The Express. — 1866-01-01 (London, England)

TEE MURDER AT DEYONPORT.  Thomas Lynch, a private in the 65th Regiment, stationed at the Raglan Barracks, against whom a verdict of "Wilful Murder " was returasd by a coroner's jury oa Thursday, was before the Devonport heath on Friday morning. The magistrates present were the mayor (Mr. R. C. Smith). Messrs. J. W. W. Ryder, T. Carus, it. J. Laity, J. May, R. M. Wakes, J. Glamor, and G. Dansey. The prisoner appeared to pay little attention to the memedia's, but was evidently very dejected and full of thought. Mr. J. Beer prosecuted on behalf of the military authorities, and in addressing the beech remerked that the prisoner stood charged upon the cowmen warrant for the wilful murder of John Thomas Johnston, who up to the time of his death was • private in the 65th Regiment of Foot. The prisoner being in custody upon the verdict of the fury, he should have simply to ask the beech to commit the primate: to take his trial at the ensuing swims tor the county. He was sorry to say that the case was a very simple oat, and the oviducts very dear against the prisoner. Mr. Beer proceeded to state the 'acts of the case u follows:—The regiment to which the prisoner and deceased belonged had lately tau up their quarters at the Raglan barracks. On the 'Teeing of Tuesday last., between eight and nine o'clock, the prisoner came into the barrack-room returning from a walk, in a state of intoxication, and expressed himself pleased with the place. The deceased, who was also drunk, came over to him sad asked what he was talking about. Prisoner replied, " Nothing about you." Upon which the deceased said, " You're a liar." and struck him • violent blow on the eye. A short struggle ensued, bat both men were removed from the barrack-room to the guard lock-up. When in the room the prisoner, who appeared to begg tly enraged, tried to renew the quarrel, sad ohal4oted the deceased to fight, but Johnston reflood, saying, " on are an older man than lam; se sway." This reply did not appear to have the slightest effect on the prisoner, who sat on the guard bed muttering something to the effect that he had been shamefully served by Johnston, and was heard by a prisoner confined in the guard-room to say, "Your tons is short, and so is mine ;" upon which the deceased said, " I know you well, sod remember your running after me in New Zealand with a firiesibzooet." About ten o'clock the prisoner and the d both laid down on the guard and, according to the statement of Wm. Pickering, • sentinel is the room, fell asleep. All was quiet until about • quarter to three the following morning, when the prisoner got out of bed and proceeded in the direction of the urinal at the extremity of the room. He almost immediately was seen to seize with both hands the handle of a scrubber, a ponderous stick about five feet in length, and deal two blows on the bead and right ear of Johnston. who was at the time fast asleep. The unfortunate man expired almost instantaneous'', having moved or spoken after being struck. The prisoner was seized by his comrades, who had been aroused by the noise, but did not offer any resistance or give soy explanation to the inquiries of the horror-stricken bystanders. When charged with the offence by Mr. Superintendent Lyno, prisoner said—" I never intended to kill him, but be struck me unfairly, the blackguard." With regard to the reply made by the demised to the alleged throat of the prisoner, the bench decided not to accept it as evidence against the prisoner.—The Mayor inquired of the witness Pickering if it was usual to allow men who bad been quarrelling to devil' the same room together. The witness explained that the regiment had not as yet • guard-room of rte own, and were only occupying the one in question temporarily. Mr. Beer was unable to complete the case for the prosecution, the surgeon being absent, and the hearing was adjourned.