John Clayson

341

Maureen Withey on 23rd July 2024

The Court Martial.—The trials before the Court Martial of of several privates of the 7th Hussars, charged with mutiny, are going on at our Barracks. The first case, that Private John Martin, occupied the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday last week, on Saturday the Court was not an open one,  the Members only meeting to decide the verdict and sentence, which are not divulged until they have received his Majesty's assent. ... Norfolk Chronicle, 3 Nov 1832. MUTINY IN THE SEVENTH HUSSARS. A Court-martial has been sitting for some days past, at Norwich, on several privates of the 7th Hussars, on a charge mutiny. The proceedings are exceedingly voluminous; but the main facts of the case will be found the following extracts from the evidence : Colonel Keane, the Commanding Officer of the regiment, and the prosecutor, stated—On the 26th of September gave out a regimental order for foot parade to take place the afternoon of the next day. On parade the 27th, when the general parade was formed, called the officers commanding troops, and the serjeant-majors, to the front, and, after a few preliminary directions relative to ball practice, ordered them to fall again, when I immediately gave the word attention, but with one or two exceptions, all the men stood fast. immediately called on the Adjutant, and asked him whether word was not distinctly heard. He remarked that had better give the order a second time. I did so in as clear and distinct manner possibly could, in order to prevent all mistakes, when the same disobedience occurred, with the exceptions I before stated. 1 then walked to the head of the column, in front of the leading troop, when I observed the whole of the front rank of that troop standing at ease, with the exception of the corporal. After taking few seconds for consideration, I seized hold the right hand man of the troop, who was standing at ease, and, pulling him out. of the ranks, made him prisoner, and sent the Adjutant up to Captain Bathurst, who was ill and confined to his room, and ordered him down into the mess-room, to sit as President of a regimental Court-martial, with Lieutenant Russell and Cornet Shelley, to try Philip Pitman, the man had seized from the ranks. He was tried, found of insubordination, and sentenced to the punishment 200 lashes, which he received immediately. This restored discipline in the troop and the men thenceforth obeyed my orders. After the punishment of Pitman, I addressed the troops desiring them, if they had any grievances, to state them their Troop Officer, that they might be communicated to me, the Commanding Officer, and if they were found to be real, they should redressed. I had heard someone state that the men were not allowed time for their meals; this, however, was not the case, I had issued express orders as to the time the men were to have for meals, and if that time were not allowed was against my orders. Subsequently to the parade of the 27th I received anonymous letter, purporting to the grievances of one of the troops. Upon this I ordered the troop called out, showed them the letter, and asked if was written with their sanction, when the whole troop disavowed it. length 1 traced it one of the troop, a trumpeter. When I addressed the men after the parade, I told them that if grievances did exist, which, I contend, did not, there was a proper method obtaining redress of them, and that it was impossible they could  expect to have them redressed if they suffered their Commanding Officer to remain in ignorance. The men knew the course they ought to adopt, for an instance had occurred where two privates had obtained a redress of grievances on proper application. In conclusion Colonel Keane stated that he had served his King for a period of 30 years, and he would leave the Court and he would leave the Court to judge whether it was likely he should, by uncalled for harshness or severity, subject subject himself to merited reproach, and ultimately be obliged to leave the regiment with such a stigma on his character. It appeared from the evidence adduced against John Martin one of the men already tried (the charge against all the prisoners is identically same) that the disobedience orders had been previously discussed in the barrack-room that on one occasion, Martin was heard say, By --- we must stand fast, and no man must split. And their way the parade, on the 27th Sept. Martin said if any man was asked the grievance, he was to say “Hard drill, and hard duty.” Lieutenant Russell stated, that when the Colonel gave the word “attention” the second time, and moved in front of the right troop, witness stepped out, and gave the word “attention,” which was obeyed by the whole of the troop, except four or five. Martin leaned forward and said, Do it for Mr Russell; he is not the Colonel. Five of the prisoners have been already tried ; but the decision the Court cannot known until the proceedings have been laid before the Commander in-Chief. Berkshire Chronicle, 10 Nov 1832. THE LATE COURT MARTIAL. The five prisoners (Martin, Almond, Bone, Edwards, and Clayson), the 7th Hussars, who we stated in our last were removed from the Cavalry-barracks, were escorted a part of that regiment under the command of Lieut. Patteson, the Adjutant. On their arrival in London Friday night last, they were conveyed to the Tower, where they are confined in one of the rooms of the main guard-house, which has been fitted up as temporary prison and arrangements are now making for the accommodation of a greater number. The sentences having been submitted to his Majesty and received bis approval, were transmitted to Colonel Keane, as the Commanding Officer of the 7th Hussars. They are as follow:— John Martin, found guilty of the whole of the Charge preferred against him, and was sentenced by the Court to be transported as a Felon for Life. Thomas Almond acquitted of that part of the charge of haying joined in the mutiny on parade, but guilty of every other part of the charge produced against him, and sentenced to be transported as a felon for the space of seven years. Henry Bone guilty of the whole of the charge brought against him, and sentenced to be transported as a felon for the term of seven years, Charles Edwards, not guilty of joining in the mutiny on parade, but the Court is of opinion that the prisoner is guilty of all and every other part of the charge produced against him. He was sentenced to be imprisoned with hard labour in the County Gaol at Maidstone, in Kent, for the space of calendar .months. John Clayson, guilty of the whole of the charge, and be transported as a felon for 14 years. Norfolk Chronicle, 24 Nov 1832.