The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-27 00:00:00

EGE LP D B i FL's G G

7,, AT HLT
ONSLO \V.—(.I‘IIIS DAL)
_
"inquest en tile body of Fre,ler•lek White, the soldierft4:l! death is alleged to have !leen eAti,ed by behig sevei ely
was resumed belore Ms. Wtell
shortly beforo te
trek this morning, at tke George the Fourth, Hounslow
,e`lth• The inquest room wes crowded to excess, and the
ilotoitiatest interest was evineud in the pn,ce,itings. Mr. Oa; k,
te !tor to the magistrates, was present to watch the pre-
ed„,ings on the part of the regiment.
thtee first witness called was James Elsworth, a private in
tee regitnent of the 7th Hussars, who stated that the de-
-44:1 W.hite Was more sober than other men in the regiment.
Rh as Intoxicated on the night he struck the sergeant,
411, he saw him strike him with a poker. Had known
the since his arrival with the reglinent from America. At
ekt,,titne the deceased was flogged for the offence the
dint
and the colonel stood on the right of White. The
iyi:tdaint stood between thew. The men stood in a half-square.
three :tance of the adjutant from the Colonel was about
Ile,,eardsl he stood between the Colonel and the doctor.
dat Was flowing when the Adjutant told Evans to do his
Had seen men flogged in the same regiment before.
er saw Evans flog before; had seen Critics, flog twice
before
Had
seen two other men flog before; Gadhead and
t4:6den seen
flogged before. Had seen three men flogged in
cioetsoanie regiment, at all of which the same Adjutant and
elle ?ere present. The Colonel was only at one of these.
ei..°` the men was sentenced to receive 100 lashes, but he
°tess'ehr,eeeiv,,ed 75; in the second, the man was sentenced to
Raa 40e, but only 50 were given ;in the third case, 150
the the sentence, but the man only received 50. The reason
feretiP (lid not get the whole number was because they had suf.
extrhe acorporeal punishment before, and they were forgiven the
rdl!nnber by the Comnaarelet -:n-Chief. Dr. Warren and
the thiiru,tant were at the two last. Colonel Whyte was at
Defile: ease, and at the least I do not consider that the
oa whisent inflicted on others was so severe as that inflicted
fiegt„,„,, te• For instance, a man named Ogar, who was
tre ha.,s Much in America, received 75 lashes, and was only
Nett, espital or riding with the baggage one day; the
aY be returned to his duty, and continued at it ever
the is More blood flowed from the back of White than from
Ittaack of this man at the 75th lash. The blows struck en
other back were harder, in my opinion, than. those on the
teZan• I made no remark when the Adjutant told
.Evans
tseiiLhe, hardsr, as we are not allowed to speak whilst in the
be isitlAunt sonle one, who I do not recollect, nudged me when
teed ?ae this ob,ervation The " cats," two of which were
leh,Pi inflicting punishment on White, had dark coloured
ketTs• The same occurred in the third case. In
lekeeirson's case the handles were dark. The bloes
the ae't on Alatthewson and White were much the same, as
lec;eeerne farriers flogged. The Adjutant, before the 100th
bie"__was struck, told Evans a second time to do his duty.
Thee
i!leot hear any one tell the Adjutant to give the order.
Its feet are tied up to a ladder when a man is flogged.
(The eireeiti. are tied to the ladder also. He could niontem_toza
/Pere b llas, or, commonly speaking, the cat- '
Part of Nught tuetto the room by the direction. of
.°then_Coro_i_ier.
ai the thoegs of all of them were.etained with blood).
ltsed ~YARLEy—Do you see any difference in the thongs
bee Irons the others ? W't tness .Yes I think the two
Cala are thicker and stronger. Ihave not' heard anything
el the authorities of the regiment about the evidence
°en her
In Cornreply to a questioa from Mr. Clark (put through the
te-Teir) he stated he had deserted twice. deserted. be-
kpe was punished. Could recollect being punished
ethr.' tunes. Had been five years in the regiment last
f' h• My name has not appeared in the " Regiment De-
sir, Book" since October, 1844.
fi • WAKLEY—liave there been any desertions in the
eeeinirent? Witness—Yes, a great maey ; many have de-
9"ttecl oftener than I have. I have been recommended for
promotion by Colonel Whyte for good conduct.
