The Lancaster Herald, and Town and County Advertiser. — 1831-12-17 (Lancaster, Lancashire, England)

SOLDIER  BY A COMRADE.  By letters just received from St. Helena we learn that at a military post in the remotest and most secluded part of the island, which was occupied by only two privates, a most unprovoked, brutal, and atrocious murder had been committed, which had produced dismay throughout the island, hitherto remarkable for personal security, and for the absence of scenes of outrage and violence. The following are the particulars :—ln the island of St. Helena there is a rock, the highest in the island, called the Sugar Loaf, rising on the side next to the sea, almost per. pendicularly, to the height of nine hundred feet. Upon the summit of this rock there is a level of about ten feet square, with a wall erected towards the sea, to prevent accident, two feet and a-half high. On the laud able near the top there is 4 small shelf, on which is erected a but for the residence of two soldiers, who are always stationed upon this rock to look out for ships approaching the island, and whose duty it is, whenever a sail appears in sight, to communicate by telegraph to Ladder. hill battery. This most singular and prominent spot in the whole island has been the scene of a most atrocious murder. On the 11th of August last the two men, who were on duty at the Sugar Loaf Rock, by names Albutt and Taylor, each made a ship at the same or nearly the same instant. Each claimed the merit of the discovery and for which there is a reward of five shillings Not being able to agree as to whom the prize for the discovery belonged, a quarrel ensued. Taylor descended to the hut on the shelf, armed himself with a musket, returned, and fired at Album The shot having missed, Taylor returned to the lint a second time, took another musket, and ascended to the summit. Taking a more deliberate aim, he fired a second time, and shot Alhutt through the lower part of the face, the ball carrying away a great part of the jaw. Taylor, finding his victim still alive, dragged bine to the edge of the precipice, and hurled him over the wall, and as he supposed into the sea, thinking that the der would not be discovered. But it so happened that at a distance of a fall of seven hundred feet, and above two hundred from the sea, there was a small portion of a rock jutting out, upon which the body fell. Taylor then procured large stones from the land side, which he hurled down upon the body with a hope of dislodging it, hut to no avail. On the following morning Taylor signalised that his comrade Albutt had left the station in the night, and had not since returned. Upon this signals were made to every post in the island to look out for Alhutt, and to apprehend him. In the meantime another man had been appointed to the station, m ho, on looking over the wall, discoveted the body of Albutt lying upon the projecting part of the rock. Upon this discovery a rumour was instantly current that the unfortunate Albutt had not come by his death fairly. In consequence of these rumours a party of soldiers were ordered to proceed to the top of Sugar Loaf Rock, provided with four coils of rope and sailcloth, with the necessary tackle for lowering a hammock for the purpose of raising the hotly. The soldiers having succeeded in raising the body, it was discovered to have been barbarously murdered, and the course of the ball was apparent. Taylor was instantly secured as the munlerer. A Coroner's Inquest was held upon the body, and a verdict of " Wilful Murder" rennin! aga'nst Taylor, who was shortly to be tried at a special session to be held for that purpose. Subsequent to Taylor's committal, his si ife, who had u imessed the humid transaction, stated that, as she was ascending the rock in the afternoon, she heard the report of a musket. Wiwi, slue gained the hut she saw her lin,banil cons back, take another musket, and re-aseetul the summit ; she followed, and saw hint tire at Allow, who fill. lieu tally womaled she supposed, but not dead. Ike husband then dragged) l i 11l to the wall at the edge of the precipice, and ,hurled him over ; and finding that he had mis.sed g • g into the sea, the stones were thrown to dislodge !tin:. The body pre•ented a singularly dreadful mutilak.!! au.. pea:mace, for nut a bone hail escaped being bn ken.  356  I