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CHARGE AGAINST A HUSSAR SERGEANT.
DISTRICT COURT-MARTIAL.
A District Court-Martial assembled at the Main Guard, Portsmouth, on Tuesday morning for the trial of “Sergeant William Henry Butler,” of the 14th Hussars, stationed at Hilsea, on charges of leaving his guard without orders from his superior officer, and conducting himself to the prejudice of good order and military discipline by using abusive language towards a prisoner in the guard-room.
—Lieutenant Reiley, 14th Hussars, prosecuted, and Mr. G. Feltham, solicitor, appeared as the prisoner’s “friend.” Prisoner pleaded not guilty to both charges.
—Prisoner was the non-commissioned officer in charge of the Hussar guard at Hilsea Barracks on the night of the 5th instant, and as such it was his duty to mount night guard. The evidence for the prosecution was to the effect that the prisoner left barracks about 7.45 p.m in the rear of a private named Simmonds, and that both entered the Green Posts public-house, in the direction of the house of Captain King—the officer commanding the 14th Hussars at Hilsea—at North End. At 9.50 he was seen at North End on his way back to Hilsea, and at 10.10 he re-entered barracks. The evidence in regard to the second charge was to the effect that prisoner was absent at nine o’clock, when he should have relieved his sentry. Consequently Private Parske, whose turn it then was for sentry duty, was under the necessity of posting himself. He was relieved at 11:6 p.m by the prisoner, who ordered him to the guard-room and dismissed him as usual. Parske went to the rear, by permission of the prisoner, and on his return the latter charged him with having been insolent. Witness was put into confinement, and when in the “dry room,” which communicates with the guard-room, he was abused by the prisoner, who was swearing and walking up and down the apartment. It was also alleged that prisoner called Parske a cur.
—Sergeant A. W. Kilbright, R.A., who was at the guard-room at the time, corroborated, adding that this occurred about 11.40 p.m.
—In answer to the Court, witness admitted that about three minutes before his confinement Parkes used insolent language to the prisoner.
—As to the first charge, Sergeant Butler admitted being out of barracks at the time stated, but alleged that he had received verbal orders to leave barracks while on duty in order to convey letters to and from his commanding officer’s house at North End. At the same time he admitted going into the Green Posts public-house, but alleged that the case was being “made up against him to get the other man off.”
—Lieut. W. H. Mills, R.A., who was in charge of the Guards and pickets at Hilsea Barracks on the night of the 5th inst., said he gave prisoner no leave to quit his post.
—Cross-examined by the prisoner: It was not prisoner’s duty to ask witness permission to leave his post if he had orders to do so from his immediate superior officer.
—As to the second charge prisoner asked to be granted two hours to prepare his defence, and intimated that he would probably call ten witnesses, upon which the Court adjourned.
The District Court Martial re-assembled on Wednesday, when the prisoner read his defence. He contended that he had acted under the orders of his late Commanding Officer in leaving barracks to deliver letters, and said he was obliged to leave on the night in question in his capacity as orderly-sergeant, as the orderly-clerk was absent. He added that had it not been for the attack upon him for putting the witness Parske under arrest there would have been no charge brought against him. After pointing out some discrepancies in the evidence relative to the second charge, the prisoner regretted that as a non-commissioned officer of several years’ standing he could not be permitted to give evidence on his own behalf, and said he was confident the Court would not allow him to be deprived of the post he had held for so long if there was the slightest suspicion of malice or envy in the affair.
—He then called Troop-Sergeant Major Mitchell, of his own corps, who stated that Captain Broadhurst, when commanding officer of the detachment in December last, gave orders that all letters for officers and men in the corps, whether living in barracks or outside were to be delivered by the barrack orderly sergeant in person in the absence of some other trustworthy person. These orders had been carried out to the best of the witness’s knowledge down to the present time. The sergeant of the guard was also barrack orderly sergeant, and it was his duty to deliver letters immediately the post came in at 6.30 p.m. Prisoner, as sergeant of the guard, would have to mount guard at seven o’clock, and then deliver letters to persons outside barracks as soon after as possible.
—Sergeant Cunningham, Lance-Sergeant R. Leisham, Private Creed, and Corporal Jeffreys then gave evidence to the effect that prisoner returned to barrack after delivering the letters, and it was explained that the reason Parske was posted as sentry by another Private was that he (Parske) was not to be found at the proper time, and the retiring sentry was sent for him, another man being put on in the meantime, while the prisoner went to do other work.
—In explanation of his entering the barracks at 10.10, the prisoner said he had simply gone out to take his reports to the officers’ quarters as usual. He added that Parske was insolent when he came off guard, and was then put under arrest.
—After a long consultation the Court convicted the prisoner, who was given a good character extending over a period of nine years’ service. It was also intimated that he was entitled to two good-conduct stripes.
—Sentence will be promulgated in due course, after confirmation.
— Southern Weekly News, Saturday 23 March, 1889 (source)