The CORONER here intimated that there was great difficulty
confining an investigation of this nature within legitimate
t"Nids. He was anxious to do this, but yet at the same
ree it was necessary to go at great length in order that the
41 cause of the man's death might be ascertained, and re-
tteseetations made to the proper quarter.
katth
called
ewsen was then in, and stated, in reply to the
rrener, that he was confined within barracks at that time
e°ll(ane miecenducthad not received any punishment
-account of the evidence given before him.
"Lr• Wakeer —lf you do receive any punishment on ac-
it ° Of the evidence given here, take care to let me know
eithFitness—Yes, r.
er Weeeeer intimated that he should not call
iqr the colonel, doctor, or adjutant, but they were
they at liberty to come there, and make any statement
IseLtihbought proper, but in the event of their doing so, it
Te_ taken as evidence.
sohl'ele brother of the deceased stated that he wished to put_
La I questions to Sergeant Potter, as to the treatment of
r. Clark
in the hospital.
tt tile Clark then proposed to call Dr. Warren, the surgeon
bir Ptnent, but,
%tie ,Areely said he could not receive Dr. Warren, in
tpeeerab(se of the position he held. He could takeh a ettte-
Nie:rnigiet choose to make as evidence, but e might
liee",,e_etessary to go at greater length into the case, and
eZnether the punishment was legal or not.
eeTlieeLark still pressed to call Dr. Warren.
s'n,e that ,v• Dr. S. Trimmer, Vicar of Heston parish, stated
lter udav thel3th, a Sergeant Maior of the regiment,
re ee --I,;nt_ and said he wishedto. see the sexton. lie told
tee setate:s the clergyman, and inquired Isis business with
the 'al' He replied, he wished to see him respecting
title; of a soldier, which was to take place a'
reeleyestichureilvard at four o'clock on the following Wed,-
' d the cause of the soldier's death. I e that 8 tt. a jiveure
c plaint. Asked him if it was true that
11411 (tii.dier hadbeoen;-recently flogged. He replied he had
4eWare deed about five weeks. before. Asked him if lie was
„uroee at reports respecting the death of the man were
"enee; t_rte said he was. Told him, under all the circum-
es4Pee;kne Wished him to to his commanding office! and
,7ehis :I's (the rev, gentleman's) opinion, that previously
.„,-"unlee—ing called on to perform the funeral service he
Der-Oe the authorityp of the Coroner for his burial. He
,entree'severed, and fixed the funeral for the time he had
.°?tain-e"eed• Told him .he could not fix any thne until lie
bulat Ka Anther information respecting the man's death, and
shcilld ect a communication from the barracokust.
bittealled at hornepthe whole of that day, and untmilaanbica..
„hoe ;,...,°oek the next morning, but received no cdom
meeting
l° atf,Al the barracks up to that time, as he a
lie
was
s tea at Brentford at ten o'clock that morning.
lett egt4trate. Before going he felt it his duty to
,adddyeststte
Vicedt:
Law on the subject,
ndmbeg-
which he plaice 1
'ed hi rence, the inspector at Bre.ntforc a
ecercesenle --e;°,rward it with the least possible delay.to the
fr°lll the. e—einrned home, when I received a communicationl
taattutlairitle's,arofractk.he the
(The letter the witness addressed) to
_e_
regiment was here read, and simply d
It.ardsWe^4‘ ja stated at length in his evidence.) He aftteir-
;tat b'eeeived a con unication from the barracks, ate g
ii,,,?!,:hitsintr.an had died from disease of the heart, which he
disease etuge, as the surgeon had stated that he died from
ale T; the lungs,
*°rth -Lewie, the registrar of the district, residing at Isle-
ti'l,stated that on the morning of the 14th inst, a soldier
'th Hussars came to him to register the
Oh th of White. He stated he was nut presentt
shit bee death of *his comrade. He also said he d
..111 he con attendance upon him previous to his death. Told
;re, e tr,Tuld not grant him a certificate unless some person
euint who was present at his death, and that he
1430 require a surgeon's certificate. lie went away
e would send the hospital sergeant. Told him to be
*there i:mek,sa hek Wanted to go out. He never told him that they
eke hurry too at the barracks, as they wanted to bury
6clikin at twelve o'clock. Sergeant Potter came at ten
Wi,th a certificate,' which the witness produced and
Its'e 41 stated that White was twenty-six years of
.;!Id that he died from inflammation of the heart.
