The Sun.
London, England, 1817-10-09 00:00:00

COURTS-MARTIAL.

Horse-Guards, 25th September, 1817:
At a General Court-Martial held at Whitehall,
on the Ist August, 1817, and continued by ad-
journments to the 7th of the same month, Brevet
Lieutenant-Colonel JOHN PIPER, Major in the 4th
(or King's own) Regiment of Foot, was at raigneti
upon the under-mentioned Charges, viz.:

Ist. "For highly irregular and unofficerlike conduct,
"v;"tx 5.,"-frr-INlaster-Sericiint Bernard Doran, 6f
the Depot of the 4th Regiment,. t. 4) pr,q4are Weekly Retornsl,
fur the issue of Coals and Clndies,fyir an Officer's Mess, a"
Deal Barracks, between the lath of ,Tanuary, and the 24th of
March, We, and for signing such Retufns, whereby the said
Coals and Candles were issued regularly within that period
for such purpose, and directing the Coals and Candles, 5°
issued, to be divided amongst, and apportioned to the indivi'
dual use of himself, and the other Officers at Quarters, in
their own Rooms, no Mess of
-the Officers at the Depot having
been established within that period, altNiugh there was ,
sufficient number to have one established, being contrary tp
the Rules, and prejudicial to the good of the Seri-ice, and
defeating the intention for which such issue is allowed to bi
made.
2d. " For highly irregular and unofficerlike conduct, id
having directed Paymaster Christopher Hantorne, of the
DepOt of the said Regiment, to estimate for, and include itf
the Accompts of the Depot, from the 25th Pecentber, 1 8 15f
to the 25th March 1816, the Sum,of Eighteen Pounds, Fifteen
Shillings, or thereahorits, as an allowance in aid of the Mess,
granted under a Circular War-Office Order, hearing date th•
19th March, 1811, no Mess of the Officers of the DepGt haf'
ing been established at any time within that period, and
which Sum, namely, Eighteen Pounds, Fifteen Shillings, of
thereabouts, so estimated fur, and drawn, was divided by tlic
said Paymaster Christopher Hancorne amongst the Officers,
he, Lieut.-Colonel Piper, receiving a proportion thereof; th'%
same being contrary to his Royal Highness the Prince B
gent's gracious intention under which such grant is allowed',
contrary to the Instructions contained in the Right Honour'
able the Secretary at War's Circular Letter of the 15th Aprifo
1812, and prejudicial to the good of the Service.
3d. " For highly is-regular and unofficerlike conduct, in di-
recting Quarter-Master Serjeant Bernard Doran, of the DepOt
of the 4th regiment, to bring the Return for Coals and Candles
for the said Depot, from the 2ah to the 31st March, Isssi, tar

his Quarters, Deal Barracks, on .the. Morning of the 44th
March ; and which Return, in which his, Lieutenant-Colonel
Piper's, name was included, was then signed by him, althougit
on that day, he, Lieutenant-Colonel Piper, went on Leave of
absence idr Two Months, with the sanction at his Royal'
Highness
.the commander-in-Chief, and which Coals and
Candles so drawn-on his account for the period abcrie-mea-
tioned, were delivered into his Quarters, occupied by a wir
man, bimsel(not being present any one day within the period
of that Return, the same being in violation of the Rules, and
prejudicial to the good of the Service.

4th. " For conduct unbecoming an Officer, in haring sent
for the Aging Paymaster, Lieutenant John Bushell, of the
Dept of the 4th Regiment, on or abotit the Gth June, 1816,
to his Quarters in Deal Barracks, and there holding a conrer`
sation with the said Lieutenant Jun Basket), with a view to

influence and induce him W mite a false Charge in the -U."
counts of the said Depot, under the head of Postage ana
Stationery, for a Sum of between lino_ and Three Pounds;
which he, Lieutenant-Colonel Piper, represented as having
expended for Logs and a Black Jacket, whilst is cos:main! 01
the Depot, thereby holding out an -iticouragemeut 2hesaia
Lieutenant John Bushell, to act contrary to the Rules, and
prejudicial to the good of the Service.

