The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-06 00:00:00

-N ,

P-DBER,6

LATE MELANCHOLY OCCUR-
RENCE AT HOUNSLOW BARRACKS.
On Saturday Sergeant Jecks, T 20, the officer by
ah. in this warrant issued against Lieutenant Martin.
Francis Kerwan on Tuesday last was executed, left the
George Inn, Hounslow, with a carriage:and post-horses,
for the purpnse of fetching that gentleman from Tothill-
fields Bridewell, arrangements having been privately
made that an application should be made to the bench of
magistrates by Mr. Chtrkson. the barrister, fur the ad-
mission of Lieutenant Kerwan to bail.
At twelve o'clock the following magistrates took their
seats --Mr. G. Buillie (of Hanwell) chairman, Rev. Dr.
Walmsley (Hanwell), Rev. H. S Trimmer (Heston), Mr.
B. J. Armstrong (Southall), Mr. T. Twining (Twicken-
ham), and Mr. J. Frere (Chiswick). In the room we
also noticed Lieutenant-Colonel Daly, commanding
officer of the 4th Light Dragoons, Captain Cumming,
Captain Megan, Captain Lucas, and Lieutenant Langton,
of the same regiment, and several other military offic2rs.
Lieut. Kerwan then entered the room, accompanied by
Sergeant Jecks, and took his station at the bar before
the magistrates' table, where he was afterwards accom-
modated with a chair. He appeared to be rather above
the middle stature, fair complexion. mild and pleasing
features, and was attired in private clothes.
Mr. Clarkson said Lieutenant Kera tin was an officer
of the 4th Light Dragoons, now stationed at Hounslow
Barracks. lie had been charged with an (deuce,
amounting to a felony, against the person of Quarter.
masts'. Thomas Tarleton, of the same regiment. He
would not enter into the causes which led to that much-
to-be-rE gretted occurrence; but he would observe, on the
circumstarces that precided the injurv, that there was
no proof of deliberation, and nothing like malice could
be inferred from the facts. Ile did not require to b,s told
that the law makes no difference in the offence; but he
was also aware that, under the recent Acts of Parlia-
ment passed on the question, it was exclusively in the
hands of the magistrates to grant him that which he
applied for ; and before he concluded he should show
them there were not then and never were any dangerous
symptoms in the wounded man to prevent them flow
doing so. He would now call the medical gentlemen who
had been in attendance on the wounded man, and show
his present condition.
Mr. Edward Smith Graham deposed that he was sur-
geon in the 4th Regiment of Light Dragoons. He had
in consequence of the infliction of the injury been at
tending Quartermaster T. Tarleton and last saw him
that morning at eleven o'clock. The wound in the abdo-
men had been inflicted with a sharp instrument. Wit-
ness considered him progressing very favourably, consi-
dering the nature of the wound he had recoil el, and he
entertained hopes of his ultimate recovery. He did not
consider there was any danger at present. He should say
now he was out of danger, and that the wound was heal-
ing fast.
Mr. John Mure deposed that he was assistant-surgeon
in the 4th Regiment of Light Dragoons. He now con-
sidered the patient was quite out of danger.
Some of the magistrates said they thought the wit-
ness's evidence was too indefinite. He ought to go more
fully into his reasons for saying so.
Mr. Clarkson asked if he meant that the unfavourable
symptoms which had presented themselves had yielded
to the measure.; adopted by the medical men, and the
patient was now out of danger.
The witness said that was the fact,
Mr. Twining wished to know how long those symp-
toms had subsided. Was it on the previous day ?
The witness replied : Not long. He would admit the
patient might relapse. He had, however, not done so
since the energetic measures to meet those symptoms
had been adopted. There was no appearance of
diarrhoea.
Mr. Ralph Allen Frogley deposed that he was a sur-
geon residing in the town of Hounslow. He also had
seen Quartermaster Tarleton, at 11 o'clock that day, in
consultation with the two last witnesses. He had also
attended the patient from the time of the injury. Ile
gave, as his opinion, that the patient had been out of
risk for forty-eight hours. He could not, however, say,
that inflammation might not yet arise.
The bench then consulted together for a short time, and
The Chairman said the magistrates had considered
the evidence of the medical men, and also that the oc-
currence had been without any deliberation, and had
come to the determination to admit the accused to bail,
himself in the sum of 500/., and two sureties in 2501., for
his appearance at that court on that day fortnight further
to answer the charge.
Mr. Clarkson then offered as bail Lieut.-Colonel
Francis Dermott Daly, the commanding officer of the
regiment, and Captain Alexander Gordon Cumming, of
the same regiment, saying he thought it better to bring
forward two officers of the regiment, in order to show
the opinion the officers entertained on the subject.
The requisite recognizancea having been gone into,
Lieut. Kerwan bowed to the magistrates and left the
court, accompanied by his brother officers and friends,
and immediately quitted the place on their way to
Hounslow Barracks.

