The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-13 00:00:00

COURTS-MARTIAL AT PLYMOUTH.

Two courts-martial were held at Plymouth on
Wednesday. The first was on John Dillon, aprivate,
Royal Marines, charged with striking Lieut, Daly,
Royal Marine Artillery, on the evening of the sth
January ; the second on John Martin, gunner, Royal
Marines, for attempting to strike Lieut. Daly on the
same occasion.

The Court consisted of Sir Thomas Pasley, Rear-
Admiral of the White, second officer in command ol
her Majesty's ships and vessels at Plymouth, presi-
dent ; Capt. Robert Spencer Robinson, of the Wel:
lington ; Capt. Woodford John- Williams, Roya
Adelaide ; Capt. Arthur William Jerningham, Cam
bridge; Capt. Edward Southwell Sotheby, C. 8.,
Conqueror ; Capt. Arthur Cumming, Emerald;
Capt. Arthur Eardley Wilmot, C. 8., Sanspareil ;
Capt. Henry Charles Otter, Porcupine ; and Capt.
Edward King Barnard, Nile.
Capt. H. J. Lacon, Royal Albert, prosecuted; Mr.
W. Eastlake officiated as judge-advocate.
Cuthbert Featherstone Daly, First-Lieutenant
Royal Marine Artillery, was sworn.
Were you officer of the guard on the sth ol
January ?—I was.
State to the Court what time you went your
rounds, and what took place.—l went down about
a quarter to 11 p.m. On reaching the main-
deck the prisoner rushed from behind two guns
and knocked me down by a violent blow in the
mouth. I called to the sentry, who assisted the
sergeant of the guard in apprehending the prisoner.
From the effects of that blow was not one of your
teeth knocked out ?—Not knocked out, but it was
so damaged that I was was obliged to have it ex-
tracted.
What part of the maiudcck was it ?—Abreast
the main hatchway.
Which side of the deck ?—Port.
Did you see the prisoner between the guns
before he rushed upon you P—No.
Was prisoner under punishment at the time ?
Not that I know of,
Was he under the sentry's orders P—No.
Did he strike you with any weapon, or with
his fist P—With his fist.

Was the sergeant of the guard near you P—Yes.
Where was the sergeant of the guard when pri-
soner struck you ?—Hc rushed between me and the
prisoner.
Did the prisoner say anything at the time he
struck you P—No.
How was he dressed ?—ln blue serge.
Did you have any occasion to find fault with the
prisoner on any former occasion ?—I do not remem-
ber ever having reported the prisoner for anything
serious.

Was the sergeant carrying the lantern at the
time ?—He was.

By the Prisoner—Was the sergeant ahead of you,
or to the right ?—Ahead.
The prisoner denied this.
James Davey, lance-sergeant, Royal Marines, ex-
amined—Were you sergeant of the guard on the sth
of January P—Yes.
State to the Court at what time you went round
with Lieut. Daly, and what took place. I was
called on between the sth and 6th bells in the first
watch to go round, and as I was going along the
port side of the main deck, between the tank and
the galley, the prisoner rushed from between two
guns and struck. Lieut. Daly in the face. I imme-
diately secured him and called upon the sentry and
an acting ship's corporal and took him on the middle
deck, before Captain Watson, when he was placed
in irons.
Were you by the side or in advance of Lieut.
Daly P—ln advance.
What time elapsed before the sentry came to
your assistance P—A minute.
Did the prisoner attempt to escape ?—No.
Was there sufficient light on the deck to distin-
guish persons ?—Quite.
Was any one with Lieut. Daly besides you P—No
person.
What sentries were near the place P—One at the
port galley and one at the tank.
What side was the sentry of the tank ?—Star
board.
Was it in sight of the sentry at the cabin-door ?
—Yes.
Was prisoner under punishment at the time ?
Not that I am aware of.
Do you know why prisoner was on the main deck
at that particular time P—No.
Had he been under punishment a short time pre-
vious ?—Not that I am aware of.
Was prisoner alone ?—Yes, between two guns ;
there was another man amidships.
On the same side of the deck ?—Yes.
Did you hear prisoner say anything when he
struck Lieut. Daly ?—I did not.
Anything afterwards P—l did not.
Was the prisoner sober ?—He appeared to be
when brought before Capt. Watson, on the middle
deck, immediately afterwards.
By the Prisoner—lf you were in advance of
Lieut. Daly and carrying a lantern sufficient to
show a light to know any one, how is it you did
not speak to me or the other man ?—I called out to
you twice, " Dillon."
By the Court—Was this before prisoner struck
Lieut. Daly P—After.
Did you see prisoner before he struck Lieutenant
Daly P—No.
Had you passed him ?—I cannot say.
Did you see him strike Lieut. Daly
k?
—lckditieut.
Did the blow struck by prisoner no
Daly down P—Yes.
Wm. Reed, private, Royal Marines, examined,
We
of
the
6th Were
oyfo
jua eunatriyn
,e lb
eo
tnwteheen ttahnek
hoonu
rtsh
ofe
o eveningan and
11
p.m. ?—Yes.
Were you called by the sergeant of the guard to
ofd
Lieut. Daly from
the F portor what
e purposethe
P—c deck ?—Yes.
edefend n
the prisoner.
When you got over to the port side of the deck,
what did you see P—Lieut. Daly was getting up ;
the sergeant of the guard was there and the pri-
soner ; the sentry from the cabin door was coming
forward.
Was the prisoner in custody of the sergeant of
the guard P—Yes.
What was the prisoner doing when yon saw
him ?—Standing on his feet on the port side of the
deck.

Was he quiet ?—Yes.
Did you hear him say anything ?—No.
John Bradley, private, Royal Marines, examined
—Were you the ship's corporal in the first watch
on the evening of the sth of January ?—Yes.
Did anything take place on that watch was
ship's corporal of the entering port. Sergeant
Davey sang out for me. I went on the main deck
and saw Lieut. Daly getting up. I assisted Ser-
geant Davey to get the prisoner on the middle
deck and to put him in irons.
Had Sergeant Davey secured the prisoner before
you came up ?—Yes.
In what way did you assist Sergeant Davey ?
In getting the man to the middle deck.
Did he make any resistance ?—No.
Was he sober ?—Yes.
Did you hear what the
poral of the watch."
sergeant said when he
Ship's corporal sang out for you ?—"
Did you hear the prisoner say anything P—No.
Did you hear auy disturbance on the main deck?
—No.
Has the prisoner uny questions to make or any
witnesses to call ?. —No.
George Wells Watson, Commander, Royal Al-
bert, examined.--Did Lieut. Daly, officer of the
guard, make any report to you on the evening of the
sth of January ?—yes.
In consequence of that report did you see the
prisoner ?—Yes.
Was he sober ?—Yes.
Where did you see the prisoner P—On the middle
deck, on the port side.
What was he doing there ?—lie was brought
there in charge of the sergeant of the guard.
Was any report made then in presence of the
prisoner ?—Yes.
State what it was.—Lieut. Daly, officer of the
guard, reported that as he was going his rounds
the prisoner, who was concealed between two guns,