The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-21 00:00:00

_.:~:

SHOOTING A SEDUCER.

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TRIAL OF AN OFFICER AT BOMBAY,

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The case of James Hunt, formerly sergeant-major
in the 14th Dragoons, who shot Cornet Browne
of the same regiment at Kirkee, near Poona,
for seducing his wife, has been tried in the Su-
preme Court of Bombay. Abcording to the evi-
dence given by Browne and two of his fellow-
officers, on the 27th of January last Hunt rode up
to the cornet's house, and, asking for a private in-
terview, was taken by Browne into his bedroom.,
Of all that followed we have two versions, neither
of which is it possible to corroborate, for the prisoner
and the prosecutor alone knew what happened.
Browne's statement is, in brief, that Hunt told him
he knew his guilt by finding one of his letters and
by his wife's confession, and called upon bim to
give up any letters from Mrs. Hunt he had in his
possession, There was some more conversation, in
the course of which Hunt drew out a pistol, and
said he had come over for the purpose of shooting
his betrayer, and he did not know whether he
should not do so yet. At last, on Browne owning
that Lieutenant Beamish probably was aware of
what had been going on, Hunt raised the pistol and
shot him. Hunt's story varies from this, in assert-
ing that Browne used taunting and insolent ex-
pressions, laughing at Hunt when he asked for the
" satisfaction of a gentleman," and saying he
" gloried" in having seduced Mrs. Hunt. Browne
swore distinctly on the trial that he had not said a
word during the interview to provoke the prisoner.
The following is an extract from the report of
the examination of the prosecutor :
Question by Mr. Hunt—Did you, during our
conversation, admit to me that youhad seduced my
wife ? A.—l think I did.
Question by Mr. Hunt—Why did you not admit
this in your deposition without cross-questioning ?
A—Because I had presumed that it was a well-
known fact that I had done so,
Question by Mr. Hunt—What reason bad you
to presume it was a well-known fact ; was it from
your having publicly boasted of it, or from what
cause ? A—lt was because Hunt told me he had
suspected it from the previous Sunday, and that
his wife's confession and her letter corroborated
his suspicions.

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Question by Mr. Hunt—Did you ever publicly
boast that you had seduced Mrs. Hunt ? A—l
decline answering that question.

Question by M. Bunt—Did you not more than
once publicly boast in the mess-rooms of the 6th
Inniskilling Dragoons and 14th Light Dragoons
that you had seduced Mrs. Hunt? A—l cannot
say I ever did so. If by publicly is meant before
two or more officers, I may have let out something
in an unguarded moment, but I never made a boast
of it.

Q—Talking of the matter before two or more
officers, do you consider it a boast or net ? A—
Ycs, I do consider it a boast.

Question by Mr. Hunt—Have you not stated to
several parties that your brother officers and others
had said to you that Mrs. Hunt was pure and im-
maculate, and that you had made up your mind to
seduce her ? I decline to answer that question.
Question by Mr. Hunt—Have you not, within
the last three days, admitted the subject of the
previous question to be true. A—l cannot remem.
ber.

The counsel for Mr. Hunt made rather a weak
defence, arguing that it was possible the pistol
went of by accident.
The jury having retired to their room for deli-
beration for more than an hour, returned with a
verdict of " Guilty," strongly recommending, how-
ever, the prisoner to mercy, on account of the
aggravated injury he had sustained.
Sir M. Sausse (the chief justice)—It is the pro-
vince of the jury to recommend a prisoner to mercy ;
and in this instance, In my opinion, yours is a very
proper recommendation. On which counts of the
indictment have you found the prisoner guilty ?
Foreman—The jury were not unanimous as to
which of the several intents the prisoner was
guilty of.
The jury were therefore directed to retire again
to their room, and returned in nearly half an hour
with the verdict—" Guilty of intent to do some
grievous bodily harm."
Sir M. Sausse—l think your recommendation to
mercy a very proper one, and I will not pass any
severe sentence upon the prisoner, as far as it is in
my power to carry out your recommendation.

THE SEN TENOR.
MONDAY, MARCH 26.
After the morning jury- were empannelled, the
Clerk of the Crown called up James Hunt to re-
ceive his sentence. The prisoner having appeared
at the bar, the _

Clerk of the Crown said—James Hunt, have you
anything to say before the sentence of the courvia
passed upon you ?
The Prisoner—My lord, it is impossible for any-
one to tell what I have suffered in body and mind
since this unfortunate occurrence—no one can say
what has been my sufferings, and how much my
health has given way since it came to my know-
ledge that Browne had seduced my wife; and,
under all these circumstances, begging your consi-
deration, I throw myself upon the mercy of the
court.

