Star. — 1824-12-01 (London, England)

ASSASSINATION OF MAJOR CHAMPION.  /DOM TUE NEWFOUNDLAND OAZETTS OF NOV. 9. ST. VINCENT, OCTOBER Is. • • It is our painful duty to record, in this day's Gazette, the melancholy death of Major Champion, 21st Royal North British Fusileers, commanding the troops in this garrison. On returning to the tort on Wednesday evening last, at about seven r.m. he was shot by the sentry pos•ed at the drawbridge, and expired before ten on the same evening. The wretch who committed this diabolical act is now given over to the civil authority; and as this is the second instance of a similar nature which he has endeavonred (though in the first instance happily unsuccessfully) to perpetrate, it is hoped he will soon meet with that fate which he so richly deserves. The body of Major Champion was interred with every military honour due to the much•laniented deceased on Thursday evening, and marked respect was paid to his memo! y by the principal authorities, civil and military, topther with most of the respectable inhabitants. The foregoing particulars (transmitted to us from the regiment) comprise a faithful detail of as shocking an event as ever was recorded—one, we are happy to say, hitherto unprecedented in this colony, and of which, perhaps, scarcely a parallel can be found in the annals of the British army. It has thrown a gloomy melancholy over this community, which at once marks the detestation and horror in which the crime is held, and the deep commiseration that is felt by all for the fate of Major Champion, and in the affliction of his widowed Lady, and five fatherless children, when the melancholy tidings shall reach them in England. We halm but few particulars to add to what is communicated officially aly,ve, respecting the death of this gallant Office!. He was on his return from town to his quarters in the fort, and had reached about the middle of the drawbridge, when he Wa • challenged by the sentinel on duty at the end of it, who inquired particularly as to his identity, and being assured it was the Major who approached, he immediately shot him, and he fell from his horse on the bridge, the distance between him and the assassin being about six yards, and the shot passing below the left breast through the body. An inquest was held on Thursday on the body, and a verdict of wilful murder was returned, when the culprit was committed to gaol upon the Coroner's warrant. ijor Champion was in his 37th year; he had seen much service, principally as an Officer of the Staff, in various parts of the world, and was much esteemed by his brother Officers, as well as all those who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. A vessel was sent express to his Excellency the Governor, on the night of the Major's death, and he returned here early yesterday morn• ing from Canouan, since which he has directed a Cow t of Sessions to be called for the trial of the prisoner,— The wretched assassin is named James Ballasty; he is a native of Ireland—has been about ten years in rte Regiment, and boie a bad character in it. He acknowledged his guilt at the moment of the murder, and repeatedly since: indeed, the savage and unfeeling manner in which, we are assured, he exults in the deed, almost exceeds belief, although his victim not long since is understood to haye solicited sad obtained a .remission of his punishment for an attempt to commit a similar -crime.  r % 14; N Mr:t R •