The Sun. — 1861-01-07 (London, England)

OUTS BARRACKS.  PLYMOUTH, Jan. 6.—Another of those shocking cases of military insubordination, attended with murder, that have of late prevailed in the army, took place in this garrison on Saturday night—a lance-sergeant of the 61st Regiment being shot dead by a private of the same regiment at their quarters in Milbay barracks. The assumed provocation offered to the murderer on this occasion by his victim was of the most trivial character—the more apparent cause of the crime being drunkenness. The deceased, Henry Jones, was 33 years of age, and a native of the parish of St. Mary's, Dover. He joined the regiment in 1851, since which, for his creditable services, he had been raised to the rank of lance-sergeant, and was respected in hie sphere in the regiment. The prisoner, Robert Hackat, is a native of Queen's county, Irelarlii, about 29 years of age, and a very fine-looking young man. He had served between nine and ten years in the army. Ho had served in India in the 96th Regiment, and from that regiment volunteered to the 61st, at Dinapore. He afterwards served at the siego and capture of Delhi, and had a medal for that service, and also bore a good conduct stripe. Lately he has been servant to Lieutenant Hamilton, of the 61st. On Friday the prisoner was paid his wages by his master, since which he had been drinking. On Saturday he ordered, at a public-house adjoining the barracks, a quart of whisky, a half gallon of ale, and, subsequently, a pint more of whisky, and with some of his comrades disposed of the liquor. At the dinner hour he was visited by an old military pensioner named Purcell, also an Irishman, an itinerent dealer in blacking, and frequent visitant of the barracks. Purcell entered into a long conversation with the prisoner about the division of the booty taken at Delhi, and the prisoner gave him his dinner. The deceased, who was present, laughed at Purcell's story, and said to the prisoner, alluding to the pensioner, Go along you fcol, he is spinning that cuffer' to you to get your dinner." This remark was much resented by the prisoner, who was subsequently heard to say that if it had not been for the 50 lashes he would have resented the insult to his countryman, and struck the deceased. Throughout the afternoon he continued to drink ; and, on another occasion, when being asked what he was putting on his shell jacket for, he said he did it because he was sure he should go to the guard-room that night. Towards the evening he went to the officers' servants' private room, and there loaded his rifle, and, returning to barraakroom No. 8 about six o'clock, he pointed the rifle into No. 9 room, which was adjoining, and calling out to " stand aside," fired at the deceased at about a distance (120 feet. Deceased was standing talking about the orders he had just brought to Colour-Sergeant Allen. His back was towards the prisoner. The ball passed through the vertebrae of the spinal column, and through the epigastric region, and struck against the opposite wall. Deceased staggered, fell, and died instantaneously. The prisoner was immediately captured, making no resistance. He was taken from the barrack to the police cells. When there he said he did not intend to shoot Jones, but some one else. During the night he maintained a spirit of bravado ; but towards the morning, as the effects of the drink passed off, he seemed to become sensible of his position. An inquest will take place on the body to-morrow at the barracks.