Ills lordship, in passing sentence, said—Prisoner
at the bar, you have been found guilty by the jury
with shooting at one William Sandvs Browne with
intent to do him some grievous bodily harm. This
is a crime which for some years ago you would
have forfeited your life; but the laws were subse-
quently altered, so that now a sentence for such an
offence cannot exceed transportation for life. The
offence is considered next to that of taking away
life, one for which there is a severe penalty ; but I
am very happy in the present case, from the-nature
of it, from the very strong recommendation to
mercy of the jury, and from the very high and
honourable character which you have received, to
be relieved from that painful duty of passing so
severe a sentence. It is a painful duty of the
court to be compelled to pass a sentence upon
a gallant soldier of his country ; but it is the pain-
ful duty of the court to teach others by example
the enormity of this offence, by carrying out the
law. In the present case the jury have most
urgently recommended you to the mercy of the
court; and I can see that the jury have given that
strong recommendation on the account of the
offence not being premeditated, but one that arose
on the moment, from the excited state which you
were in, consequent on the injury you have suf-
fered from the knowledgei
of the treachery of the
prosecutor. I think tis the fairest inference to
draw from the evidence in this case, that had it not
been for that last answer the offence would not
have been committed. You had, I think, from the
aggravation you received, obtained all the satis-
faction you required, and I can only consider it
en important circumstance in connection with
the case, You had obtained all the letters
which your wife had written to Browne, and
could not have looked for more, and I am strongly
of opinion,-that had you stopped there, and asked
no further questions, you would not receive the sen-
tence you are about to receive to day. But it was
impossible for you to stop there, and when he of-
fered to let youinspect the drawers personally,
having satisfied yourself that you had secured all
the letters in his possession, yo'i then asked if any
other person was acquainted with the fact that he
had had criminal connexion with your wife. You
were no doubt desirous to screen your wife's guilt,
not only for your own sake, but for her own sake,
and for the sake of her daughter. But when you
were then informed that at least one person was
aware of it, and perhaps more, you Were under the
impression that that would be your ruin. I believe
that at that time you must have felt the painful
relation in which you were placed, and the painful
relation in which you would be placed by the scoffs
and sneers of the officers and others with whom you
were acquainted, and smarting under this thought,
and having brought that instrument of death with
you, you made use of it; and that you afterwards
went out into the verandah, telling what you had
done, and then going for the doetor, can only be
explained by the remorse which so soon followed
after the act. These facts all lead me to believe
that you did not act under premeditation. But the
punishment I will have to pass upon you will be
long enough for you to reflect upon the enormity
of the offence of which you have been found guilty.
Others must be taught that if they suffer from vio-
lent wrongs, the law points out the mode of redress
for those wrongs—the law will not allow them
thus to redress their wrongs as they think fit.
The sentence of the court upon you is, that you
be sentenced to the County Gaol for the term of 12
calendar months, with ono week's solitary confine-
ment at the end of every three months.
The prisoner, in addressing the court, spoke in a
loud clear voice, and during the passing of the sen-
tence perfect silence reigned in the crowded court-
room.

There is a great popular sympathy in India for
Mr. Hunt, and a memorial has already been drawn
up, praying for a remission of his sentence. The
Bombay Standard says Mr. Hunt had earned
the esteem and regard of the whole regiment, the
officers of which, upon his retiring therefrom a few
months ago, presented him with a handsome testi-
monial. He is a soldier who has gallantly served
his country, and would seem, until this man
crossed his path, to have been unusually happy in
his dowestic relations, his wife being a woman of
education, and of great personal attractions. The
selfish wrong done to him by Browne has, of course,
stirred the deepest feelings of indignation in the
community. It is felt that the real criminal is at
large, and the victim is in the gaol. Surely it would
be well in a
_ease like this for her Majesty to be

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY le; v ING APRIL 21, 1860.

moved graciously to extend pardon to one who has
deserved well of his country ; and at the same time
to mark her displeasure at the crime which sent him
there; by directing Cornet Browne's name to be re-
moved from the army list, and with it that of an-
other, who seems to have played the infamous part
of panderer to his guilt. We look naturally to her
Majesty to redress a wrong which the law fails to do;
and the judicious manifestation of a regard for
public feeling in this case would go far to fortify
the resolution of future juries in dealing with these
painful and embarrassing cases."