7th ifs Signed " Samuel Warren, Surgeon to t.he
lieseis hussars." Some women, who were at work at wit-
that "lase at the time, exclaimed, on seeing the sergeant,
eei!.4,rd come to register the deaths of the man who had
'are, i"teged to death." He had some conversation with
Reeks which he stated that the man was
.flog.ged aboutfi:-e
toataNsiblietnfore but that lie was well again in a fortnight.
hi's private opinion of fl.oggin.g, when he stated,
With. UrPrise, that he considered it count not be done away
the b Considered that he had fulfilled the instructions of
aleirceistrar-oflice. Did not go to the barracks; but if a
We, ar ease occurred again, he should certainly go to them.
0, not required by his instructions to visit the place where
rerson died
u •
tat bent, the constable of the district, deposed to visiting
arracks, at the request of Mr. Pownall, a magistrate,
ce,,seFe be saw Dr. Warren, who stated that there was no ne-
-1441tY for an
nestinqust as the man died from pleurisy of the
tit: Did not e body.
teen WARLEY said the witness ought to have thegone and
that body. This was necessary when it was believed
dial a person had died from violence. Whenever there was
clination to show a body depend upon it there was some-
Lii! suspiciou.
‘ir. AKLEY here intimated that Colonel Whyte, Dr.
tharren, and the Adjutant might come into the room if they
°ll .4t proper.
whey availed themselves of the offer.
Richard Evans, the farrier, one of the men who inflicted
'l5 punishment, was en caed and exained—He said e
‘'its present at the punishment of White.m Received no in-
4tructions as to how he was to be flogged. Was informed by
~itteri that White was to be punished, and was ern-
"l°Yed as one of the men.. It. was usual for the
farriers to flog. He was senior farrier, and it was his duty
%,iel,o so. Received orders to go to the Riding-school by
R 'en, and from his Sergeant, Harris, and Sergeant-Major
elittet of th squad." When he first 'went in, the men had
llrined7 He and Critten tied White with the same cords.
antiT(l not think the ladder had been used before. His feet
Rids were tied. First saw " cats" on the floor of the
Crit, g-school ; they were brought in, in a bag, by Critten.
ill, 'en used the cat' first, and when he had done, he handed
steeatht to witness, and he used it. (The cats were produced,
stated e,e witness selected a light-handled one, which he
`Ass the one with which he inflicted the punishment.)
-Zeelej„Altt-nv—Take it in your hand, squeeze the ends be-
fingers ad see they are than ose on
'tliffereee Nat•
itnesse (afterif exam iningstron it),ger No; there
air,
tab"B--TllkttY—Did any one say anything to you? Wit.
he„-; adjutant said " go on," after.the first 25.1a5,,1ie5,
lour d,- it came to my turn, I was certain
.no one said Do
/7041 d No coin Aaint was made against him that he
air, isi°t tike hard enough, or that he struck
.too hard.
ithene.''AßLEY—How hard do you strike? Witness—That
4-1.1.°11 much upon the strength of the man. Some are
..trgerf•'au Others
('lttders, Akt/r—Do. you mean to say that you receive no
ite s,-.1.1(1 that you May strike light or hard as you please?
-"eaNee— l'ePeated. that he received no orders as to how the
,oleehre,t° be punished.
1415 e eit'‘ei Whyte said no order was given as to how the
kr.tort to be tie
ThtOtNa " ALILE.Y degct:fene.d. to examine the witness further, and
at '4ere(l that
'ebe e
a, e was in a. perilous position, as it appeared
at to punish the man as he thought proper.
mrinactiter must be further in -esti eated.
Igoe ors
then called Dr. 3.‘1.. 14'arren, who stated that he
had no ('‘-`-rees at the Edinburgh University,
jest th: medic ld. • •
w a ignit3. and dial he
Penett Ake-er informed Dr Warren that lie was not coil:1-
,4u, imlo,niake fin • statement and that whatever he did
br.-4"t might not be against
Btv War.. used him.
;cease". Icu said, lie was quite reaey to make his
4t.utr. w3r'rrerespective of the consequences.
0147 trial a then went on to state that he was no t present
e of White hut that he examined him carefulle,
i1e1111.4-eirle(lntha. t he w'as in a fit etate to undergo corporal
imprlsonMent, or otherwise. It was 'usual in
strparmy for a
sturgeon to be present at the infliction
Pee rat punislin b
.Onei w • leat.
4rt;al byte explained that the sentence of the court-
-1144
Was
ti•a
• Chief, acco
te led he iiiiitted to the Cornmander-m.tn.
etnekge" certiticate stating Iliac the man was in a tit state
-eeveeaayo Punishment. It afterwards went to the Judge-
-I,•4terilrilNeiere it was kept as part of the record.
44011 Continued—A seregicut Cook tba certificate