stb, " For holding a conversation with Captain Charia
.James Edgell, commanding the Depot of the 4th Regiment,
on the parade of the South Barracks, Deal, in the presence
of Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant John Stavely of the sail
Depot, on or about the morning of the 10th June, 1216 r
with a view to induce and influence him, Captain Edge'', to
omit his, Lieutenant-Colonel Piper's name in the Returns 01
that day, although he was present and living in Barracks/
and included in the Return for the Issue of Coals and Candles
for the ensuing Week, viz, from the 10th to the 16th Ante
inclusive; thereby wishing him to conceal from the Adjutant"
General the circumstance of his being at the Depot, contras*/

to the Rules of the Service.
6th. " For holding a correspondence nitro emptain Edgett'
commanding the Depot of the 4th Regiment, at Deal Bar"
between the period from the 9.6t1i. June, to the 11.0
August, 1916; with a view to induce: him to authorize a
charge of Three Pounds Six Shillings, or thereabouts, helot
made against the Public as an, Allowance in lieu of Forage for
a Horse, between the 2d May, and the 4th June, 1816, COn"
trary to his, Captain Edgell'sjudgment, and conveying to hie*
a positive Order to authorize such charge being made, bi
which a Sum of Three Pounds, Five Shillings and Two Pence,
or thereabouts, was charged in the Accounts of the said De'
VA; the same being in his, Captain Edgetl's opinion, eon"
trary to the Instructions under which such charge is alloy
to be made, in breach of the Articles of War, and prejudicial
to the good of the Service.

7th. " For having acted in an unwarrantable 'manner,
highly unbecoming an Officer, in addressing to Lieut. Johll
Bushell, of the DepOt of the 4th Regiment, a Letter, dated
9.,15t March, 18172 conceyi►ig most imploper,Language, in a 9
much, as therein adverting to the subject matter containe&
in the 4th Charge, he expresse% himself as follows :--4 If
ever you did make such an asscrti.on:cuncerning me, your sir
perior Officer, I now tell you, Sir, and will tell the World,
that you asserted an infamous falsehood.'—The same being;
prejudicial to the regularity and good of the Service."

Upon which Charges the Court came to the following de'
vision

" The Court having duly weighed and considered the Eve'
dence adduced in the Prosecution, as well as what has beet!
offered in Defence, is of opinion, that Brevet Lieut.-Colonel
John Piper, Major of the 4th (or King's Own) Regiment of
Foot, is Not Guilty of the First and Second Charges, as it has
appeared that there was .a Mess established at the Dep6t is
Which any of the Officers of the Regiment might have gone,
and does therefore Acquit him.
With respect to the Third Charge, the Court is of opi"
Ilion, that Lieut.-Colonel Piper is Guilty of so much of till'
Charge as imputes to him irregularity in signing the Returfl
in which he himself was included, between the eCtli and ::itst
March, 1816, on the 24th March, when he Was going on learn
of absence, but the Court does fully Acquit him of any ins'
proper motive, and of the remainder of the Charge, the Court-
does also Acquit him.
" With respect to the Fourth Charge, the Court is of °pi'
nion, that Lieut.-Colonel Piper is Not Guilty of any improptr

motive in the'conrcrsation which has been made the subject•
of this Charge, and dues therefore Acquit Jahn.
" The Court is of opinion that Lieut.-Colonel Piper is-
Guilty of the Fifth Charge.
• " With respect to the Sixth Charge, the Court is of opi-
nion, that Lieut.-Colonel Piper is Nett Guilty, and does there-
fore Acquit him.

" With regard to the S2renth Charge, the Court is of opi-
nion, that Lieut.-Colonel Pip'er is Guilty of having written
the Letter of the 21st March, 1817, w Lieutenant Bushell,
containing the expressions therein stated, of which the Court
strongly marks disapprobation, at the same tiuse the Court
must observe, that bad Lieutenant Bushell given the expla-
Lation repeatedly required by Lieut.-Colonel Piper, the irri-
tation which induced the objectionable language might have
been' altogether avoided.

