The Express. — 1866-05-23 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER.  Fulwood Barracks, near Preston, have narrowly escaped being the scene of another outrage similar in character almost to that which was perpetrated there • few year* air, when two officers of the garrison were brutally an deliberately murdered by • private soldier namedld`Kaffery. It seems that a few afternoons ago a private of the 21st Regiment, the depot of which is stationed at Fulwood Barracks, went into the canteen, got drunk, and was afterwards placed in the guard-room by direction of Sergeant Sweeney, of the 21st Regiment, who was on canteen duty. This oirramstance came to the knowledge of Private Hayes, of the 2nd battalion of the 21st Regiment, who was a companion of the man taken to the guard-room for being drunk, and who feeling vexed at the conduct of the sergeant, hit upon the diabolical idea of shooting him for the exercise of his authority in the manner indicated. Knowing that the non-commie sioned officers would have staff parade in the large square of the barracks at half-past 9 o'clock the same night, Hayes appears to have made up his mind to then carry out his wicked intention. At the time named the non-commissioned officers paraded in the square, and by the lights from the different quarters of the garrison, which all shine in the direction of the partial reflection of the moon, their figures could be dammed with moderate distinctness, but it was impossible at any distance to recognise the features of any of them. As soon as they made their appearance Hayes, with a loaded rifle in his hand, proceeded out of his quarters on the western side of the square,walked down one of the lobbies leading to the front, and then deliberately took aim at one of the men in the square, whom he too to be Sergeant Sweeney, but who was in reality Sergeant Roden', of the 2nd battalion of the 25th. Rodgers was standing alone, about 20 yards from Hayes, whilst the general body of non-commissioned officers were about as far again from him. When Hayes discharged the rifle he was heard to say something to the effect that he had " done it for the now." The bullet with which the rifle was loaded passed just over Sergeant Rodgers' head, and cleared the general body of non-commissioned officers by about a foot and a half. It was picked up next morning on the opposite side of the barracks yard, having been completely flattened by coming in contact with the wall there. The noise occasioned by the discharge of the rifle at that time of night naturally created great excitement in the garrison ; but there was no difficulty in learning who had been the cause of it. Hayes after firing the rifle stood still, and being at once seen was seized by Sergeant Sloan, who with sasistance conveyed him to the guard-room. Hayes, who appeared quite cool when arrested, was taken before one of the captains next morning, and on being questioned as to why he fired at the noncommissioned officers in the square, he deliberately intimated that his intention was to shoot Sergeant Sweeney, and no one else. He is now under close surveillance, and will be either brought before a general court martial, or the county magistrates. Hayes is known as a coarse blackguardly fellow. He has been in the army about a dozen years. Once he was drummed out of the Marines for some offence, and he has also been guilty of desertion. After being arrested his rifle was examined, and it was found to be " sighted " for 400 yards. This accounts for the fortunate miss he made at yards. He appears to have aimed at the head of Rodgers, but the wrong sight of the rifle necessarily changed thelaltitude, and in accordance with the ratio of distance caused the bullet just to pass over the heads of the whole party in the square. If they more st a greater distance the level would have beenrfect, and there can be no doubt that several of them would have shot.