The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-17 00:00:00

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MILITAitY 'FLOGIk
HOUNSLOW.
HOUNSLOW, WEDNESDAY NIGHT.-1
days an extraordinary feeling of excitem
in this town and the surrounding neighbourhood, in conse-
quence of a report getting afloat that one of the privates of
the 7th Royal Hussars, at present quartered at Hounslow
Barracks, had died in consequence of the severity of the
flogging he reosived shortly before, by order of a court-•
martial.
From the great secresy which is always maintained on the
part of the military authorities respecting occurrences
within the barracks, the actual particulars of the affair haws,
not been allowed to transpire beyond the barrack walls, ate.
consequently all-that is at present known is rumour and re-.,
port.
From the inquiries instituted by our reporter, it appear&
that the first knowledge of any of the privates of the 7th_
Royal Hussars having been subject to corporeal punishment,...
since the arrival of the regiment at Hounslow from Ipswich,.
about two months since, was on Monday evening, when it•
began to be whispered about that several soldiers had been_
flogged, and that one of them had died the next morning.
No credence was,however. at the time placed upon the state-
ment, and all who heard it considered it unfounded. Om
Tuesday morning the r: ports was revived with greater con-
fidence, with the addition that the body of the deceased sol-
dier was to be buried without any inquest, on Wednesday
(this day) afternoon, at three o'clock, in Heston churchyard,
in which parish the barracks is situated.
In the course of the forenoon the reports having reached
the ears of the local magistrates, and of the parochial (stabs-
, rities, official inquiries were instituted by Inspector Law-
rence, T division, and Mr. Brent, butcher, of Heston, the re-
sult of which was, that communications from both were, in
the course of the afternoon, forwarded to Mr. Wakley, M3'.,
coroner for' Middlesex, who immediately issued his warrens
for holding an inquest on the body. The news that there was
to be a public inquiry into the matter flew like wildfire
through the town, and completely silenced those who disbe-
lieved
the truth of the reports.
To-day the forthcoming inquiry is the all-absorbing topic
of conversation, and it is looked forward to with the greatest
anxiety by all well-informed persons as the stepping-stone to
the total abolition of the obnoxious system of corporeal pu-
nishment in the army.
Persons whose business takes them frequently to the bar-
racks, state to-day that the deceased soldier, whose name
has even not transpired, was flogged about five weeks since;
that after the infliction of the /ash he was immediately
removed to the barrack hospital, where he remained
' until his death, which took place on Saturday last ; and
that subsequent to his death two military surgeons had
been sent down from town by order of the Hansa
Guards, and had opened the body, and found the cause. .
of death to be ossification of the -heart, which had bursts
Others as confidently assert that the flogging was more re-
cently inflicted than five weeks since, that the offence that
the deceased, who was a recruit who had only joined Oa
regiment about three months, had committed, was striking
his sergeant violently across the breast with a poker; that
he was tried by court-martial, and ordered to receive lbo
lashes; that the punishment was, as is customary, inflicted
411ftlie presence (if Ttise. surgeon of the regiment, and the corn-,
mending officer (Colonel Whyte); that after about 70 or 80;
lashes had been received, the surgeon declared that say fur-
ther punishment would be dangerous, but that the com-
manding officer directed that it should be continued; sod
that the surgeon upon finding that retired from the scene
and interfered no further. It is also stated confidently that;
the deceased, shortly before he expired, exclaimed, “ I am a,
murdered man." _ _ .

There is also a report that there are two other of the pri-
vates of the same regiment at present in the hospital for cure
from floggings, one of whom of the name of Mathewson is
not expected to recover.
The above are the principal of the reports and staternenta
in circulation, but the real facts will not be publicly knairla
until after the inquest is concluded.
THE INQUEST.
This evening, at eight o'clock, a highly respectably jury or
thirteerfinhabitafits of the parish of Heston were empannelled
before Mr. Wakle,y, M.P., coroner for Middlesex, in one of
the parlours of the George IV. Inn, Hounslow-heath, to in•
quire into the circumstances attendant upon the death of
Frederick White, aged twenty-six years, the private of the.
7th Royal Flussars, whose death it is alleged has been caused
by the effects of the corporeal punistimeut he had received
under an order of court-martial. _ _ _

