WANGANUI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 21, 21 November 1861, Page 5 (Supplement)

WANGANUI.

MURDER OF EXSTGX AND ADJUTANT W.u. ALEXANDER, H.M. Gstu KEGIMEXT.

[Front the Wanganui Chronicle, Xovemher 7], It is our painful duty to record an occurrence, for; innately the first of its kind here, which has naturally proceeded a deep impression on our community, and has called forth the liveliest sympathy with the unfortunate sufferers. The particulars of the case will be found in a more detailed form the evidence given helore the Bench of Magistrates. But it may ho mentioned hero that colour-sergeant Collins, the unfortunate man who has murdered his superior officer, was out with his company on the forenoon of Friday last, and ween coming down the Victoria avenue in command of the advanced guard was directed by the bugle to lake the nearest road to the barrack's by Maria place - Hauing, however, passed that road, he considered himself acting according to the bugle call in marching round by the Rutland Hotel, and was greatly irritated on being veprimanded in the barrack square before the men bv Ensign Alexander for having done so. His indignation vented itself in the assassination of his superior officer by a shot fired from a rifle behind his back. It is said thrt the perpetrate of this very cowradly and disgraceful deed, acting as pay sergeant had been somewhat behind in pecuniary matters. To make np his last month’s balance he borrowed money from various persons. This deficiency had pressed on his mind, and caused him to drink hard ; and no doubt he was greatly under the influence of strong drink when the foiil deed w r as committecd. As well bescen from his own statement, the desire of avenging a number of insults, which ho conceived his superior officer to have offered him, was also an incitement to the murder. "When the occurrence became known in the town on Friday, the consternation and sorrow were universal anc deep. The deceased officer was very much esteemed by all classes of the community. Ho had by good conduct and great energy of body a«d mind risen, from the ranks—having enlisted when very young as a drummer boy—to the position whsch he held, and as he loved and had a pride in his profession, which he made his constant study, and was only in his •filth year, ho might, if-an opportunity of displaying his ability in active service had been aflorded him have attained a much higher rank. Ho was a strict disciplinarian ; and as the Goth men have lately had a larger amount of drill than before which Ensign and Aojutant Alexander superintend, and as from his own intimate knowledge of a soldier should bo, he was very rigid requirements, it seems that ho was latterly a little unpopular with the men. It has even been said that they do not much regret this sad occurrence. This report we believe to be utterly unfounded, and conifirmcd in our belief by a letter from one of themselves, Intimating their disapproval of the deed, and their deep regret that any of their number should have been so far misled by vindictive feeling. Such an expression of condemnation is only what was to be expected from manly and bravo British soldiers. The general respect in which bis deceased

officer was held, was evidenced by the very lai-o-e attendance at his funeral on Monday, notwithstanding the great inclemency of the weather, and coalition ol ulll business in the town during a greater part ol the day. the strangers present at the luneral were Ilis Honor of the Superintendent and die Bishop of Wellington, the latter of whom was assisted by thu Rev. Mr. Nicliolls in reading the burial service. The deceased officer has left a widow and two young children, with whom much sympathy is felt ; and we believe Colonel Murray ot the Gsth, intends making a representation to the Horse Guards, in order that, if possible, the pension which a few years’ longer service of her late husband would have secured for Mrs. Alexander, may be obtained for her.

Color-sergeants Collins is a smart goodlookin" man, of about the age of 35. He was handed to the civil authorities on Friday, afternoon, and on Saturday was brought up before D. S. Durie, h-sq., R. M., and John Nixon, Fsq.. andT. Harper, •nr ; J .' IVs > on a obarge of having feloniously, wiiltully, and of his malice aforethought killed and niurcled one Willam Alexander. The prisoner apperaed quite cool and unconcerned.

