The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-02 00:00:00

who immediately left the bench. An application was
afterwards made to that gentleman by the press to be
allo;ved to take an exact copy of the prisoner's depo-
sition, but he stated that he had already parted with
the document, though "no doubt they would hear
more of it."

THE INDIAN ARMY.

MAJOR BARTLEMAN.

GENERAL ORDERS BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN INDIA.

Head Quarters, Simla, N0v.14, 1850.
At a general court-martial assembled in Fort Wil-
liam on Saturday, the 9th day of October, 1850,
Major John Bartleman, of the 44th Regiment Native
Infantry, was arraigned on the following charges :-
1. For scandalous infamous conduct, unbecoming
the character of an officer and a gmtlernan, in having,
at Barrackpore, under cloak of the almost paternal
authority with which he had been intruie.l by the
father of Mrs Shelt-n, the wif, of Lieutensnt Shelton,
38. h Rf.gitnent Native infaLtry, in pursuance of a
base eucleavour to seduce that aff,:etions of Out !ady,
written to her on or about the 221 of August, 1850,
a highly unbecoming note, and afterwards authorised
a person named H. P. Downing, an attorney, to
communicate clandestinely with Mrs. Sbeltoj in his
behalf. _ _

_____
2 For most disgraceful conduct in having at Bir-
rack pore, on the evening of the 24th of August, 1850,
persisted in entering the house of Lieutenant Shelton,
with the express purpose of speaking to that officer's
wife in his presence, in disregard of Lieutenant
Shelton's positive and repeated prohibition ; in having
persisted in remaining there in spite of Lieutenant
Shelton's remonstrances and opposition; in having,
while there, basely availed himself cf his superior
strength to inflict personal chastisement on Lieutenant
Shelton; and in having, shortly after leaving his
house, returned again in company with Lieutenant
Shelton's commanding officer, and in having taken
opportunity to communicate with Mrs. Shelton.
3. For disgraceful conduct in having at Barrack-
pore, a day or two after these occurrences, clan-
destinely received from Mrs. Shelton a note on the
subject of them, which note he brought forward at a
Court of Inquiry, on the 27th of August, 11150, as a
justification for his intruding himself into the Lieut.
Shelton's house, as alleged in the second charge.
Finding.—The Court, having maturely weighed
and considered all that has been adduced in support
of the prosecution, together with what the prisoner,
Major John Bartleman, of the 44th Regiment Native
Infantry, has urged in his defence, are of opinion
that he, the said Major John Bartleman, of the 44th
Regiment Native Infantry, is, on the—
First charge, Guilty of conduct unbecoming the
character of an officer and a gentleman, in having at
Barrackpore, in pursuance of an endeavour to seduce
the affections of Mrs. Shelton, wife of Lieut. Shelton,
38th Light Infantry, written to her, on or about the
22d of August, 1850, a highly unbecoming note;
but acquit him of the rest of this charge.
On the second charge, Guilty, with the exception of
the words basely availing himself of his superior
strength," of which they acquit him,
On the third charge, Guilty, with exception of the
words " disgraceful conduct," of which they acquit
him.

Sentence—The Court having found the prisoner,
Major John Bartleman, of the 44th Regiment Native
Infantry, guilty of the charges to the extent above set
forth, do now sentence him, the said Major John
Bartleman, of the 44th Regiment Native Infantry, to
be cashiered.
Confirmed.

C. J. Nermt, General, Commander-
in-Chief.
Head-quarters, Nov. 13, 1850.
RECOMMENDATION BY THE COURT.

The court having performed its duty, beg to bring
to the notice of the Commander in-Chief, that by the
Articles of War they have been compelled to pass
the extreme sentence of cashiering upon the prisoner;
but, considering the highly peculiar nature of this
investigation, the dangerously trying position in which
the prisoner found himself placed by circumstances
resulting from one fault, which, however reprehensi-
ble, has still not always been considered as necessa-
rily subversive of military discipline, the Court is
induced to recommend the long service of the pri-
soner to any favourable consideration which the cle-
mency of the Commander-in-Chief may be disposed
to extend.

REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE COMMANDER-IN-

CIIIEF.

The Court recommends the prisoner to the favour-
able consideration of the Commander-in-Chief, which
in plain terms is this—to restore Mr. Bartleman to
the command of the 44th Regiment, after the Court
has branded him as " Guilty of conduct unbecoming
the character of an officer and a gentleman" in one
instance; and in another, as "Guilty of disgraceful
conduct." I cannot understand the conduct of the
Court in thus endeavouring to throw upon the Com-
mander-in• Chief the odium of refusing that which its
own sentence rt ndera it impossible fur him to grant
without insulting the officers of the Bengal army in
general and those of the 44th in particular! I must
leave the members of the Ccurt to their own reflec-

Lions on such a proceeding, feeling confident that
many must have been adverse to this recommen-
dation.

C. J. NAPIER, General. Commander-in-
Chief, East Indies.

The name of Major J. Bartleman will be struck off
the rolls of the 44th Regiment Native Infantry from
the date of publication of this 'order at Barrackpore, of
which a report is to be made to the Adjutant-General
of the Army at Simla, and to the Assistant Adjutant••
General at the Presidency. _ _ _