, two pairs of boots and two pairs of shoes, one of
the pairs of boots being Wellingtons, and the other spring-
sided. He wore a silver watch with a gold Albert chain, and
had a plain gold ring on his finger. He had a gold ring for
his necktie, with a piece of col al in it, and a gold handker-
chief pin. Ho had also two leather hat boxes, in one of
which was a beaver hat, and in the other a " billy cock"
turned up at the sides. There were also a few books in his
box, some likenesses, and cards of all descriptions. He told
witness he had come from Germany with Kohl,
Superintendent Howie, of the K division of metropolitan
police, was called. He said—On Thursday evening I went
to the house of Ferdinand Edward Karl Kohl, at 4, Hoy-
street, Plaistow-marsh. I there saw Karl Kohl, his wife,
and Joseph Williams, her brother. I inquired if a German
man was missing from their house. Karl Kohl replied that
a young man whom he called John, and whose, acquaint-
ance he had made on a recent passage from Ham-
burg to London, had been missing since last Thurs-
J ohn had lodged with a Mrs Warren
day. He also said that before coming to lodge
with
Nelsonhira.street, Plaistow-marsh, which lodgings he did
noi
that when John came to lodge with him he was
w money, and he had since been pawning his clothes.
He told me that on Thursday last he accompanied John to
w
the London Docks to look for a ship, and that afterwards he
w
he described as being at the
wabeeonautttie n
lntdoo'c a sugarelfo tk in bakery
th
the
Commercial-road,
htch
and said the time was
day. He said that when he went into
s
the sugar bakery he left John outside, and on his returning
to the
and he could not find him.
He ascinert h
ielailitt daollen
Y
e e away
the body which had been found,
and was was that of John, as it had no head, but
esaid
streeth
note had
b the trousers were like his,
A youth named Henry Lees, of 2, High-street, Plaistow-
marsh, labourer, said—l work at an oil factory at Plaistow,
and I knew the deceased. My landlord, Henry Zutch, is a
German, and the deceased used to call at his house. I have
seen him about a dozen times, and have occasionally bade
him " Good evening.'' I saw the head last night, and I
believe it to be that of the German in question. I know it
by the features. I saw him last alive last Thursday morn-
ing about 10 o'clock. I was then working at Plaistow-
wharf, and saw Kohl and the young man together. I had
ftw
known Kohl before, but not long. I was only a few yards
fromwhe r
et htehme. body They going towards the reed-bed
four minutes' walk from the place. They were walking side
by side. I remarked to a young man with whom I was
working " Here are two Germans who occasionally call to
see my landlord." I did not see the deceased again. I saw
Kohl in the evening about half-past 4at my lodgings. He
was talking to my landlord about the young man going to
y was were then
afterwards found, and about three or
aer
London, and about his having gone into a sugar baker's
and left the young man outside. I replied that I had seen
them both that morning about 10 o'clock. To that he made
no answer. He afterwards said that on coming out of the
sugar baker's he found the young man was gone. He also
said he found on going home that the young man's clothes
had been taken away. The landlord and Kohl then began
to talk in German, which I don't understand.
By a Juryman—When witness saw them in the morning
they were both smoking, and Kohl had his hand in one
pocket.
At this point, there being no mere evidence forthcoming,
the inquest was adjourned for a week.

PORTSMOUTH, Thursday.
A naval court martial, composed of Capt, H. Caldwell
C.B. (president), Capts. S. Osborn, C. 8., Royal Sovereign
—Sir L. M'Clintock, Aurora—Hon, A. A. Cochrane, C. 8.,
Warrior—Count Gloichen, Racoon—J. Seccombe, Dulre of
Wellington-3. H. Henderson, Urgent— Goodenough,
Victoria, assembled yesterday on board her Majesty's ship
Victory at Portsmouth, for the trial of Lieut. Lord Arthur
Pelham Clinton, on the following charges :
" 1. For that he the said Albert Sidney Pelham Clinton
being in actual service and full pay in her Majesty's fleet,
and midshipman on board the Edgar, did, on or about the
s:h day of September desert from the eaid ship.

" 2. For that he, &c., did not return on board her Ma
jcsty's ship Victory until about a quarter to ten o'clock on
the evening of the 30th of October, 1864, he having given
his word of honour to return on the 2 th," &c., &c.