The room was crowded to excess by the respectable inba -
bitants of the neighbourhood, and the officers of the regi-
ment, anxious to witness the proceeding. Near the coroner
were Mr. G. Bailey, of !Unwell, Chairman of the Brentford
bench of magistrates, and the Rev. H. S. Trimmer, another
magistrate, and rector of Heston.
Inspector Lawrence, T division, was also in attendance to
assist the civil authorities in their inquiry.
The CORONER—Previous to the jury being sworn, inquire
if any of the gentlemen whose names have been called are in
any way connected with the barracks, as they had better not
form part of the jury.
Several gentlemen replied that they were, and were ex.
cused.
Thirteen jurors having been sworn, and Mr. J. Bird ap-
pointed foreman, the Coroner accompanied them to the
barracks, which was about half a mile distant, to view the
body of the unfortunate deceased. It was in the coffin, and
on being turned round on its face, the back, from the nape of
the neck down to the loins, presented a deep purple appear-
ance. In the middle of the back, between the shoulders,
where the greatest inflammation had evidently been, a great
piece of skin, nine inches one way, and eight inches the other,
had been cut away.
The CORONER inquired where the skin was, and by whom
it had been cut or, and was told it had been cut off by Dr.

Read, who had been sent down by the Horse Guards to per-
form the post mortem examination of the body, and it should
be looked for. Much delay was occasioned by the search,
and eventually a piece of skin was brought, which, however,
was not a fifth part of the whole.
After an absence of nearly an hour, the Coroner and jury
returned to the inquest room, and their names having been
called over,
The CORONER inquired if any of the relatives of the de-
ceased were present in the room, or had been informed of the
inquiry ?
The Adjutant of the regiment replied, that they were not,
neither bad he informed them on the subject.
The Coaor.faa inquired if any one had written to them ?
The Adjutant said he believed not, as tlf:+y only knew from
the deceased's attestation where they. were to be found.
The CoKONta then addressed the jury, and said it must
be apparent to them, from the number of witnesses that must
nest-earny 4C tzumucu, Limb it, ATJUILL to'
finish the inquiry that night, however late they migbt sit ;
and, therefore, in his opinion, it would be better at on.le to
adjourn, so that they might have all the witnesses in
tendance, and finish at one sitting. By doing so the rela--
tlons of the unfortunate man would also have an oppor-
tunity to be present, as he doubted not that the publicity
which would be given to the inquiry in the newspapers
would cause them to be made acquainted with it. It would
be also necessary to summon several witnesses from London,
viz., Dr. Read arid Mr. Hall, It was essentially necessary that
Dr. Read should be present, as he was the person who had re-
moved theskin from the back of the deceased, not a fifth part
of which had been found, and what was found would not fit
the back. It was also necessary that a medical man, who
was totally unconnected with the army, should immediately
see and examine the body, and he would leave it to the jury
ttourtdbeteerreamyin,etwbahto
thtletatearsguergoneoenbesshetandd abbee. He w
nld
beagoeunitd onlyleman
on whoseopicion the jury felt they could place confidence,
who was quite unconnected with the case, «Rd who would
give an impartial and unbiassed judgment on what he saw.
The military authorities might also appoint one who would
have every facility afforded to do the same.
After considerable discussion, the jury unanimously fixed
on Mr. Horatio Day, surgeon, of Isleworth, who was ap!.
pointed.
The CORONER then, addressing Dr. Warren, the surgeon
of the regiment, said, Sir, I shall rely upon your readering
my constable and the police-inspector every assistance it.the
summoning of the necessary witnesses at the barracks, ,ia
order to show the real cause of death, whatever it may be.'
Dr. Warren promised to do so.
The CORONER. then bound over the jurors in a re-
cognizance of 20/. each, to Attend on a day next week to
resume the inquiry, and at ten o'clock the investigation was
adjourned.