" The Court does therefore, upon a review of the whole
matter, adjudge that Lieutenant-Colonel Piper be admonished
Hi such manner as his Royal Highness the Commander-in-
Chief may think proper."

His Royal Highness-the Prince Regent has been pleased,
'in the Natue and on the Behalf of his Majesty, to approve and
tontlvm the Finding and Sentence of the Court; and to cow-
tumid, that the Prisoner, Lieutenant-Colonel Piper, shall re-
ceire such an admonition as may be calculated to prevent him
from acting in future with the inadvertency set forth in the
instance of the Third Charge, and the irregularity stated in
the Fifth Charge.
With regard to the Seventh Charge of which Lieutenant-
Colonel Piper has been found Guilty, the Prince Regent has
been pleased to consider theaiisapprobation expressed by the
Court as a sutlidient punishment.

The Commander in Chief directs, that the foregoing Charges
?referred against Brevet Lieutenant Colonel John Piper,
trajor of the 4th (or King's own) Regiment of Foot, toge-
ther with the Finding and Sentence of the Court, and Prince
Regent's pleasure thereon, shall be entered in the General
Order Book, and read of the head of every Regiment in his
Majesty's Service.

IV wan:nand of his Royal Highness
The Commander in Chief,
HARRY CALVERT, Adj.-Gen.

horse- Guards, 29th September, 1817

At a General Court-Martial held at St. Ann's,
-tarb.►does, on the, 27th of May, 1817, and con-
liuned by adjournments to the 14th of June fol-
lowing, Lieutenant CHARLES WILLIAM STEWART,
of the Royal York Rangers, was arraigned upon
the undermentioned Charges, viz.:—

