The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-17 00:00:00

~~

TRAGEDY AT FULWOOD
BARRACKS.

PRESTON, MONDAY AFTERNOON.
We are sorry to announce the death of Colonel
Crofton and Captain Hanham from the effects of
the bullet wounds inflicted on Saturday by Private
M'Cafferay. Colonel Crofton expired about half-
past 9 o'clock yesterday evening, and Adjutant
Hanham (who at first had been expected, to recover)
at half-past 11 this morning. Great excitement has
prevailed throughout the town and neighbourhood
since the occurrence. The streets leading to the
House of Correction were this morning much
crowded, the public being in expectation that the
magisterial inquiry would take place in the County
Court-house. This, however, was not the case, as
the examination, which was purely of a prelimi-
nary and formal character, took place in the Go-
vernor's-office in the gaol before Dr. Broughton,
one of the county magistrates.
Lieut.-Col. Hugh Denis Crofton served in the
I Crimean campaign. He was present and took part
in the various engagements that took place in 1854-
' 55. At the battle of the Alma he commanded the
20th Regiment, and at the battle of Inkerman,
where he was severely wounded and had a horse
shot under him, he commanded one of the wings of
the British army. For these services he has been
honourably mentioned in the despatches of the
Commander-in-Chief, and, in addition to a medal
and three clasps, has been decorated with the
French order of the Legion of Honour, and by the
Sultan with the fifth cross of the Medjidie. He was
highly respected in his profession as an able and ac-
complished officer, and beloved by the men under
his command. We are sorry to add that he has left
a wife and family to mourn his untimely death.
Adjutant and Capt. Hanham has also seen much
service. He took part in the Sutlej campaign of
1845.6, was wounded at the battle of Moodkee, and
was also present at the battles of Ferozeshah and
Sobraon. For these services he had received a
medal and clasps.
The murderous deed was perpetrated under the
following circumstances :—The name of the mur-
derer is Patrick M•Cafferay, a young man between
19 and 20 years of age, a native of Preston, but of
Irish parentage, and who enlisted in the 32d Regi-
ment about 12 months ago. It appears that a num-
ber of children who have obtained access to the bar-
rack-yard have caused considerable annoyance, and
M'Cafferay, who was on duty one day last week,
was ordered to obtain their names and the names
of their 'parents. On being subsequently asked if
he had obeyed these instructions, he answered with
some sullenness that he had done so only in the
case of one of the children, and for this neglect of
duty he was on Saturday morning sentenced to con-
finement to the barracks for 14 days. M'Cafferay
after receiving the sentence retired to his own room,
which is on the K passage, or west side of the infan-
try auarters. He took down his rifle and borrowed
a piece of oiled cloth from a comrade, with which he
cleaned it. He then went into an adj oining passage,
and it is supposed that he there loaded the rifle.
Shortly afterwards the snapping of a percussion cap
was heard, and, though this was contrary to orders,
little notice was taken of the matter, it being sup-
posed that some soldier had done it for amusement
or to try the cleanness of his piece. Immediately,
however, M'Cafferay was seen to kneel at the win-
dow of his room and fire his piece. Major Coils
was at the time in his room at the north end of the
barrack-square, and on hearing the report, presum-
ing there was something wrong, looked out at his
window, and saw Col. Crofton and Capt. Hanham
'standing in the centre of the square, and immedi-
ately Col. Crofton threw up both hands and called
out '6 Oh, lam shot !" Major Colls then ran down
to the assistance of the colonel, and on arriving at
the spot fonnd that Capt. Hanham was bleeding
from the left side and leaning .on another officer.
Major Coils placed his left arm around the colonel's
waist, the colonel putting his right arm around his
neck. The colonel was assisted to his quarters,whera
he said "I am done for—l am shot through the
lungs." A bullet-hole was afterwards found in the
lower part of the chest.
Medical assistance was immediately procured,
Dr. Donald and Dr. Clark, the regimental surgeons,
and Dr. Hammond, of Preston, rendering every
assistance. Upon examination it was found that
the ball had struck Colonel Crofton in his left side.
It had passed completely through the left lung and
out at his right side. It then appears to have struck
Capt. Hanham, who was walking arm in arm with
the colonel. It passed through his left arm and
settled in the back near the spine. It was after-
wards extracted by the medical gentlemen, and
some hopes were entert4ined that the life of the
adjutant might be saved. M'Cafferay was arrester
immediately after firing the shot. He gave up his
rifle to a sergeant, remarking that he had not in-
tended to hit the colonel. He was afterwards handed
over to the civil authorities, and was removed in
charge of Mr. Superintendent Green, of the county
csnstabulary, to the Preston House of Correction.
Since his confinement he appears not to have
realised the fearful position in which he is placed.
In a conversation with Colonel Martin, the Gover-
nor of the gaol, he remarked that he did not intend
to hit Colonel Crofton, but only to injure Captain
Hanham. He expressed a hope that, as he had no
intention of shooting the Colonel, they would let
him go, or he would not mind being transported.
At the inquiry this morning the prisoner was
brought before Dr. Broughton, several gentlemen
being in attendance. The prisoner, who is a light-
complexioned and slightly-built young man, once
or twice during the examination exhibited some
little emotion, but scarcely seemed to be cognizant
of the enormity of his offence. A few minutes after
11 o'clock Superintendent Green entered the room
and said he thought the inquiry would have to he
postponed, as the principal witnesses were detained
at the barracks, and Adjutant Hanham was then in
a dying state.
Dr. Broughton—Under those circumstances I will
simply examine Major Colls and remand the
saner.

