WANGANUI.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 424, 15 November 1861, Page 3

WANGANUI.

(From the Wanganui Chronicle ) MURDER OF ENSIGN AND ADJUTANT WM. ALEXANDER, H.M. 65TH REGT. It is our painful duty to record an occurrence, fortunately the first of its kind here, which has naturally produced a deep impression on our community, and hat called forth the liveliest sympathy with the unfortunate sufferers; It may be mentioned here that colorsergeant Collins, the unfortunate man who has murdered his superior officer, wai out with his company on the forenoon of Friday last, and when coming down the Victoria avenue in command of the advanced guard, was directed by the bugle to take the nearest road to the barracks by Maria place. Having, however, passed that road, he considered himself acting according to the bugle call, in marching round by the Rutland Hotel, and was greatly irriuted on being reprimanded in the barrack square before the men by 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 that the perpetrator of this very cowardly and disgraceful deed, acting as pay sergeant, had been Bomewhat behind in pecuniary matters. To make up his last month's balance he borrowed money from various persons. This deficiency had pressed on his mind, and caused him to diink hard: and no doubt he was greatly under the influence of strong drink hard ; and no danbt he was greatly under the influence of strong drink when the foul deed was committed. \As will be seen from his own statement, the desire of avenging a number of insults, which he conceived his superior officer to have offered him, was also an inincitement to the murder. When the occurrence became known in the town on

