The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-25 00:00:00

Erskine, sent as prisoners on board the Algiers and

Queen.

By the Court—The prisoners gave only trivial
reasons for not coming on deck in answer to the pipe

when the watch was called. Knew their excuses

were frivolous, but they were perfectly respectful
in their manner when replying to me. They did not
come up from below until called by a non-commis-
sioned officer and a commissioned officer also. All
the marines of the starboard watch ultimately came
up together, but it was nearly a quarter of an hour
after the pipe went for them to do so. All the non-

commissioned officers fell in when the watch was

piped at o'clock, and exerted themselves to get

.he men on deck.

Commander Waddilove, being sworn and exa-
mined, corroborated Capt, Katon on the chief points
of his evidence. In answer to questions by the
Court, the witness stated that the reasonable ex-
cuses accepted from those of the marines who were
dismissed to their duties were, in one instance, the
man stated he had been late in leaving his quarters,
which had prevented his answering the pipe, and
as there was a doubt on the matter, he was allowed

he benefit of it. In other cases some of the men

stated they went to their quarters on the gangway
or forecastle, but finding no one else there, wont
away again. These men were allowed to return to
their duty, as were any others whose answers gave
any reason to believe they had not wilfully absented

themselves when piped on deck.
James Jago, boatswain's mate, proved piping the
starboard watch to fall in on the afternoon of the

oth inst., but could not say it was hoard in tho

marines' messes, as there was great confusion at
the time, the " retreat" having been beat from

quarters.

Thomas Ayling, boatswain's mate, proved piping
the same call as the last witness on the upper and
main decks. The drummer had just beat the
" retreat" from quarters, and the pipe might not
have beon heard all over the lower deck, there being
much noise from some coming up the hatchway,
and others going down.
William Atkinson, boatswain's mate, piped the
same call as the last witness at the fore hatchway
of the lower deck.
Brigadier Innes, Royal Marine Artillery, deposed

to having :mustered the starboard watch of ma-
rines before quarters on the afternoon of the 10th
inst. None of the watch then answered. Mustered
them again after quarters. On reaching the port
gangway, the usual place for the watch to muster,
found three men there, and took their names by
order of Lieut. Story. Afterwards went on the
lower deck- to call the other men. Called the re-
mainder of the watch by name, but there was no
answer, nor did he see any of the men on the lower
deck. Went on the upper deck, and found a part
of the watch had fallen in. The remainder were
coming from the fore part of the ship.
By the Court—The prisoners gave no reason for
not answering the pipe to come on deck, nor did
witness ask them any. They were about four or
five minutes longer than usual in coming up. None
of the prisoners answered to their muster. Heard
no grumbling among the men on the subject of
leave during the supper hour. Heard the pipe for
the starboard watch to muster after the retreat was
beat as witness came on deck by the after ladder.
The Court at this stage adjourned for a time, and,
on reopening, proceeded with the examination of
witnesses.
Captain Louis, Royal Marine Light Infantry,
was the next witness examined. His evidence in
chief wa.4 merely. corroborative of that already
given. In answer to questions by Rear-Admiral
Erskine, the witness said—The men of my detach-
ment requested to speak with me on the morning
of the 9th inst. I saw them under the aft deck.
They wished to know when they were likely to get
their leave, as their money was being either spent
or stolen from them. I told them I had not the
slightest doubt but that their long leave would be
very shortly granted to them, but it was impossible
to say more, yet I believed I could pledge myself
for it. They expressed theniselves perfectly satis-
fied, and, I think, made a remark that " If we
could only get leave we would work like slaves."
At this time there were 20 marines on shore, whose
leave had expired at eight o'clock that morning.
The longest time any of these men overstayed their
leave was about 50 hours. 18 marines would have
been 12 per cent. of the Edgar's detachment.
By Captain Vansittart—The conduct of the pri-
soners prior to the 10th inst. has been " good," and
" very good." Six of them wear good conduct
badges. When the per-centage of men on leave
has been regulated by order, it has been the custom
on board the Edgar to allow no man leave ashore
until his comrade had returned from his leave.

