The Sun. — 1849-08-31 (London, England)

COURT MARTIAL.  PLYMOUTH, AUG. 28.—A court-martial assembled this morning on board her Majesty's ship Impregnable, in Hamoaae, for the trial of Commander Pitman, of her Majesty's sloop Childers, on the following charge :-" General cruelty, from or about the 4th of September, 1846, until the 20th of May, 1849, and for false statements in the log of her Majesty's ship Childers, on or about the 9th day of October, 1848. " General cruelty and oppression during the period commencing on or about the 4th of September, 1846, and ending on the 20th of May, 1849. "False expenditure of stores, viz., a hammock.cloth, represented to have been washed away, on or about the 14th of October, 1846, and a maintop sail, represented to have been lost on or about the 19th of October, 1838. " False statements in the log-book of her Majesty's ship Childers, from September, 1846, to the 20th of May, 1839." The court consisted of Admiral-Superintendent Sir J. Louis ; Captain W. H. Johnstone, her Majesty's ship Agincourt ; Captain M‘Dougal, her Majesty's ship La Hogue ; Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, her Majesty's ship Impregnable; and Captain George Greville Wellesley, of her Majesty's ship Daedalus. Mr. Eastlake officiated as Judge Advocate. The prisoner was professionally assisted by Messrs. Elworthy and Lockyer, and the prosecutors by Mr. W. J. Little.  The Court opened at nine A.M., and were in deliberation an hour and a half, owing to the non-arrival of important witnesses. - The prosecutors, Lieut. Graham and Mr. Elliott, on being informed by the President that the required witnesses should be subpcented, consented to proceed with the case. Mr. 0. H. Davis, clerk in the Accountant-General's office, produced the following books belonging to her Majesty's :sloop Childers—viz., the logs from July, 1846, to July, 1849 ; boatswain's and carpenter's expense books, from July, 1846, to July, 1849 ; and the defaulters' book from March,lB46, to December, 1848. Lieutenant Graham (Mr. Elliott being absent) called First-Lieutenant A. R. B. Carter, who was First-Lieutenant of the Childers from August, 1846, to March, 1847, during which period he considered Commander Pitman's conduct to have been inconsistent and severe. Witness had on one occasion found a  mutinous letter on the Captain's skylight, which he gave to Commander Pitman. It was not addressed on the outside. It bore the fictitious signature of "My name I wish you may find." The letter spoke of the punishments and of making men jump overboard. Commander Pitman would sometimes 'punish a man for an offence which would be considered slight on another occasion. Witness could not, from the length of time which had elapsed, mention any particular instance. 'While he was on board five or six men had been flogged, and the secondary punishments, such as black-listing, men carrying hammocks and handspikes for hours on their backs, and stopping grog, were very severe, especially as the men were required, notwithstanding, to perform their regular duties. The ship had not a good and orderly crew, and the discipline was lax. Commander Pitman's conduct was inconsistent and severe, but he could not say it was cruel or oppressive. The usual number of lashes inflicted was from two to three dozen.  On cross-examination by Commander Pitman, the witness stated that he had heard several of the officers 'complain of, and wish they were out of the ship. On examination by Mr. Graham, he stated that the laxity of discipline was owing to the severe punishments and to the frequent change of officers. He left because he wished to return home, and was glad ;of any opportunity to get away from an uncomfortable ship. An uncomfortable ship was one in which the officers and commander were not on good terms. Mr. A. H. Elliott, late Master of the Childers, stated that a private Marine, named Hague, was invalided and was sent home, he being of unsound 'mind, caused by the cruel conduct of Commander Pitman, who, for stealing candles to burn in the lower deck when battened down in consequence of 'bad weather, had sentenced Hague to receive four 'dozen lashes, and kept him for four or five days a prisoner on deck, abaft on the stern gratings, and unsheltered in the cold ; he became insane before released from punishment. The next case was that of a private named White, who committed suicide by jumping overboard, within four or five minutes after having been threatened by Commander Pitman with four dozen lashes for appearing at quarters dirty and with his clothes not mended; he was ordered forward to clean, and, although sober, jumped overboard itnmediately the log omitted to mention the sentence. Witness had seen a lad, named Sangyer, naked and insensible at the galley fire, after the punishment of " scrubbing." Thermometer 50 to 53. The cause of so many men deserting at Hobart Town was the cruelty on board. While at New Zealand an ordinary seaman, named M'Cleet, had received three dozen lashes for being dirty at divisions. The Court rose at six P.M., and adjourned to nine A.M. on Wednesdey, when Commander Pitman will cross-examine Mr. Elliott.  There are 31 witnesses summoned, 16 appeared ; the others are scattered in different parts of the kingdom. It is expected that the trial will continue several days.