Friday, the consternation and sorrow were universal and deep. The deceased officer was very much esteemed by all classes of the community. He had by good conduct and great energy of body and mind, risen from the ranks— having enlisted when very young ai a drummer boy—to the position which he j held, and as he loved and had a pride in his profession, which he made his constant study, and was only in his 39th year, he might, if an opportunity of displaying his ability in active service had been afforded him, have attained a much higher rank. He was a strict disciplinaiian; and as the 95th men have lately had a larger amount of drill than before, which Ensign and Adjutant Alexander superintended, and as from his own intimate knowledge of what a soldier should be he was very rigid in his requirements, it seems that he was latterly a little unpopular with the men. It has even been said (hat they do not much regret this sad occurrence. This report we believe to be utterly unfounded, and are confirmed in our belief by a letter from one 6f 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 oi condemnation is only what was to be expected from manly and brave British soldiers. The general respect in which the deceased officer was held, was evidenced by'the very large attendance at his funeral on Monday, notwithstanding the great in- ! clemency of the weather, and the cessation of all business in the town during a great part of the day. Among the strangers present at the funeral were his Honor the Superintendent and the Bishop of Wellington, the latter of whom was assisted by the ! Rev. Mr. NicholSs in reading the burial service. The deceased officer has left a ! widow and two young children, with whom i much sympathy is felt; and we believe Colonel Murray of the 65th 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-sergeant Collins is a smart goodlooking man of about the age of 35. A coroner's inquest was held on the body of the deceased on Saturday afternoon. The evidence was similar to the above, and the verdict returned was * wilful murder.' EXAMINATION. The prisoner was handed over to the civil authorities on Friday afternoon, and on Saturday was brought up before D. S. Durie, Esq., R.M., and John Nixon, Esq., and T. Harper, Esq., J.P.s, on a charge of having feloniously, wilfully, and of his malice aforethought killed and murdered one William Alexander. The prisoner appeared quite cool and unconcerned. John Drummond said : I am a sergeant in her Majesty's 65th regiment stationed at Wanganui; am orderly-room sergeant; know the prisoner at the bar, Color-jergeant James Collins in the aaid regiment, at Wanganui. Between the hours of 12 and 1 yesterday, saw the prisoner in the orderlyroom of the Rutland Stockade at Wanganui. At the said time prisoner came into the orderly-room with a loaded rifle, and therewith shot Ensign Alexander. I was in the room at the time, also the said Ensign Alexander; no one else was in the room. Prisoner, before he shot Ensign Alexander, said to him,• You'll never jaw me again,' or words to that effect. No words took place between the deceased and prisoner in the orderly-room. The deceased did not see the prisoner enter the room. I don't think he heard or saw him come in; he just got up from sitting down at the time. Prisoner had not been sent for. The deceased, when shot, ran over to me, and.l caught him in the act of falling, and he said, 'Oh God! Drummond, I'm shot!' Deceased had not the power to speak after, but sank down and died immediately after. I did not hear any words that took place between deceased and prisoner that day. The bullet went through deceased's lungs, and entered the wall. Prisoner had no occasion to come into the room at the time ;it is the custom always to knock before entering the orderly-room. It is contrary to regulations to have the pieces loaded. Samuel Neill sworn : Am sergeant in her Majesty's 65th regiment, stationed at Wanganui. Know the prisoner at the bar, James Collins. Between the hours of twelve and one yesterday, was sent for by the deceased, William Alexander, ensign in said regiment.' When within twolvo paces of the orderly-room door, heard the report of a rifle. Immediately after, heard the orderly-room orderly exclaim that deceased had been shot. On going round the angle of the orderly-room, towards the door, I met the prisoner coming from the orderly-room door towards me with a rifle in his left hand, and he made use of the words, ' Don't be frightened—it was me that done it.' Passed on by him into the orderly-room, and found the deceased officer, Ensign William Alexander, in the arms of Sergeant John Drummond, orderly-room clerk, who was assisting him down on his back. Remained there till the doctor came, and saw him die. Dr. Gibson was the first doctor that came. The prisoner's previous conduct in the regiment was good. It is contrary to orders to have the pieces loaded in the stockade. Isaac Jackson sworn ; Am a private in the 65th regiment, at Wanganui. Was on duty at the Rutland stockade yesterday. Was orderly-room orderly. Saw the prisoner yesterday, between the hours of twelve and one, with a rifle in his hand. He said, 'I have done it, don't be afraid.' By which I understood he had shot Ensign Alexander. Heard the report of the rifle. When prisoner made use of these words I ran towards him. Was afterwards sent for the doctor. Prisoner was taken into custody immediately. Thomas Pressnell sworn : Am a lance-corporal in the 65th regiment, stationed at Wanganui. Yesterday, between the hours of twelve aud one o'clock, I proceeded to my barracks after dismissing my school, and saw the prisoner. He was then in his bunk. Went towards the bunk door, where he was standing. Asked him if he was going to give out any pay. He said he was by-and-by. Told him I'd like to have a few shillings, and he said, 'stop till presently.' He then closed the door of the bunk and I walked up towards the fireplace. About two minutes after, saw him come out of his bunk with his rifle, and he proceeded towards the square of the Rutland stockade. Prisoner's rifle was not in his hand when I spoke to him about pay. It was standing at the left side of the door. Did not see prisoner load his rifle. About two minutes intervened from the time I saw him crossing the square. Daniel Hughes saiJ: lam a sergeant in ll.M.'s 65th regiment stationed at Wanganui. I was standing at the barrack y ( ird of the Rutland Stockade between the honrs of 12 and 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon ; heard the report of a gun in the direction of the orderly-room, and on looking round, saw the prisoner coming from that direction, followed by other soldiers, among whom was the Acting Sergeant-Major of the detachment, who ordered me to take prisoner in charge. I did *o, aud gave him over to the Sergeant of the Guard, j

