The Sun.
London, England, 1832-10-04 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

HORSE-GUARDS, SEPT. 28, 1832.
At a General Court-Martial, held at Halifax, Nova
Scotia, on the 6th June, 1832, and continued by adjourn-
ments to the 18th of the same month, Quartermaster John
Murchison, of the 96th Regiment, was arraigned upon the
under-mentioned charges, viz. :
For conduct unbecoming the character of an officer and
a gentleman, in the following instances, viz. :

First Charge—" In having in the month of August or
September, 1830, made a false statement to Major C.tirn-
cross, his then Commanding Officer, that be had sold to
Mr. William Allan, merchant, in Halifax, four hundred
old great coats belonging to the regiment, at the rate of

3s. each, or 601. Halifax currency, when he had actually
sold them to Mr. W. Allan at the time for 3s. 6d., or
701. Halifax currency."

Seeond•Charge.—" In having in the month of Septem-
ber, IMO, or soon after, fraudulently or intentionally
withheld, and still withholding, from the Great Coat Fund
of the Regiment, credit for the sum of 101., Halifax cur-
rency, or thereabouts, in a public transaction or sale of

great coats to Mr. William Allan, of Halifax, from whom

he received credit in a running account for the sum of 701.,
Halifax currency, or thereabouts, for four hundred old
great coats of the Regiment, and accounting for, or giving
credit to, the Great Coat Fund of the Regiment for the
sum tit 601., Halifax currency, only or thereabouts, at the
same time, or soon after, reporting to Major Cairncross,
his then Commanding Officer, that he had made the best
bargain he could in giving them to Mr. Allan for 3s. each,
or 601., Halifax currency, although he knowingly received,
then or afterwards, credit in his running account with Mr.
Allan, or money, at the rate of Ss. 6d. each great coat, or
701., Halifax currency, for the four hundred old great
coats of the regiment sold as above mentioned."

Third Charge.—" In having in various instances, and
at different periods, during the years 1829, 1830, and
1831, charged the several companies of the regiment for
glass broken in the barrack rooms occupied by the regi-
ment, at the rate of I Id. sterling for each pane of glass re-
paired and put in by Mr. William Merrick, painter and
glazier in the town of Halifax, whom he employed for the
purpose, he, the said Quartermaster John Murchison,
having entered into an agreement or contract with the
said Mr. William Merrick to repair or put in the glass
broken by the regiment at the rate of 10d. currency, or
Bd. sterling, he, the said Quartermaster John Murchison,
thereby making a profit or per-centage of 3d. sterling, or
thereabouts, on every pane of glass repaired or put in as
aforsaid, and in this way defrauding the soldiers of the re-
giment of a considerable sum during the years before
mentioned ; the whole of such conduct being highly in-
jurious to his Majesty's service, and subversive of good order
end military discipline." .
. .

Upon which charges the Court came to the following
decision :

" The Court having duly considered the whole of the
evidence on both sides, upo❑ its minutes, together with
what the prisoner, Quartermaster John Murchison, has
,tated in his defence, is of opinion as follows :
" That with respect to the First Charge he is Guilty
thereof."

" That with respect to the Second Charge he is Guilty
thereof."

" That with respect to the Third Charge he is Guilty
thereof."

" The Court having thus found the prisoner guilty upon
the whole of the foregoing charges, which involve conduct
unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman,
the Court does, therefore, sentence the aforesaid prisoner,
Quartermaster John Murchison, 96th Regiment, to he dis-
missed his Majesty's service, and to make good at his own
expense the amount of ten pounds, Halifax currency, as
stated in the second charge to have been withheld by him ;
and likewise to make good, at his own expense, the sum
of seven pounds twelve shillings and twopence three far-
things sterling, that sum having been ascertained, by evi-
dence, to be the overcharge made at the exchange of
twenty-four shillings Halifax currency for the pound ster-
ling upon six hundred and eighty-five panes of glass, sup-
plied to the 96th Regiment, during the years 1829, 1830,
and 1831 ; both the ahovementioned sums to be recovered
in the manner pointed out by the provisions of the Mu-
tiny Act.'

His Majesty has been pleased to approve and confirm the
finding and sentence of the Court.
In consideration, however, of the recommendation of the
Court, which accompanied the proceedings, his Majesty
has been further pleased to extend his most gracious par-
don to the prisoner, and to command that he be reinstated
in his rank for the purpose of receiving a commutation for
his commission.

The General Commanding in Chief directs that the
foregoing charges prefers ed against Quartermaster John
Murchison, of the 96th Regiment, together with the find-
ing and sentence of the Court,and his Majesty's commands