The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-24 00:00:00

CLERICENWELi:

Mary Costello and Thomas Pelle, who have been
several times before convicted of robbery, were charged
with stealing a quantity of wearing apparel, the pro-
perly. of Mr. Righeth, of No. 1, Richmond-terrace, and
of Mr. Hill, who resided close to Mr. Righeth.
It appeared that a constable of the N division met the
female prisoner carrying a large bundle, and inquired
what the bundle contained, when her answer being un-
satisfactory, he took her to the station-house, where
the articles were soon afterwards identified by the ser-
vants of Messrs. Righeth and Hill. Upon the prisoners'
lodgings being searched a quantity of other property in
a wet state, as if taken from a line after washing, and a
pair of shoes which the male prisoner had on his feet
corresponded exactly with the foot-marks in the gardens
of Messrs. Hill and Righeth, from whence the property
had been stolen.

At the request of the police, Mr. COOMBE remanded
the prisoner for a week, in order that further inquiries
might be made as to the property found at the prisoner.
odgings.
THE

TRIAL OF CAPTAIN BULL.
The Court assembled on Monday morning at Chatham
Barracks, according to adjournment, in order to hear
the prisoner's defence. Contrary to general expectation,
witnesses were called both by Major Shadforth and Cap
tain Bull.
On the opening of the Court the prisoner called wit-
nesses .to state the opinion they might have formed of
his character, both as an officer and a gentleman.
Captain G. Edwards, 57th Regiment, said—l have
known Captain Bull since the early part of last year. I
always considered him gentlemanly and correct. I was
intimately acquainted with him about a year in India,
and by that means had an opportunity of forming a cor-
rect opinion of him. I always considered him very
obedient to all orders he received in the way of military
duty.

Captain W. F. Harvey, 57th Regiment, said—l have
known Captain Bull since I joined the 57th Regiment in
1845. During that time I formed a high opinion of him
as an officer and a gentleman. I have never seen or
known anything of his disposition leading at all to the
subversion of military discipline.
Captain Langford Croft, 57th Regiment, said—l have
had the pleasure of Captain Bull's acquaintance since he
joined the 57th Regiment. I consider him a gentleman
and a man of honour, and a person disposed to be on
good terms with his brother officers. I never knew him
to assume a position subversive of military discipline, or
manifest a disposition to usurp authority that dia nut
belong to him.
The accused then handed in his defence, which was
read ley the Deputy Judge• Advocate. It embraced the
various points connected with the evidence, and was at
great length.
It commenced by thanking Major General Brotherton
and the members of the Court for tho kind and attentive
indulgence they had shown towards him in the investi-
gation of the case. Having already engaged their atten-
tion f.r a considerable time, he would on the present oc-
casion occupy as little time as possible. He wished first
to direct the attention of the Court to the letter written
by the Town-Major of Cape Town, which had been pro-
duced by Major Shadforth, and used as evidence against
him. That letter contained an order to release Major
Shadforth, and place him (Captain Bull) in arrest: al-
though that document hail been produced in evidence,
there was no proof that the signature to it was that of the
Town-Major. He thought the Court attached undue
importance to it. It was evident from the letter that a
court of inquiry had assembled, but that was no Fool'
it was a just one. He wished, however, to cast no re-
flections on the members of that Court, which was com-
posed only of three officers; but he did not think that a
full investigation had taken place, for that Court was
only engaged three hours in deliberation, whilst the pre-
sent, which was one of a very similar character, had ex-
tended over a period of 30 hours. In directing the at-
tention of the Court to the evidence of Captain Stanley,
he dwelt upon that portion wherein ha stated- that he
would not leave his cabin to join him in what lie
considered a most irregular proceeding; to assist him,
by his presence, in assuming the command of the
regiment. On this point he dwelt with much force, sub-
mitting that if Captain Stanley believed Major Shad-
forth was sober, he should have informed him that such
was the case, and thus have endeavoured to avert what
he considered a violation of military discipline. lie
expressed himself in strong terms on that point, and
said he would with confidence leave the Court to draw
its own inference. He next directed their attention to
the evidence in support of the defence. With regard to
that of Mr. Allen, the commander of the vessel, who
had deposed that he say(' Major Shadforth come on
board, fall down on the deck, and afterwards stagger
into the cuddy, he begged to assure the Court that he
had no feelings of animosity, nor any desire to injure
Major Shadforth or the other two officers. Turning
aside from the evidence, would it not seem that if Major
Shadforth was not in the state sworn to by the witnesses,
he would have come into the cuddy when called
upon ? Was it not his bounden duty to do
so ? which, if he had done, he assured the
Court that he would have found no stronger supporter
than himself. The only inference in his (Captain Bull's)
unbiassed judgment was, that Major Shadforth was
iiinacdanpoactitbye,
oauwta.reloffsuhetha the
at
case, preventedi‘iait)r hissh
a comingdfort h
eanndtht

might, at that time, have repelled with certain success
cabin bin
not
sent h e told
for
hhi thatm. ue
always respected Major Shadforth, and always paid him
a
dtheen
eech
oa rfgte
etuhteenn a broughtd
sagtahine
ts: hwiams.
nln.l
mtphoer
teavni t-
part, where the witness stated he was called up by. Major
hSeh addi
dforntoht,
want, ohni
mg o;in
that deference which was due to a commanding officer.
It had been stated that he had been reprimanded by the
major on the occasion of his leaving the barque Mary
Anne, whilst on duty, to go on board her Majesty's
tghattohe his
had
steamer Thunderbolt, Now he could assert with truth
that that reprimand engendered no feeling of resentment
or malice against the major. lie had, however, had his
own feelings of remorse and regret at leaving the Mary
intimatel
e dby
y
with
knew
Anne as he had done on that occasion. He never
existingof any animosity between Major Shadforth and
hMimr..Alrleien,knnieirwwnats
thehe particularlyhtlmmeseltfhathe w
as
e ai
Cap-
tain Allen that he was taking a responsible position. He
was called from his bed by the captain of the ship, who
demanded his aid to protect the vessel from the fearful
risk of tire. Had he remained quiet, and anything had
Asoccurred,lpable
An titte,w
eh representedtiel'ed'm''ttuls,l)tdthhtaeatvlvoel have
himlieennbcygt-oautikiliiietti -min: f'
striticeteuri euired aof r
Ika trf crimi-
nality,aatervrye.
consileration what to do. It was impossible to say what
a man may do who is deprived of his rvason. On such
a report being made of the state of a commanding
officer, was the next in command to be a passive sp,c-
-" ? If he had remained quiet, it was impossible to
t might have occurred. The captain might have
tier his crew, quarrelling might have ensued,
' have been said to him for remaining
1 have been made amenable for neg-
-dyed that the master had god
fie had hinatelf called Lieute-
had told the Court of the
He thought the Court
-iircumstances, that the
ruceeded to Major
nination to place
-•-n of the ac-
'Own he

tato.
say whi,
called togeti„
and what wont,
passive ? He wont,
lect of duty. He con,
grounds for his re,'ort. -
nant Grant as a witness, wli
noise going on in the cuddy.
could not consider, under such
ship was in safety. When he p_
Shadforth's cabin, he went with a deter',
him, if drunk, in arrest ; if sober, to tell hi,
cusation that had been made against him ; ana
saw him the state he was in was but to:,-; ~vdent.
maintained he had infringed no orders to th
of military discipline, but that he had acted in
c so..
cordauee with military law. Captain Bull then referre

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