The formal business having been disposed of,
The officiating Judge Advocate said—l am desired by
prisoner's friend (C. H. Bicsteed, Esq., of the firm of Bin-
steed and Elliot, solicitors) to intimate to the Court that
prisoner desires to plead guilty to the first charge, and to
admit the facts contained in the second, but under extenu-
ating circumstances, which he desires to submit to this hon.
Court.
The Court permitted Mr Binateed to read the following
statement :
Mr President and gentlemen of this honourable Court, I
respectfully request permission from this honourable Court
to plead guilty to the first charge, and to admit the facts of
the second. 1 cannot deny that I have been absent from
my ship without leave so long as to constitute the
first offence charged ; but I respectfully submit to the
honourable Court that the whole train of circumstances
connected with my offence show that it was not my intention
to desert from her Majesty's service; that, however censur-
able my folly and thoughtlessness may have been, I am in-
nocent of any deliberate intention to desert my duty. I
am aware that I must be answerable for my actions inde-
pendent of my motives, but I trust this honourable Court
will leniently consider the peculiar circumstances of my
case, and give me the benefit of those circumstances which
indubitably show the absence of any criminal intent. I had
gone on leave to the Isle of Wight for two days, leaving all
my effects on board, and taking only a requisite change of
clothing—and on Sept. 5 I had come over to Portsmouth
within the limit of my leave to rejoin my ship, when I
accidentally lost my train. I immediately telegraphed to
one of my messmates, Mr Chamters, but my message was
returned next day undelivered in consequence of the sailing
of the fleet. I produce the letter which I received to that
effect from the clerk at the telegraph office. On the following
Thursday I heard by the papers that the fleet had arrived at
Portland, and I had left my hotel and was preparing to
proceed thither when—with my portmanteau, on my way
to the station—l drove to Messrs Galt and Gieve, outfitters,

Portsmouth, for some clothes they had made for me, and
in their warehouse I heard that a naval officer had stated
that he had heard from Sir Frederick Grey that the fleet

was at Torquay and not Portland. in this uncertainty I
foolishly proceeded to London, in the hope of hearing ace
curately at the Admiralty, and then, on ascertaining, I
again telegraphed to Mr Chambers, and late on Sunday
evening received his reply that the fleet would sail next
morning. I was thus again unable to join. In this di-
lemma I felt uncertain how to act, and the serious, and as it
proved fatal illness of my lamented father deprived me of
his counsel and advice. A subsequent telegram from Mr
Chambers, apprising me that I was marked " run" on the
ship's books, more alarmed me, and I began to realise the
consequences of my misconduct and to dread the anguish it
would occasion to my father in his flickering health if I
should be tried by a court-martial, and I- unhappily shrank
from the risk of rejoining my ship. I can now only cast
myself on the mercy of this honourable court, trusting that
my youth and the peculiar circumstances of my father's ill-
ness may be allowed as some mitigation of the offence I have
committed. and that the fact that I did leave all my effects,
including jewellery and other trifles which a pocket would
contain, on board my ship, and that I was in telegraphic
communication with my msssmates, who knew my real ad-
dress, will be deemed satisfactory proof that I had no evil
purpose in the onset, but was foolishly led on by circum-
stances which I now deeply lament. To the second charge
I respectfully plead not guilty, but I admitthe facts embodied
in the charge, viz., that I did give my written word of hon-
our as alleged to return on board her Majesty's ship Victory
on the 20th Oct., and that I did not, in fact, return until the
30th. I trust the circumstances which I shall have the
honour of sut mitting to this honourable court will entitle
me to au acquittal on the charge, providing that my non-
performance of my promise was an accident resulting from
excessive imprudence and not from criminality, I cannot
enter in my defence in this charge without expressing my
sense of the kindness of the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty and the captain of my ship in granting me leave
to squid the funeral of my father, while the cloud of my
first charge was hanging over me, and I readily admit that
I should well deserve any punishment that could be in-
flicted on me if I could have intentionally broken my parole
on that occasion. I trust I shall satisfy this honourable
Court that I d:d not. On the evening of Saturday, the 27th
of October, I was staying at my brother's house in Picca.
