Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-06-01
A LESSON FROM HISTORY
An Unconstitutional Court-Marlial
and lis Results.
The Accused Condemned to Receive
Eight Hundred Lashes, and Dies
in Consequence.
The OffiefaI W mo Ordered the Illegal
Trial Convicted OF Murder
and Hanged.

Britain forensic history contains more cases
than one herein the ordainers Of. and actors in.
illegal courts have met With retribuiive justice
bat one case stands out in bold relief from the
rest. inasmuch IS the punishment OF the person
vrongfuIly condemued resulted eventually In
death srd the Official who authorized the ,ribu.
nal that convicted him. suffered fslon's doom
az the penalty Of bis unwarrantable act. To the
story OF this case shall eoufne our present
article: and may the history OF The past prove
warning in the present.
TIE OFFICIAL WHO ORDERED uSooSsIIru
coUET MARITAL.
10 the gear 1852. during one Of those periods
that the island of Goree. on the Western coast OF
Africa was in the possession Of the British, the
government Of the COLONY placed in charge
OF Joseph Wall. Esq This gentleman was OF
most distinguished bearing, being not less than
sir feet four inches ia height and was allied BY
marriage 70 many noble families his wife beng
sisles TO Lord Seaforth he was an officer in the
British army, aud first rose into notice in 762,
at the reduction OF Havana, where he fought
with such bravery and effect that he received
promotion in consequence he eventually
appointed Lieutenant Governor Of G0ree but
the Office Of Chief Governor becoming vacant he
acted ia that capacity tor about two years. be
was also Colonel COmmandant OF an African
corps, and Superintendent of Trade in the
Colony.
THE CAUSE oT THE COURT MARTIAL
In July, 1892 Governor waH was on the
poiat OF quitting the colony. resgning bis Office.
and returning 10 England. The cOmmissary
TO accompany him There At the time much
dissatisfaction among the troops stationed on the
island. owing the non receipt of pay due
them on account OF short rations, TO which from
lhecessity they had been compelled to submit
3CoDseQuently on the morning of the tenth OF that
:month, the day before the departure two or three
parties or the soldiers Of the same party two
three times. il does appear certain which,
we're in the act OF proceeding TO the abode OF the
commissary for the purpose of making spplica-
ton upon him for the pecuniary compensation
thus due 90 them, fearing that should the Cover
nor and commissary leave Without settling there
would be tle chance OF obtaining their Just
demands Etch Of these Populations consisted
of sbOut twenty or thirty men who were not in
uniform, and without arms They had to pass
the Governors residence the way to the
missarvs. aud on the FIRST OCCASION whilst near
:tbe eficial abode we're met bv a message from
the Governor, nquiTiDg their business. alter
xhich they were told 10 return To their barracks
1irecty or else he would fog one half OF them
About two hours later. the second deputation
u ode its appearance. headed by Sergeant Benja
min Armstrong Ii was met by Governor Wall
who called out TO Armstrong and bid them
:returR 10 the barracks, or they should be pun
:ished Both orders they are stated to have
sobeyed promptly and respectfully. These A.
ssemblages and another incident which shall
hereafter mention. clsmed by the Cover
nor exhibitions OF mutiBy which i neces-
:sary 10 put down The officers OF the garrison
on that day dined with the Governor "a usual
but wae noticed 10 leave his house much earlier
than they we're accustomed TO do
THE COURT MARTIAL
Before the regular hour Tor evening parade
Gov. Wall ordered the long roll to be beaten
aand gave Instructions for the soldiers 10 appear
:xithout arms The number was about three
hundred. Upon assembling they were directed
to form a circle, two Deep IN the centre of which
stood the governor and bis officers. Between
these some conversation observed 20 take
place, after which Armstrong called out Of
The ranks and the governor represented him as
being the ringieader of mutiny The latter
made some reply. but IL was in low a tone
That il could not be heard by the outsiders AT
Ger little time the timbers of SIX FOUNDER
Were brought into the circle. and Armstrong or
iiered to strip and be tied TO il He then. by the
governors orders. received eight hundred lsshes,
which we're inflicted on him by black slaves, who
aere instructed through the medium of the lin
tuist The faggeaton given by pieces
ef rope about an inch in circumference. Dur
sng the infection the governor is said to have
ssed strong and coarse language, and told the
blacks that IL they did MT lay on he would lay
an them Some five or SIX blacks we're en-
saged in the punishment. change being made
Il the end of every twenty FIVE lsshes. Arm
strong begged tor mercy during his torture, snd
esas answered by the governor that he hoped il
foud be a warning 70 him The man was at
rrwsrds marched off to the hospital. and on the
fIowing morning the governor left the colony
rHE ARREST FOR MuRDTR
Governor Wall reached England during the
s,llowing month, when be Forwarded dispatch
= the Secretary OF State. wherein be announced
Ks arrival. aud detailed the condition in which
4, bad left the colony. but made no mention OF
DIV mutiny having taken place. Upon his re-
x rn home be found some charges made against
Ian by officers Who had suffered under court
bsrtisls. but the charges were dismissed. and
csle OF the compliments reprimsnded Having
CseAred himself of these imputations Govern or
Z all went TO reside At Bath
Early in l1c4 he was arrested under warrant
1om the Privy Council. in that city on the
barge of murder, Armstrong having died few
dkys after his punishment and in consequence
a the injuries be then received. Wall. however
4, the way To LDRdon. managed to elude the
ekdcers OF the law and make good his escape in
consequence of which the king issued a procls-
ussuon offering reward for his apprehension.
.But the tx Governor fed the country Half
syeAr later he addressed letter TO the Secretary
ClState in which he announced his intention 70
sirtender in few months, but be did not keep
rs word.
tNearly score Of wears bad elapsed since the
dk.th OF Armstrong before Mr. Wall again set
foot on English SOIL legacy lett him,
SD IL Vas necessary that be should visit Eng
.nd and attend TO the forms necessary To be
ckne through before be could receive IL In
q tober IS0l. he addressed a letter the Gov
Eminent. stating that he was then IN England
ssd should give himself up for the purpose OF
uteetlug the charge against him De wss. how
eker. arrested As he was leaving Doctors Com
nj ns the depository of testamentaTy documents
std place where al legal business relative thereto
1tr.osAe'ed'
The TRIAL FOR MURDER
}The ohen>e having been committed bevond the
t,its of the British Isles. the prisoner could no,
bt tritd Al coumon law the case sa. therefore
irS accordance With statute applicable 20 osnses
cSnmiued beyond the seas. tried b, special
e nnssiou the Commissioner being the Lord
Cfirf Baron Macdonald Judges Rookie and Law
ri &C. sad the Recorder OF London. and the trtl
tc$,k plsce At tie Old Bailey January ~. 1902
A,aong the counsel for the prosecution the
orner General SIR Eisard Lt", sftervard
LS-d Peterborough ard 10 d Chief Justice OF
az Court Of uC'- Bench. ana the Solicitor