The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-25 00:00:00

principle of the establishment of a new class of public schools • burgh, and while there was tried for breaking his
that they should be placed under the visitorship of the rifle and smashing a window, for which offence he
bishop of the diocese. The plan which we are called on to was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Since
support is so plain and intelligible, as well as so valuable, his release he has been a most desperate character.
that it requires much less than the usual efforts to entitle it Being on recruit drill, he had no ammanition of
to confidence. The founders of these schools have, I con- his own when the murderous intention entered his
fess, it appears to me, entitled themselves to your vigorous head, and that with which he accomplished his
and hearty support. In every social respect, and therefore I design belonged to Private Munroe, who occupied
will say in every political respect—speaking, of course, ©f the next bed to Jackson in the barrack-room. It
the larger aspect of politics—in every political respect, in is supposed that he must have loaded his rifle pre
every moral and religious respect, they have done that which vious to going into the canteen. For damages ad
we are entitled to expect at their hands in supplying this sale of his kit he was £ll in debt to his captain.
grand social want. I trust they will create a new bond of Directly after the occurrence, Dr. Jee, the medical
union among all classes of society; and if so, they will be officer of the regiment, was in attendance, and
entitled to command the hearty support of every good citi- despatched a messenger for Dr. Humfrey, the prin-
zen and every earnest Christian. The right hon. gentleman cipal medical officer, who quickly arrived, and
resumed his seat amidst loud cheers. rendered in conjunction with the former gentle-
The Bishop of OXFORD seconded the resolution in an able man, every assistance in his power.
speech, and it was carried unanimously. It is a noticeable fact, that when the report of
Other resolutions pledging the meeting to support the the rifle was heard, a man who was standing out_
scheme for the establishment of the schools were also moved side the barracks was observed to make off ; and
and carried, and Jackson, after being arrested, said " There are to be
The proceedings were brought to a close by a vote of some more shot ; it is to be done on the 15th, or
thanks to the chairman. before Christmas."
As may be imagined, the greatest excitement
with reference to the dreadful deed prevails among
the civilian population around, the more so on ac-
count of the motive which instigated the crime being
shrouded in mystery. It is, indeed, said that Ser-
geant Dixon was heard on one occasion to tell
Jackson that he was a nuisance to the Company ;
but this requires confirmation, and, supposing it to
be true, would not furnish anything like an adequate
motive for so fearful a crime.

ANOTHER MILITARY MURIER.

ALDERSHOT, SUNDAY.