The following are copies of the depositions taken at
lounslow Barracks on Tuesday last, and en which the
granting of the warrants for the apprehension of Lieut.
Kerwan was founded. Copies of them were on Thursday
last forwarded to the Horse Guards, in consequence of
an application to the military authorities:—
" The information and complaint of Thomas Tarleton,
Regimental Quartermaster of the 4th Regiment of
Light Dragoons, who, on his oath, saith as follows:
" Un Sunday night, about ten o'clock, the officers were
in barracks, showing feats of strength amongst them-
selves, acid, in consequence of Lieutenant Kerwan, in
wrestling with Lieutenant Greville, of the 2d Life Guards,
getting thrown twice on the floor, Captain Fane stopped
the exercise cif these officers, when Lieutenant Kerwan said
Captain Fane had no right to interfere, as a superior officer
was present. Captain Fane then left the room, and I
lost sight of him. Presently afterward Lieutenant
Kerwan also left the room, and immediately afterwards
Major Parlby, of the 4th Light Dragoons (the superior
officer alluded to), called me out of the room, and stated
that Lieutenant Kerwan intended to go into Captain
Fane's room ; and the said Major Parlby said to me then,
You are a stout fellow, prevent him (meaning the said
Lieutenant Kerwan) from going into his room.' When
I went into the barrack-yard, I there saw the said Lieut.
Kerwan and others, and went up to him, and seeing
him excited, I endeavoured to soothe him. He (the said
Lieut. Kerwan) replied, that he had been threatened
with the guard-room, and to that he would go.' The
said Lieut. Kerwan then went up stairs to his own room,
and put on his cap. Then I said, 'I will not allow you
to go out ;' and 1 shut the door, and placed my back
against it. Two swords of the said Lieut. Kerwan were
hanging close to the door on pegs, when the said Lieut.
Kerwan immediately took one sword, and said he
would go out. 1 replied that I would not
let him. I said this, because he was in so excited a
state. Lieutenant Kerwan then said, There is another
sword—defend yourself.' At the moment he said this I
was reaching forward, and towards the second sword,
but never drew it from the scabbard. At this moment
Lieutenant Kerwan attempted to get past me at the door,
and there he made a thrust at me with a naked steel
sword, which did not touch me, but passed under my
left arm. I immediately afterwards felt the blow which
occasioned the wound I have received. The wound was
just below the navel, and was inflicted by the sword then
in the hand of the said Lieutenant Kerwan when he
struck me the second time. I said to him immediately,
You have stabbed me,' and I went to the light of the
fire, and found blood on my shirt, and I went down stairs
and sent for the surgeon. All this took place on Sunday
night, the 28th day of September inst., at the barracks
on Hounslow Heath, in the parish of Heston, and in the
county of Middlesex.

1 have always been on the best friendly terms with.
Lieutenant Kerwan, and I feel sure that, except when
be was in the excited state in which be then was, be
would have been the last man to have injured me.
" THOMAS TARLETON.
"Taken and sworn before me, one of her Majesty's
justices of the peace, in and for the county of Middlesex,
this 30th day of September, 1845.

" H. S. TRIMMER."
" The examination of Ralph Allen Frogley, surgeon.
of Hounslow, in the parish of Heston, in the county
of Middlesex, who on his oath saith—
"On Sunday night last I was called up by an orderly
soldier of the 4th Light Dragoons, between eleven and
twelve o'clock, to attend at Hounslow Barracks. ,I came
immediately, and found Regimental-Quartermaster
Thomas Tarletoa labouring under a severe wound under
the naval, which appeared to have been inflicted by a
sharp instrument. .1 dressed the wound, and, with other
medical gentlemen, prescribed for the patient.
" I consider the said Thomas Tarleti n's life to be in
danger, but that there is a chance of his ultimate re-
covery. " RALPH ALLEN FROCLEY, Surgeon."
" The examination of Edward Graham and John
Mure, surgeons, who on their oaths severally say—
" I have attended the said Thomits Tartleton, in con-
junction with Mr. Frogley, and entirely agree with him
as to the state of the said Thomas Tartleton, and as to
the instrument with which the wound received by the
patient was inflicted.

"EDWARD S. GRAHAM, M.D., Surgeon 4th Ligh
Dragoons.
"JouN MIIRE, A.S., 4th Light Dragoons."

DISCOVERY OF AN INTERESTING HISTORICAL RELIC
AT STAINES. —On Thursday, the 11th ult , a tradesman of
this town (Windsor) observed on a market stall a small
plate, on which was engraved a long but well executed in-
scription, which he purchased for twopence. On closer exa-
mination, the plate proved to be of so'id silver, and the tenor
of the Latin inscription was diligently inquired for. From
one hand to another it passed, until it reached Dr. Beasley,
who found that the plate had been attached to a chest formed
from a pile driven by Cassivellanus to prevent the passage of
Caesar and his army across the Thames, at the Coway, Wal-
ton, several of which have been found from time to time in
the bed of the river. The circumstance of a silver plate
being purchased for twopence at an old iron stall furnished
a subject for gossip, and the person who had sold the plate
soon found the "ciste," and brought it to the doctor, who
lost no time in making the purchase. No doubt of identity
was entertained, as the plate had been let carefully into the
wood. It remains only that the plate be recovered to make
the most interesting relic of olden time once more complete.
—Windsor Express.
According to his annual custom, the respected and
esteemed representative, W. Williams, Esq., M.P. for Co-
ventry, invited his constituents to meet him at St. Mary's-
hall, on Monday last, to hear his opinion of the business
transacted during the last session, and to give any explana-
tion of his votes or conduct during that time. At . the hour
appointed a vast number of the electors of the city were in
attendance, and on the motion of Mr. Mayo the chair was
taken by Mr. John Hands, who, on opening the business cf
the day, said his task on the present occasion was a very easy
and straightforward one—it was simply to introduce to the
electors present their justly-esteemed representative Mr. Wil-
liams, and to ask of them that they would hear calmly and
patient y what that gentleman had to say, and then, should
any party have any question to ask, or observation to make,
requiring explanation, Mr. Williams would be happy to afford
the desired information. Mr. Williams, who was received
with loud applause, addressed his constituents at great•length.
The Earl of Aberdeen left town on Saturday, on a visit to ,
her MAjesty at Windsor Castle.