Alter hearing the evidence, the Resident Magistrate then asked the prisoner if he had anything to say in answer to the charge, informing him that he was not obliged to say anything, and that what he did say might be given in evidence against him on his trial ; whereupon. ° James Collins said : If Mr. Alexandoa had not done mo an injurs, I should have never thought shooting him This last 18 months he has been trying to make me commit myself by abusing me on parad! likewise olf parade, by saying I was a T stupid ass, and that he’d have mo reduced oc he’d know for what; likewise on the first of the month in the Barrack Square of the Rutland Stockade, after marching out, he said ho had a d d good mind to put me ou the shelf, meaning to place me under arrest : that I looked such a smart fellow ; and, “If I can catch you at any time, I’ll place you in that guard room, ye'll he in it befooe long, if I can do any thing in it : you d——cl smart ciiap, 111 lot you oit by making you march out (lie same distance again ” ; “bo oti',” savs be, 111 give you a chance—to your barrack room,” meaning a chance of not marching out; and, Before yon arc much older, you’ll not wear that jacket.” That is all happened at Unit time. Pro vious to this about 20 months, I had applied for my discharge ; that was the sixth time from the vd. Juno ISoO, which clay T I landed in M auganui. I was acting Sergeant V. ajor to the detachment at the time, the application I brought myself to the orderly-room. Mr, Alexander was sitting at the orderly room table at the time ;he was the only person that was in the orderly room at the time*: 1 laid tlie application on the table in front of him; he said,“ You send iu an application every week for your discharge ; I suppose you are going to beg the same as the I’emainder to* get it,” meaning my discharge. I told him at (he same time, I did not know what 1 was going to do. ITc tore the application up and threw it at me ; he said I was more trouble than I was worth I made him no answer, saluted him, and left the orderly room. I got about ten paces from the orderly room door, when ho came outside, and ordered me back like a dog, saying, “I’ll learn you o trick before I’m done with you yet. I told him I did not consider I’d committed any crime. He said, “If you don't think so, 1 do and I’m d d if there will not soon be one against yon ; be off out of the orderly room, you useless member of the service.” I left the orderly room at the time when ordered. Mr. Alexander. About 5 days after, the acting Sergeant Major went to his duty. I was prsshm through the barracg squre ; Mr. Alexander was coming into the Stockade by the hack gate. He called me over to him and said, “ Ton think yourself a d cl smart fellow don’t you ? You are every think but that in my eye and from that to last Friday he continued just the very same. I could not go to parade without being checked, and whenever he met me he had something to say to me. He was abusing me some time afterwards in the barrack Square of the Rutland Stockade. II o said bo saw one of the men of No. 2 Co. drunk in town ; (bat it was my place to look to all these tilings. I was not out of the barracks that day this was beteewn 11 ancM2 o’clock. He w ould not tell me the man’s name, but said that if lie AViis not confined by dinner time for being drunk, he would confine me ; and he said, “You may think yourself very safe that I don’t coofine you now, so o(f you go.” That is all happened there. Ou the day the accident happened, we were after marching out ; after the abuse he gave me in the barrraek squre, and several times before it enraged me to such a degree that 1 lost all recollection of what I was going to do. I wont to the orderly room, and shot him. When I came to my Reuses alter doing it, which was not for some hours 1 knew I had committed murder, and it was too late to regret, at that time; only for his tyranny towards me he’d be alive and me at liberty ; but then he could not expect any tiding else by the way he carried on which all the men iu the barracks is quite aware of. A coroner’s inquest was held on the body of the deceased ou Saturday afternoon. The evidence was similar to the above, arid die verdict retuaned was “ wilful murder.”

Wc understand that the prisoner lias been visited by the several clergymen of the place, as well as the Bishop of 'Wellington. lie has expressed regret; but the value of such an expression of feeling is not great, when it is understood that he has been found guilty of several falsehoods within the last two days. The most, charitable construction to put <*n such conduct is, that he has not yet re. gained his senses. The prisoner lias been conveyed to Wellington to await his trial.