Before the mingled horror and indignation
awakened by the last recorded military tragedies
has had time to subside—while Sergeant-Major
Kennedy lies on his bed of agony, his life trembling
in the balance—and at a time when it was thought
the example made at Corfu would have had a salu-
tary effect in checking the ferocity of crime which
now appears so unhappily prevalent in the army,
the camp of Aldershot has again been startled by
another dreadful murder, so uncompromising in its
savageness, so unprovoked by any extraneous cir•
cumstances, and exhibiting in its commission so
much blood-thirstiness of purpose, that it cannot be
accounted for by any preconceived notions of the
nature of man or the ordinary incentives to crime.
The scene of the tragedy is the West Block, Per-
manent Barracks, where the 78th Highlanders
,havosbeenasietartered for some time—a regiment
whose gallant actions and exemplary behaviour up
to the present time have challenged the admiration
of the whole camp.
From information gathered on the spot, it ap-
peals that on Saturday evening, at a quarter past
eight o'clock, Sergeant John Dixon and Corporal
William Campbell, the orderly sergeant and cor-
poral of No. 3 company, proceeded to call the roll
of the company at tatto in the usual way, and on
entering No. 11 room a private was holding the
light, the corporal calling the roll, and the sergeant
noting the names of the absentees. While thus en-
gaged, Private Thomas Jackson took Es rifle from
the rack, and in an instant discharged it at the
sergeant. The ball passed in at the right shoulder-
blade of the unfortunate man, passed through his
body diagonally, and made its exit at the left
breast. It then entered the right shoulder of the
corporal, which it passed through, and next went
through a partition into the non-commissioned
officers' bunk, struck against the opposite wall,
when it flattened and rebounded. Poor Dixon
turned partly round and fell forward on his face,
and almost in an instant ceased to exist. The only
words he ejaculated were " Who did it ?" To which
Jackson replied, " I did it, old boy."
As soon as the report of the rifle was heard Pri-
vates William Marshall and Alexander Milligan
rushed upon Jackson and secured him, and with
the assistance of some others conveyed him to the
guard-room. He was there placed in the strong-
room with another prisoner, who was confined for
being drunk, the sergeant of the guard not then
knowing his crime. Directly afterwards Marshall
informed the sergeant that Jackson was charged
with murder, and on the sergeant entering the cell
for the purpose of handcuffing him, he found that
the prisoner had made an attempt to strangle the
drunken man, and said he certainly would have
murdered him but for the sergeant's entrance.
While the irons were being put on he said to Mar-
shall (who, being employed at rifle instruction, was
always present in the room when the prisoner was
dismissed from drill) that had the room been clear
his intention was to load ten rifles, and fire them at
the regiment on parade.
The report of the occurrence having quickly cir-
culated in the town, we proceeded to the West
Block, and at first could hardly realise the fact that
so dreadful a deed had been perpetrated so shortly
before_ There was no one to be seen nor a voice to
be heard, except the solitary, " Who comes there ?"
of the sentinel. The stillness seemed as awful as
the deed. On arriving at the covered parade our
attention was directed to a light is the second gal-
lery on the south side, to which we directed our
steps. On gaining this point, the first person we
encountered in the dark was Colonel Ewart, the
officer commanding the regiment, who expressed
the utmost horror and indignation at what had
taken place. On entering the room No. 11 we
observed the body of poor Sergeant Dixon lying
on his face, covered with gore. He was dressed in
his white jacket and tartan trousers. We at once
perceived that the miscreant must have been very
close to his victim when the rifle was discharged,
as it had actually burnt the jacket round where the
ball entered. Sergeant-Major Pocock very kindly
took us to Corporal Campbell, who was in his own
bed in the next room, his wound having been at-
tended to and dressed by Drs. Jee and Humfrey.
He was lying comparatively easy, the ball having
gone through the shoulder clear of the chest. Cap-
tain Evans (55th Regiment), the Brigade-Major,
now arrived, and had a consultation with Colonel
Ewart. Mr. Superintendent Howard also arrived
at the same time, and the Colonel and Captain
Morgan having directed Mr. Howard's attention
to the body, arrangement was made by Dr. Jee for
its conveyance to the dead-house. A stretcher
was brought in, and the body placed upon it. A
most horrid sight presented itself as this was being
carried into effect. The features of the dead
were unrecognisable from the pool of gore in
which they had lain, until a sponge had been
applied; his clothes were also saturated with blood.
The moment that the colonel's lady heard of
the dreadful occurrence she proceeded to the ser-
geant's quarters to console the widow, and this
kind-hearted lady remained with her several hours.
Dr. Jee was also indefatigable in attendance on the
bereaved woman, promising her that she should see
the body of her husband before it was conveyed to
the dead-house. This promise he fulfilled, for the
body was brought to her door, when, with a look of
unutterable melancholy, and with feelings which
must have corresponded, she gently raised the hair
of the deceased's head, gazed in his face, and re-
tired. The colonel's lady accompanied her to the
door of her quarters. The body was then conveyed
to the dead- house, where it awaits a coroner's in-
quest, which will take place on Tuesday.
The Rifle No. 232, belonging to Jackson, was
handed to Mr. Superintendent Howard. It was
found to have an exploded cap on, and appeared to
have been recently discharged. A loose packet of
ammunition was then handed to Mr. Howard, one
round of which was deficient. The cover of this
packet bore the name of Private D. Munroe. The
Colonel and Captain Evans having held a conversa-
tion with the Superintendent respecting the pri-
soner, stated that the military authorities had no
power in England to deal with oases of murder,
and they therefore thought it advisable to hand
him over at once to the civil power, the Colonel ad-
vising Mr. Howard, as the prisoner was such a
dreadful character, to be prepared for any violence
he might offer. These officers then accompanied
Mr. Howard to the guardroom. There the prisoner
was brought from the cell where he was confined,
handcuffed, and dressed only in his tartan trowsers
and shirt. He is a light-haired, strong, broad set,
beardless youth, about five feet six inches in height,
and bore a careless bravado sort of aspect as he
was brought forth from the guardroom. He was led
out by the police, one on each side, and the Colonel
sent an escort of 12 men of the guard, together
with the sergeant-major, to render assistance in case
of need. Under this strong escort of civil and mili-
tary power, the prisoner was conveyed to the police
station. There was found on the prisoner a snap cap,
and a percussion cap. It appears that previous
to the occurrence he had been in a canteen, and was
heard by Private Andrew Cormick to say that he
would have some one's life that night. While be-
ing searched in the cell of the regimental guard-
room he said he would shoot all the —. When
charged at the police-station with murder, he mani-
fested the utmost indifference, and said, " Sure, it
won't make any difference to me ; not a bit."
Sergeant John Dixon is 35 years of age. He en-
listed !into the 78th Highlanders on the 23d of
April, 1845, and has occupied the position of ser-
geant for about five years. He was present with
the regiment throughout the Persian and Indian
campaigns. He married at Fort George in Nov.,
1859, and leaves a widow in an advanced state of
pregnancy, and one child 15 months old. He was a
native of Gloucester, and generally respected in the
regiment.
Corporal Wm. Campbell is in his 22d yea', and
is a native of Forfar, in Scotland. He joined
the regiment in 1859 ; he is a smart, useful soldier.
Yesterday morning it was found that the bone of
his upper arm was much shattered, and a portion
of it was removed, since which we understand he is
going on favourably, and is now in the general
hospital.
The miscreant, Thomas Jackson, is only 20 years
of age, and is a native of Barnardcastle, near Dur-
ham. Ho enlisted in June, 1858, by special autho-
rity, being under age. He deserted in August,
1858, and subsequently enlisted into the 39th Regi-
ment, under an assumed tame. It is supposed that
his right name is Johnson. He was brought back
tto the 78th Regiment in October, 1860, at Edin.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

SHREWSBURY RACES,—SATURDAY.
Match, 21) soya each. One mile and a half.

Mr. Clutterbuck's Forest Hind, Bst 71b .. (J. Daley) w. o,
Mr, Parry's Newton Lass, Bst 71b
Handicap Sweepstakes of 3 soya each, with 20 added, for
2-yr-olds and upwards. Half a mile.