Ist. " For Conduct unbecoming the Character of an Of
csr, in being excessively intoxicated whilst on duty on board
the Luue Transport, on or about the Bth April,
.1817, between
the hours of light and Twelve o'Cluck at Night.
•4d. " For scandalous and infamous Conduct, unbecoming
the Character of an Officer and a Gentleman, in allowing
linuself to be grossly insulted, on or about the 14th day of
April, 1817, ou the deck of the Lune Transport, by Mr.
toxwell, a passenger, on hoard, belonging to the Storekeeper-
teneral's Department, without using any endeavour to bring,
14 expressing the least intention of bringing, the said Mr.
‘aotwell to an Account for such Treatment, but en the con-
trary, having frequently afterwards addressed himself to him
iNtr. Coxwell) evidently with a view of ingratiating; himself
ante, terms of Friendship, thereby to evade any proper Expla-
aation for having been so insulted.
311. " For t candalous, infaaous, and unofficerlilie conduct
a 1 having I revived the most abusive and gross insults on the
heck of the Lune transport, on or about-the 24th A pril,lBl7,
'root Sir James Cockburn, a passenger, on board, belonging
14 the Storekeeper GeOeral's Itepartitient, such as—' You
kgie ou damned rascal ;--I will kick you round the Garrison of
thadoes, you little Drum Boy,'—or words to that effect, in
the hearing of the Otl'cers in the Cabira and in the presence
hl.
Inane Soldiers and Sailors on deck, without using any en-
,leavour to bring, or expressing the least intention of bring-
mg the said Sir James Cockburn to .an account for such dis-
tvaceful abuse and threats, lint un the contrary, having beg-
Red his "(Sir James Cockburn's) pardon in the presence of
1-oetxtenaut Cosby, immediately afterwards, such conduct be
trig most derogatory to tire character of an Officer and a lien-
eltran.
t4tlr " For scandalous and infamous Conduct, in having as-
tted a gross Falsehood, with a view to deceive the Officers
g' he Court of Enquiry held on board the Lune Transport,
rthe 3d of May, 1817, by order of Lieut.-Colonel O'Hara,
tthe Gad Regiment, for the purpose of investigating his con-
ttet, in having stated to the Court that he (Lieutenant Stew-
r,ll had received through the medium of Lieutenant Hodg-
4"rsun, of the 3d West ludia Regiment, an Apology from Sir
futures Cockburn, and subsequently from Sir James Cockburn,
il'Person for the treatment he had received from that Gen-
"talatt.
K4th. Foe highly unmi Mary Conduct, unbecoming the cha-
eter of an Officer, in beige' Drunk when in arrest on the af-
,traoon a the 7th May, 1817, aid using disrespectful lane
age to Lieutenant Cosby, his then Commanding Officer."
4°poll which Charges the Court came to the following de-
ien
il' Tice Court having most maturely weighed and considered
a:t Evidence produced on tire part of the Prosecution, toge-
iirt with what the Prisoner has alleged and proved in his
'‘gettee on the Charges, is of opinion as follows t—
i, h respect to the First Change, the Court is of opinion,
4t the same has been proved, except that the Evidence does
ni4t appear to warrant the word excessively,' and the Court
(t% accordingly find the Prisoner Guilty thereof.
litthWith respect to the Steroid Charge, it does not appear
e Court that the Prisoner, Lieutenant Stewart, was the
I,kon Originally insulted by Mr. Coxwell ; but on the con-
that Mr.-Coxwell received the first gross insult from
ritttttereint Stewart, and seemed to rely on his superior bodily
ji3/4ttlgth for redress; wherefore and inasMuch as the other
s of this Charge are riot proved to the satisfactions of the
a:'44, the Court. finds the Prisoner Not Guilty thereof.
11'4th respect to the Third Charge, it appears to the
taltrt that whatever okeesive Language may hare passed
tik.", Sir James Cockburn) to Lieutenant Stewart, the same
tt4,tekilowledged to have been used by S; Jamey, in conse-
V„,'!vt of a misapprehension, and an explanation having after-
-41.'1,4 taken place at the instance and through the medium
lCosby, who was the then commanding Officer,
4lt le'llteliatit Stewart's representation of the injury which
received; and it being also considered on board the
1,1.4 t, transport (front the evidence of Mr. Gilbert arid others)
tvery point was -ended between Sir James Cockburn and
t' .
tapa oant Stewart, the Court does not find evidence
tr to convict the prisoner of this Third Charge, and there-
ileds him Not Guilty thereof.
th „
stale ct to the Fourth Charge;the Court is of opinion
ra ihe same has not. been satisfactorily proved, and there-
'e'nitis the prisimer Not Guilty thereof.
ig„.4ith respect to the Fifth Charge, the Court-is of opi-
11'that the same has been proved, acid does therefore find
~Prisoner Guilty, thereof.
!4 i,t•Cha court having; thus given its opinion on each of the
'CiiiirgeS, and having found the Prisoner Guilty of
14,'rSt and Fifth thereof, being in breach of the Articles of
'4;4, do sentence and adjudge that he, the Prisoner, Lieute-
-Ij:harles William Stewart, of the Royal York Rangers to
1
1/4';
tls',llsistred.
k4ttaoCuurt, however, taking into consideration the long
tft's of Lieutenant Stewart, that he has a family, and the
laol4' of' irritations which he received on hoard the Lune
' together ait h his good character, most
titatY and respectfully beg leave to recommend him to the
atal of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, nor can the
close its Proceedings without animadverting- on the
itt'l'et of the Prosecutor, Lieut. Cosby, in various instances,
Oa appear on the face of these Proceediugs."
k4ql: Prince Regeut has been pleased, in the Name and on
of his Majesty, to approve and confirm the Finding'
Ql:atence of the Court; hint under all the circumstances
tase, as they appear. on -the face Of the Proceedings,
4Val Highness has, at, the same time, been pleased to
11tt hi
cot s gracious attention to the recommendation of the
.11i,ra the Prisouer's behalf, by restoring- him to his Cour-
htt'a with the view of being placed
sledfpy
tt,i'y'rinee Regent has also beets pleto consider the
teN't of the Prosecutor, Lieutenant, Cosby, in various in-
,14,,,,ft as deserving tine animadversion conveyed in the opi-
qtttithe Court Martial, and to direct, that his Royal High
Verked Censure should be conveyed to that Officer,
"the Counuandiug Officer of Iris Regiment (the (Sad)
1