The Express. — 1861-09-16 (London, England)

TWO OPIICERS SHOT BY L PRIVATB  SOLDIER.  The Pewits Chromicle of Saturday publiahe% the following in a third edition :—" A fearful tragedy,by which the lives of two military officers have been endangered, and by which, in all probability, one will be sacrificed, occurred at Futweed Barracks this forenoon. In the orderly room this (Saturday) morning a soldier of the 32nd Iteliment, of the name of M'Cafferay, a young nun of about 20 year, of age, a native of Preston, who has been in the regiment about eleven months, was brought before the officer', and for some breach of military discipline and neglect of duty, was sentenced to confinement within the barracks for fete. teen days. On leaving the room M'Cafferay made no remark, but went direct to hie own room, which was in the K passage, on the west side of the first, or infantry, quadrangle. He took his rifle down, and asked a comrade for a piece of greased rag, which was given him, and he cleaned the weapon with it. He then went to an adjoining pwaage, where it is ■apposed he loaded the rifle. Immediately afterwards, namely about 11 o'clock, Colonel Crofton, the colonel of the depot battalion at the barracks, and Captain Ilanhan, the adjutant of the battalion, were walking across the square. M'Cafferay was thee seen to kneel down at the window of his room, take a deliberate situ, and immediately fire. Both officers were struck, and Col. Croftoe stepped back a few paces, threw up his arms, and viol, ' Oh, my God, lam shot.' A number of officers were at the time walking on the flags in front of the officers quarters at the north side of the quadrangle, who saw that Colonel Crofton and Captain Hanhau had been hit. They hastened to their assistance. Captain Harahan managed to walk to his room without assistance, but Colonel Crofton was so severely wounded that he had to be helped to his quarters. Medical assistance was at once procured, when it was found that the ball had struck Colonel Crofton on his left side, gone through his left lung, and out at his right side. It had then struck the adjutant, gone through his left arm, sad lodged in his spine, whence it was, about an hour afterwards, extracted by Dr. Mead and Dr. Clark, the medical officers of the barracks, and in the presence of Dr. Hammond, of Preston, who had been called in to their assistance. M'Caffemy was at once apprehended. lie coolly said to the soldier who seized him, ' Take my rifle.' The civil authorities were communicated with, and he was taken into custody by Mr. Superintendent Giesii, of the county constabulary. When taken in charge he merely said that he had not intended to hit Colonel Crofton, implying, it was understood, that he had been desirous of shooting Captain Harahan. Both the wounded gentlemen are in a very dangerous state ; the colonel's case is, however, considered the more imminent. The sad event, as may naturally be expected, has caused a mast painful feeling, not only amongst every rank at the barracks, but throughout the town, where the news of so cold•bloodod and murderous an attempt on the lives of two superior officers by a soldier was received with the utmost incredulity. M'Cefferay was removed in the charge of Captain Elgen and Mr. Green to the Houso of Correction. We understand that the accused will be brought before the county magistrates on Monday, to answer the serious charge. M`Cafferay has not borne the best character while in the regiment. His father also was transported a few years since for being concerned in a poaching affray."