James Saville said : I am a private in H.M's 65th regt. at Wanganui. Yesterday, between the hour 3of 12 and 1,1 mounted guard in the Rutland Stockade and saw the prisoner, Color-sergeant Collins, coming out of his room; he went towards the orderly room, and I shortly afterwards heard the report of a rifle, when I alarmed the guard. Was on sentry at the time opposite prisoner's door; prisoner passed me from his quarters with a rifle in his hand; saw prisoner coming back with the firelock in his hand after I heard it go off; saw nothing particular in his appearance. Wm. Davis said : I am a private in H.M.'s6sth regt. at Wanganui. I was leaving the tailors' shop between the hours of 12 and 1 yesterday, at the Rutland Stockade, and prisoner came to me and asked me if Adjutant Wm. Alexander was id the orderly room ; told him I did not know. Prisoner was not excited, and had not his rifle with him. Prisoner was at this stage of the proceedings remanded till Monday, on which day the examination was resumed before D. S. Durie Esq., Resident Magistrate, and R. W. Smith, T. Harper, T. Waters, and W. 11. Watt, Esqs. J.P.s; the court was as on the previous occasion crowded. The prisoner retained his cosiness, but seemed somewhat more depressed than on Saturday. / Wm. Adamson deposed : I am a sergeant in the 57th regt. at Wanganui. I know the prisoner at the bar, James Collins. On Friday last, the Ist inst., was at the garrison cells at the Rutland Stockade; then went to No. 3 cell, where witness was confined, for the purpose of handing him over ; to the Corporal of Police, and the Corporal of Police cautioned him against using any words that might be brought against him, and the prisoner said if lie had the same to go over again he would not stop at it. He said he was not sorry he had done the deed, and that he was ready to do it again if he had the opportunity, meaning that he had shot deceased and would do it again. Prisoner also then stated that he inquired of the orderly-room orderly, whether deceased was in the orderly-room or not, before he shot deceased. Edward Deiiham Tomlinson said: I am Staff Assistant Surgeon at Wanganui. I saw the deceased, Win. Alexander, previous to his being, removed from the orderly-room of tho Rutland Stockade; he was suffering from a gunshot wound in the chesf, passing from the right to the left side. Oa examining him 1 found he was dead. He must have died in a few Becomes: he was dead before I arrived. I have no doubt deceased died from the effects of the said wound. I held a post mortem examination over the body of deceased on Saturday last. There was a wound in the body of deceased, which passed through both lungs, and wounded the large artery, and came out at the left side, breaking the ninth rib on that side ; the sixth rib was also broken on the right side. 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. Alexander had not done me an injury, I should have never thought of shooting him. This last 18 months he has been trying to make me commit myself by abusing me on parade; likewise off parade, by saying I was a d—d stupid ass, and that he'd have me reduced, or he'd know for what; likewise on the first of the month in the Barrack Square of the Rutland Stockade, after inarching out, he said he had a d—d good mind to put me on 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, yell be in it before long, if I can do anything in it; you d—d smart chap, I'll let you off by making you march out the same distance again ;' ' be off,' said he, —'I'll give you a chance—to your barrack room,' meaning a chance of not marching out; and,' Before you are much older, you'll not wear that jacket.' That .'i all that happened at that time. Previous to this about 20 months, I had applied for my discharge; that was the sixth time from the 3rd of June, 1859, which day I landed in Wanganui. I was acting Sergeant-Major 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; I laid the application on the table in front of him; he said, * You send in an application every week for your discharge; I suppose you are going to beg the same as the remainder to get it,' meaning my discharge. I told him at the same time I did not know what I was going to do. He 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 !eft the orderly room. I got about ten paces from the orderly-room door, when be came outside, and ordered me back like a dog, saying,' I'll learn you a trick before I'm done with you yet.' I told him I did not consider I'd committed any crime. Ho said, 'If you don't think so I do, and I'm d —d if there will not soon be one against you; be off out of the orderly room, you useless member of the service.' I left the 100 mat the time when ordered by Mr. Alexander. About five days after, the acting Sergeant-Major went to his duty. I was passing through the barrack-square; Mr. Alexander was cotni g into the Stockade by the back eate. He called me over to him and said, 'You think yourself a d—d smart fellow, don't you ? You are every tiling 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 He said he saw one of the men of No. 2 Company drunk in town : that it wes my place to look to all these things. I was not out of the barracks that day; this was between 11 and 12 o'clock. He would not tell me the man's name, but said that if he was not confined by dinner time for being drunk, he would confine me; and h,e sajd,' You may think yourself very safe that I don't confine you now, bo off you go.' That is all that happened there. Ou the day the accident happened, we were marching out; after the abuse he gave me in the barrack square, and several times before, it enraged me to such a degree that I lost all recollection of what I was going to do. I went to the orderly room, and shot him. When I came to my senses after doing it, which was not for some hours, I knew I had committed murder, and it was too late to regres, at that time; only for his tyranny towards me he'd be alive and lat liberty; but then he could not expect anything else by the way he cqrrjed on, which all the men in the barracks are quite aware of. The prisoner was committed for trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court to be holden at Wellington. We understand that the prisoner has been visited by the several clergymen of the place, as well as the Bishop of Wellington. He 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 on such conduct is, that he has not yet regained his senses.

Building SooiETY.~We hear that there is every probability of a third society being started before long upon similar principles to the two already so prosperously carrying out the intention with which they were commenced—that of en- | abling persons of small means to get little properties around them by easy instalments of money. We have no doubt that there will be found to be plenty of room for a. trio of these vevy beneficial I ipc^tieg,