DEATHS IN THE METROPOLIS.—The total number
of deaths registered in the metropolis during the week end-
ing Saturday, July 11, was 901 ; of these BS6 were deaths
from disease, showing a decrease of 21 in the number of
deaths from disease as compared with the week preceding.
EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY.-0110 of the most extra-
ordinary journeN s we ever heard of is that of a German,
named Dr. Barth, who arrived at Alexandria, by land, from
Tunis, on the 16th June. He was brought in wounded upon
a camel, accompanied by his servants and some Bedouins.
At seven days' distance from this city he was assaulted by
five Arabs, three of them on horseback, and wounded by a
ball in the thigh. His Tunisian dragoman also was wounded
in the shoulder. It is very extraordinary that a man should
run the risk of passing through a desert country,. infested
by assassins, armed with only one gun and a few pistols, al-
though he had seven persons in his suite.--211-a/ta Paper.
FIRE AT FURNIVAL'S INN.—On Wednesday morning, a
few minutes before one, an alarm of fire was giveanchlgi the
watchman at Furniva,l's Inn, which en
oFfatrrihengfidrenin-esntrietewt aansddlilscoolbvoerrnedentghiante-treainmkjs.yoOnren Thee arrival
No. 1, in the inn, occupied as chant-
floor
bersbfyro3nrtro. fwthhietmhoouse7 was on fire. Mr. it tap-
nears, having arrived borne, was proceeding h
atong the room
with a lighted candle in his hand, when his foot slipped, and
in his fall he upset a bottle of eau de Cologne, which ignited
from the flame of the candle,• and the room was instantly
in a blaze. Mr. Whitmore made his escape from the room/
and received no personal inconvenience saving the alarm.
By the exertions of the firemen, the flames sere confined to
the room in which they broke out, and were soon ex-
tinguished. - .
A ROGUE CAUGHT AND RELEASED.--We learn
from the Boston Star that an Englishman, named-A. T.
Leman, a mahogany-dealer in London, after swindling his
creditors out of about 90,000 dollars, left for this country,
and arrived here in the ship Joshua Bates. One of his
creditors followed him in the Caledonia, and learning that
Leman had offered to Mr. Henshaw, broker, in Boston,
5,000/. in Bank of England notes for sale, he ferreted hlm
out, and obtained from him 10,0001. in Bank of England
notes and soverhzns, and allowed him to escape.—New
York Journal of Commerce.
SHOCKING ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE AND CHILD*
MlittDEn..—Eliza Allen, a woman about thirty years of egg,
irf:s charged at Marlborough-street Police-court with having
jti.t attempted to destroy herself and her child, a little girl •
about five or six years of age. A gentleman residing in
Titchborne-street said he was in Hyde-park about' two
o'clock yesterday, when he saw the woman at the bar with £
child struggling and screaming in her arms. The woma%
was endeavouring to throw the child into the water, but thi
little creature, in its terror, resisted the woman so effectually
as to prevent her carrying her intentions into effect. The
woman, finding she could not accomplish her purpose, fell
down in a fit. Mr. Maltby tallied the wretched woman, who
was weeping bitterly, what she had to say. She replied,
" Distress made me do this; I have nothing but troubles
before me." Mr. Maltby directed the police to take the
child to St. George's \Vol khouse, with a recommendation to
have it properly taken care of until next Tuesday, when the
mother is to be brought up for re-examination.
IRON TUNNEL ACROSS THE IIENAI STRAITS. -- Mr.
Stephenson, in order to set at rest the doubts expressed re-
specting the practicability of this scheme, has had an iros.
model of his intended tunnel, 20 feet long and 4 feet high,
made and fixed at an engineering factory at Millwall. Yes-
terday extensive experiments were made on it in the presence
of several distinguished scientific gentlemen, with the most
satisfactory results.
LAUNCH OF A NEAPOLITAN MAIL PACKET.—Wednes-
day afternoon a very superior iron steam-ship, named the
Vesuvius, and intended for the Neapolitan Steam Navigation
Company. was launched from the iron ship building yard of
Messrs. Ditchburn and Mare, Blacks-vall. Her length be-
tween perpendiculars is 180 feet ; keel for tonnage, 164 feet
41 inches; extreme breadth, 26 fest ; and depth in hold, 15
feet; tonnage, /.91 to"s; and engines fitted by Mitadaliry.
LORD JOHN RUSSELL.—The Noble Lord was elected
an Elder Brother of the Trinity Corporatio in v Twledzir
lut, ... '