The Sun.
London, England, 1827-06-28 00:00:00

MILITARY DISCIPLINE.

A considerable sensation has been produced in
the minds of a great portion of the inhabitants of
Sunderland by the reports that have lately been cir-
culated, in reference to the death of Joseph Peter-
kin, a private in the 95th regiment, who was alleged
to have died in consequence of a certain punishment
inflicted upon him by command of an officer of the

held on the body of Peterkin, at the Magpie, in
Church-street, Sunderland.
Thomas Cartman was the first witness; he said
he was a fir-cutter. On Sunday, the sth June, two
days before Peterkin died, he visited him in the
hospital at the barracks. Witness asked him hove
he was, and he said he was a dying man; his right
arm, which was rather swelled, was lying on the
pillow, and his wrist appeared rather black. Wit-
ness asked him if he had been punished, but he
merely shook his head and said nothing.
Serjeant Smith was called in—He said, I was
Serjeant-major at the time Peterkin was sentenced
to three days' heavy drill, on the 21st of April, and
pardoned. On the 2d of May he was again sen-
tenced to heavy drill for three days, but only two
days' punishment were, carried into effect, .in conse-
quence of his complaining that he was unwell.—
During the drills,. men were occasionally tied by the
hands to a rail,, which. was about as high as a man
could reach, without being lifted off his feet. That
was during Major Taylor's command. I don't know
when the Major came, but he was with us about a
month, or five, weeks. Some of the men erdered.for
heavy drill Were further punished by being so tied;
they were so punished for different causes; Peter-
kin was tied up for refusing to cone to drill; he was
not off the ground ; he .did not complain of the pu-
nishment, but laughed, and said he would rather be
there than marching about; this was on the second
morning : of his drill; he was up about three mi-
nutes. He had no handcuffs upon him; he was
only tied up once; it was at twenty Minutes past
six in the morning, and not in the afternoon.—
After his hands were untied, he went to. his drill,
and did not complain; I told him that would learn
him to turn out to drill when he was ordered; and
he laughed and said, " Never mind, I'd as lief
be there as any where else ;" I asked him if he felt
any injury or any harm by it, and he said " No f'
I did not see the rope 'break while I was there; I
did not put handcuffs upon him for fear ho should
make any resistance ; I did not say when the rope
broke that I supposed he would be glad of that.
tmhaer k
Mr. Hodson, surgeon to the 95th Regiment, was
arms when
them, in
Panbdy out of bed till within a
next examined ; he :said thatthteh,ewrists deceasednhoer
cheoomfr bore
eany
oo
Hs oofs'pPiutanil
order to bleed him ; deceased never complained to
other punishment; witness saw him twice a day;
he was
few days of his death, without witness' oafblbeetionggteitedi:
the slightest assist-
ance, s;blnivitin'tess".halids artorn
though be was extremely weak ; witness had
never heard of the punishment of tying up.
By a Juryman—lf I had, known that Sergeant
Smith was acting upon the verbal orders of Majoi
Taylor, to inflict such punishments, I should have
felt it my duty to protest against it.
By another Juryman—A punishment of that na-
tore, if inflicted to a great extent, might have a ten-
dency .to accelerate death; but I :do not think it
was suficiently great. in this case to produce such
an effect, .
The nurse to the ilfospital said, the deceased had.'
no marks of violence upon his wrists.
The Jury now expressed themselves satisfied withthe evidence they had heard, and returned a verdict'
to the effect—" That the death of the deceased was
caused.by the abscess for Med on the right lung, but
that it had been accelerated by the punishment he
had:received."
It was incidentally remarked by Capt. Hall, that
the, punishment of tying up was resorted to in order
to prevent the necessity of flogging; but he solemnly
declared, that until yesterday morning, he was not
aware that the deceased had been subjected to the
punishment.

On Saturday week his Majesty's yachti
Herald, Captain ASHTLEY, passed down thei
river from Deptford, on her way to Portsmouth,
there to receive for passage to Madras, S. R.
LuemlNGTox, Esq., who has been appointed
Governor of that Presidency.--Maidstone
Journal.