Major Robert Stacy Colls, the 32d Regiment, was
then examined. He said,—On Saturday last, about
half-past 11 o'clock, I was writing in my room at
Fulwood Barracks, Preston, when I heard the re-
port of a rifle outside. I felt there was something
wrong, and I jumped up and ran to the window,
which looked out on the barrack-square. I saw the
late Colonel Crofton and Captain Hanham standing
in the centre of the square. Just as I looked out
Colonel Crofton threw up both hands and called
out "Oh! I am shot !" I immediately ran down
to him, and on coming up I saw Captaie Hanham
bleeding from the left side, and leaning upon an
officer. I ran up to the Colonel and placed my Left
arm round his waist, and he put his right arm round
my neck. With another officer I assisted him to
his quarters. He said to me, "I am done for; lam
shot through the lungs," and asked who did it. On
reaching his quarters I placed him in an easy chair
and stripped him, and found the bullet hole in the
lower part of the chest. That is all I know.
The prisoner declined to ask this witness any
questions.
Superintendent Green sworn, He said—On. Satur-
day last from information I received, I, in company
1 with Chief-constable Capt. Elgee, proceeded to Ful-
wood Barracks, and, after being informed that Col.
Crofton and Capt. Hanham had been shot, I went
to the lock-up attached to the guardroom. I asked
the prisoner his name, and he told me it was All4Caf-
foray. I told him I took him into custody for shoot-
ing at Col. Hugh Denis Crofton and Capt. John
Hanham, with intent to murder. He said, "I did
not intend to murder them." I then brought him
lin company with two constables to the House of
Correction here, anu he then stated that he did not
I intend to shoot the Colonel, but the Captain. He
said, " I did not intend it for the Colonel, but the
Captain." I afterwards went back to the barracks,,
and the place was pointed out to me where the
officers were walking. There was some blood upon
the ground. I measured the distance thence to
where the man fired from, and found it to be 65
yards. From information I have received Col.
Crofton is dead, and Capt. Hanham is unable to
attend.
Prisoner had no question to ask the witness, and
no reason to give why he should not be remanded.
The inquiry was then adjourned until 12 o'clock
on Wednesday next.
The inquest was to take place at 5 o'clock this
afternoon before Mr. Myres, coroner:

INTREPID CONDUCT OF Mr. MACFARLANE, MAS-
TER, R.N.—A very gallant act was performed in the Sierra
Leone river by Mr. Macfarlane, master, R.N., while serv-
ing in the Isis, storeship. On the 29th July a boatswain's
mate, namen Carupbelton, fell overboard. The tide
cunning mulling with great rapidity, and the river is well known
to be swarming with sharks. Carnpbelton having on an oil-
skin coat and leggings was unable to use any exertion to
save himself; and although a boat was d mannee and along.,
side, and 40 or 50 men were looking on, all seemed to have
lost their presence of mind. At this crisis Mr. Macfarlane
gallantly advanced to the rescue. Ordering some gratings
to be thrown into the water, he jumped overboard and
swam towards the man; but before he could reach him the
man had disappeared. A cry from on board said, "He is
just under you," upon which Mr. Macfarlane dived and
succeeded in catching hold of the collar of
their
man's coat,
enc ship,e
The
and supportedpeer
man himwwas
insensibleuntil
when
ha
er arrived vt
taken
toa on b
heoirararthista
but animation was at length restorede, and he is now on
board the Archer, on his way to England. This is the eighth
life which Mr. Macfarlane has saved from drowning, but
his gallant humanity has been hitherto unnoticed.— United
Service Gazette,