The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-31 00:00:00

COURT MARTIAL.

PLYMOUTH, AUG. 28.—A court-martial assembled
this morning on board her Majesty's ship Impreg-
nable, in Hamoaae, for the trial of Commander Pit-
man, of her Majesty's sloop Childers, on the following
charge :--
" General cruelty, from or about the 4th of September,
1846, until the 20th of May, 1849, and for false state-
ments in the log of her Majesty's ship Childers, on or
about the 9th day of October, 1848.
" General cruelty and oppression during the period
commencing on or about the 4th of September, 1846, and
ending on the 20th of May, 1849.
"False expenditure of stores, viz., a hammock.cloth,
represented to have been washed away, on or about the
14th of October, 1846, and a maintop sail, represented
to have been lost on or about the 19th of October, 1838.
" False statements in the log-book of her Majesty's
ship Childers, from September, 1846, to the 20th of
May, 1839."
The court consisted of Admiral-Superintendent Sir
J. Louis ; Captain W. H. Johnstone, her Majesty's
ship Agincourt ; Captain M‘Dougal, her Majesty's
ship La Hogue ; Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, her
Majesty's ship Impregnable; and Captain George
Greville Wellesley, of her Majesty's ship Daedalus.
Mr. Eastlake officiated as Judge Advocate.
The prisoner was professionally assisted by Messrs.
Elworthy and Lockyer, and the prosecutors by Mr.
W. J. Little.

The Court opened at nine A.M., and were in delibe-
ration an hour and a half, owing to the non-arrival of
important witnesses.
- The prosecutors, Lieut. Graham and Mr. Elliott, on
being informed by the President that the required
witnesses should be subpcented, consented to proceed
with the case.
Mr. 0. H. Davis, clerk in the Accountant-Gene-
ral's office, produced the following books belonging to
her Majesty's :sloop Childers—viz., the logs from
July, 1846, to July, 1849 ; boatswain's and carpen-
ter's expense books, from July, 1846, to July, 1849 ;
and the defaulters' book from March,lB46, to Decem-
ber, 1848.
Lieutenant Graham (Mr. Elliott being absent)
called First-Lieutenant A. R. B. Carter, who was
First-Lieutenant of the Childers from August, 1846,
to March, 1847, during which period he considered
Commander Pitman's conduct to have been inconsistent
and severe. Witness had on one occasion found a

mutinous letter on the Captain's skylight, which he
gave to Commander Pitman. It was not addressed
on the outside. It bore the fictitious signature
of "My name I wish you may find." The letter
spoke of the punishments and of making men jump
overboard. Commander Pitman would sometimes
'punish a man for an offence which would be con-
sidered slight on another occasion. Witness could
not, from the length of time which had elapsed, men-
tion any particular instance. 'While he was on board
five or six men had been flogged, and the secondary
punishments, such as black-listing, men carrying
hammocks and handspikes for hours on their
backs, and stopping grog, were very severe, especially
as the men were required, notwithstanding, to per-
form their regular duties. The ship had not a good
and orderly crew, and the discipline was lax. Com-
mander Pitman's conduct was inconsistent and severe,
but he could not say it was cruel or oppressive.
The usual number of lashes inflicted was from two to
three dozen.

On cross-examination by Commander Pitman, the
witness stated that he had heard several of the officers
'complain of, and wish they were out of the ship.
On examination by Mr. Graham, he stated that
the laxity of discipline was owing to the severe pu-
nishments and to the frequent change of officers. He
left because he wished to return home, and was glad
;of any opportunity to get away from an uncomfort-
able ship. An uncomfortable ship was one in which
the officers and commander were not on good terms.
Mr. A. H. Elliott, late Master of the Childers,
stated that a private Marine, named Hague, was
invalided and was sent home, he being of unsound
'mind, caused by the cruel conduct of Commander
Pitman, who, for stealing candles to burn in the
lower deck when battened down in consequence of
'bad weather, had sentenced Hague to receive four
'dozen lashes, and kept him for four or five days a
prisoner on deck, abaft on the stern gratings, and
unsheltered in the cold ; he became insane before
released from punishment. The next case was that
of a private named White, who committed suicide by
jumping overboard, within four or five minutes after
having been threatened by Commander Pitman with
four dozen lashes for appearing at quarters dirty and
with his clothes not mended; he was ordered forward
to clean, and, although sober, jumped overboard
itnmediately the log omitted to mention the
sentence. Witness had seen a lad, named Sangyer,
naked and insensible at the galley fire, after the
punishment of " scrubbing." Thermometer 50 to 53.
The cause of so many men deserting at Hobart Town
was the cruelty on board. While at New Zealand an
ordinary seaman, named M'Cleet, had received three
dozen lashes for being dirty at divisions.
The Court rose at six P.M., and adjourned to nine
A.M. on Wednesdey, when Commander Pitman will
cross-examine Mr. Elliott.

There are 31 witnesses summoned, 16 appeared ;
the others are scattered in different parts of the
kingdom. It is expected that the trial will continue
several days.