Soldiers of the RegimentPrivate
James Wilson
From Court Martial Records from the 1840s
Private James Wilson
G.O. Headquarters: Fort St. George, 28th November 1845. General Court
Martial held at Secunderabad on Tuesday 7th October 1845, on 1340
Private James Wilson in the H or Captain George Kennedy’s Company,
attached to the C or Captain James Symington Shortt’s Company.
First Charge: Drunk in Barracks, being the 4th time within 12 months.
Second Charge: Conduct to the prejudice – when a prisoner wilfully
damaged the Privy seat of the cell in which he was confined.
Third Charge: Disobeyed lawful command of Corporal Cornelius Sweeny, by
refusing to come out of a Regimental Cell when ordered.
Fourth Charge: Disobeyed lawful command of Sergeant Benjamin Waters, by
refusing to come out of a Regimental Cell when ordered.
Fifth Charge: Conduct to the prejudice – “In having at the same place,
on the following morning, when ordered by his Commanding Officer, Major
William Sadlier, as a punishment, for the offences above set fourth, to
suffer confinement of seven days to be deprived of his pay for the days
of such imprisonment, and to make good the damage done by him in the
Cell, he, Private James Wilson, being at the same time informed, that he
had the option of being tried for his offences by a Court Martial
instead of submitting to such forfeiture, made use of the following
highly disrespectful and insubordinate language to the said Major
Sadlier – namely – “I will have a Court Martial, shoot me, I don’t care
what you do with me, you can try me by what Court Martial you like, I
will never do any good, I would as soon be as dead as alive, send me out
of the service and you have an opportunity now, I will have satisfaction
of some of those fellows, that Adjutant” – (meaning Lieutenant and
Adjutant George Latham Tomson of the same Regiment) “kept me out with my
knapsack on, me running about the other morning for two hours” or words
to that effect.
“In having at the same time and place, on rejoining the Prisoners in the
Orderly Room Verandah, made us of the following highly insubordinate and
threatening language in allusion to his Superior Officer, Lance Corporal
George Osborn of the same Regiment – namely – “When I get out of this I
will have a day’s fowling and that bloody Corporal Osborn I will have it
in for him the first – for he sleeps all day and watches me all night”
or words to that effect”.
Sentence: Transported beyond Seas as a felon for 7 years.
NOT CONFIRMED
Prisoner ordered to be released and return to his duty.
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