dilly. One of his servants called me a cab, and I drove to
the 'Waterloo station, and found on my arrival that I had 35
minutes to spare before the departure of the train. I
wanted to mention to my sister something which I had for-
gotten, and I asked the cabman how long it would take to
drive me to Chester-square. He replied twelve minutes,
and, thinking that would leave me abundant time, I directed
him to go, and I left my luggage in the charge of Henry
Webb, porter No. 55. I did go to Chester-square, and did
return, and I believe 1 should have been in ample time if
one side of the road in Birdcage-walk, half a mile in length,
had not been broken up, which greatly delayed the return of
the cab, which was unable to leave its rank. We arrived
in Waterloo just as the train went out of the station,
and on my inquiry about a special train, I found at that
hour it would be difficult to obtain, besides being very ex-
pensive. I directed the cabman to drive me to a good tele-
graph station, and he drove me to Charing-cross, and he
saw me at the counter for 12 minutes by the clock. The
clerk told me that being after time he could not ensure the
message going that night, but he would try, and I accord-
ingly paid him for a message to the following effect ad-
dressed to the captain of her Majesty's ship Victory, that
"I had lost my train, and should be down early the next
morning." The cab-driver is a very respectable man, well
known at the Waterloo Station, and he will testify to the
great anxiety I manifested at the untoward loss of my train
and the urgency of my desire to transmit a message im-
mediately. I have not been able as yet to discover why
this message has not been delivered. My solicitor has in-
quired at the Portsea Station, and finds that it did not
arrive there. The clerk at the railway station replies that
his books are sent back to head-quarters every two days,
and he cannot recollect. The result of my solicitor's in-
quiries in London have not yet transpired. I slept
that night at the Grosvenor Hotel, telling the man to call
me at seven o'clock. He neglected to do so, and I did not
awake till ten, and then I was not in time for the 10 15
train, and being Sunday there was only one other (a
five hour train) till five o'clock, by which I came, and
having obtained some refreshment, 1 went on board her
Majesty's ship Victory, expecting that my telegram, ex-
plaining my misfortune, would have long preceded me. I
shall call before this honourable Court the railway porter
and the cab-driver, who will corroborate my statement,
the former not sought out by me, but called by the official
application of the Judge Advocate to the secretary of the
railway company, and the other one of the regular attene
dents at the Waterloo Station, by whose people he was
found out for my solicitor, and I believe that these witnesses
will satisfy this hon. Court that in this particular I have
not intentionally, even for an instant, delayed the perform-
ance of my promise, and that I am not deserving of the
censure which should justly fall on any one who, to the
ungrateful disregard of a 'valued favour, could superadd the
violation of his honour. I submit to this hon. Court that
while admitting to the full my extreme indiscretion in
risking the occurrence of any casualty when I was once
safely at the station, and however strongly appearances
may at first have naturally seemed against me, yet that I
am not guilty of the grave and heinous offence contained in
the second charge. And now, on the first charge, of whioh
I stand guilty, I must once more appeal to the merciful
consideration of this hon. Court. I trust that my youth,
and the peculiar circumstances under which I was placed,
and my father's illness and recent death, will induce this
hon. Court to believe that my misconduct was the result of
thoughtlessness and follf, and the absence of control and
advice, more than the desire to evade the needful discipline
of her Majesty's service, and that in enforcing the needful
discipline, and in maintaining the supremacy of order over
irregularity, this hon. Court may so temper justice with
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his father.
Edward Edwards, cab-driver, said on Saturday evening,
October 29th, he drove prisoner from Piccadilly to the
Waterloo Station. Prisoner found on arrival that ho had
35 minutes to spare.
The President—Let the witnesses retire for us to consider
this question.
The court was cleared for more than half an hour.
Captain Scott said, in reply to a question, if the Court
were satisfied as to thef acts admitted he had no desire to
cross-examine the two witnesses. There was one point that
he wished to remark upon, and that was in reference to the
telegram. He received no telegram fro.n prisoner.
Edwards continued—You asked me how long it would
take to drive to Chester-square.
Did yen say it would take twelve minutes ?—Yes-
But for the state of Birdcage walk should we have been
in time?-011, yes.