The Daily Times. — 1861-01-08 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

ANOTHER MURDER BY A SOLDIER.  On Saturday evening. Robert Hacked, private in a detachment of the 61st Regiment, stationed in Millbaybarracks, deliberately shot his sergeant, Henry Jones, through the body, killing him on the spot. It appeared that at noon, instead of eating his dinner, Hacked gave it to an old Irish per Toner named Purcell, who was in the habit of selling blacking and other smallwares to the soldiers, and who encouraged him to expect some Delhi prize money. Hacked is servant to Lieutenant Hamilton, and went to that officer's quarters in the afternoon to attend to his duties. On returning to the barrack rooms he heard that the fact of his having given away his dinner had been made the subject of a joke, among others by deceased, with whom he had had a quarrel a week previously. He was called from one room to the other to receive orders, but instead of obeying he raised his right foot on a form, and having levelled his rifle, drew the trigger with his left hand and fired through the doorway which leads from one room to the other, at Sergeant Jones. The ball passed through his back and struck a bedstead in front. At the moment of the discharge Colour-Sergeant Allen was standing by the side of deceased, and asked him if the orders from head-quarters were correct. Jones replied, "I think so," and dropped on the floor immediately. He then made an effort to get on his feet, rolled round in agony two or three times, and was dead in less than five minutes. Sergeant Allen went into the next room and seized Hacked, who said " Take me ; one man will do." Before firing he said " Stand clear." There were many men in the two rooms, and one of them, Corporal Graham, made an ineffectual effort to get round a table and throw up the barrel of the rifle. Jones is above 33 years old; he commenced a soldier's life at Chatham in  1851 in his present regiment, and in December last, after the termination of three years' service as an effective corporal, was made a lance sergeant. His entire service of 10 years would have been completed in about a month, and he had just entered for 11 years additional, to complete the term of 21 years. He was one of the quietest and best-conducted men in the regiment ; some say he was a native of Dover, others that he was born in Germany and brought up in London, where he intended to have gone shortly on furlough. Hacked was born in Queen's County, Ireland. He belonged to the 96th Regiment until 1855, when he joined the 61st at Hyderabad, in the Punjab. Latterly he has been often in a state of intoxication, and was in that condition on Saturday evening, when lodged in the Plymouth prison, where lie stated that "the bullet was not intended for Sergeant Jones." He is above thirty-six years of age, of middle stature, strong angular frame, sanguine complexion, black hair, and of rather a ferocious appearance. It is stated that while Purcell was dining Jones told him he would " spin up any yarn to get a good dinner," on which Hacked asked, " Who said that ? " and Jones answered, " I did ; what of that? " Hacked retorted angrily, " I thank you for running down a townee ; ' if it was not for fifty lashes I'd strike you." When he left the room for his rifle he took off his coat and put on a shell jacket, and on being asked by a comrade why ho did so, replied, " I will go into the guardroom (the cell) before night." His rifle was kept in Lieutenant Hamilton's quarters, where it is supposed he loaded it. The non-commissioned officers of the 61st regimeut complain of the regulation which permits a private to have constantly at command twenty rounds of hall-cartridge. It is the practice in the Royal Marine Battalion to issue to each sentry only when he goes on duty ten rounds of ball-cartridge, which are returned on the completion of his guard. The headquarters of the 61st is stationed in Plymouth Citadel, under command of Major Randolph, in the absence of Colonel Raney. The detachment at Millbay Barracks comprises four companies, under Major Gordon.  Giuglini is at present singing at the d'Angennes Theatre, Turin, with his wonted success. A