This closed the case for the prosecution, and the
Court, after closing for a short time, called upon
the prisoners for their defence. Short statements
were made by Mathews, Doidge, Gunston, Parker,
Frickey, and Mooney, and witnesses were called for
the defence. The Court then again closed to con-
sider their finding, which, on the Court being re-
opened, was read by the Deputy judge-Advocate,
and was to the effect that having deliberately and
maturely considered the evidence for the' prosecu-
tion, and also what had been adduced in the pri-
soners' defence, they found that a spirit of insubor-
dination had existed on board her Majesty's ship
Edgar on the 10th inst. among a portion of the
ship's company, and further found the whole of the
prisoners, with the exception of Alfred Gunston,
guilty on both charges, and Alfred Gunston guilty
on the second charge ; they therefore sentenced the
prisoners found guilty on both charges to 12
months' imprisonment in Winchester gaol, and
Alfred Gunston to nine months' imprisonment ill
the same gaol.
The Court will resume its sittings this morning,
four courts-martial yet remaining to be held on
portions of the Edgar crew.

THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY

ACCIDENT.

STATE OF. THE SUFFERERS, &C.

The fearful accident which took place on the line
of the Great Northern Railway, at Hatfield, 011
Monday morning, has resulted in much more seri-
ous consequences than were at first anticipated, se,
in addition to Mr. Pym and the unfortunate plate'
layer, who were killed on the spot, it appears that
several of the passengers are suffering from COl"
cussion of the brain,. caused by the injuries they
sustained, and it is not improbable that in some
cases fatal results may ensue. The injuries sue"
tamed by the deceased Mr. Pym were of such $1
frightful character as to be almost beyond descrir
sion, and it is believed that they were caused by the
splinters of the smashed carriage, in which hewel
riding. He was literally cut in twain upward, en
although alive when picked up from the debris °
the shattered carriages, death in two or three
minutes afterwards took place.
Mr. Osbaldiston, surgeon, of Hatfield, was ,04e
first medical gentleman on the spot ; and NV
half-an-hour from the time of the accident, the tel
graph having done its work, Mr. Kirkwood, 01
Euston-road, the surgeon of the Great Norther:
Railway Company, and other medical gentletee,n
from the vicinity of the London terminus at King a
cross, arrived at Hatfield by special train, 013,.f
minutely examined and attended to the injuries °f
the sufferers.
The Rev. W. T. Tweddle, who is a Wesleleo
minister, residing at Wandsworth, being, next -1,1
those killed, the most seriously injured, was pleceot
under the especial care of Mr. Kirkwood, who! ,
the rev. gentleman's earnest entreaty, after dressl
his wounds, had him brought to town, and eost
veyed him in his own carriage to his residenee.ps
Wandsworth. The Rev. Mr. Tweddle's injure
were a frightful cut behind the left ear, and veri°,,rd,
wounds and contusions about the head, face, %a
body, with concussion of the brain. Mr. Kirkw;,
visited the rev. gentleman at Wandsworth tsv,,,i r.
yesterday, and reports him to be going on f9;c°-re
ably, but by no means out of danger. There aro
some other cases of a similar nature under the Sato
of Mr. Osbaldiston, and several who proceeded
their own homes, but were not much injured. tit,
With respect to the actual cause of the accidete,
it is believed, from examination, that the PIE/ of
layers, in repairing the line, must have left erieup
the keys of the sockets, into which the rails t'veli
above the level of the line, and not properly
home, as it appears the engine took a perfect in
which could only have been caused by comie,g_vei
contact with some fixed substance above the
of the rails themselves, which the tremendous enLer
at once displaced. The escape of the engine..drleie,
and fireman is looked upon as a perfect
4
Mr. S. Clarke and the directors are making a I'
investigation into the cause of the calamity.