Page 233 - Reading Mercury

morning. He and witness slept the previous night in a hay loft; there were no women
with them.
The Coroner: Now be careful, will you swear there were no females with you that
night?—Witness: There were none. We went there about eleven o’clock. Our time for
being in billet was eleven o’clock, but the door was shut, and we did not wish to
disturb the people. We got up at four the next morning. We had no beer in the loft, nor
any spirits.
Several questions were put by the jury, in reply to which, the witness said, he had
seen Gray that day, and had some beer with him. He did not see Gray ride against
deceased. After Lockhart fell, the men walked on, but soon afterwards halted for
nearly half an hour, when Gray galloped up to them, and they all walked into town
together. Witness rode his horse to Henley the next day, and Lockhart’s horse was
also ridden.
Corporal John Loader was then called, and said on Wednesday, he had charge of
two prisoners, and did not march with the regiment. He was mounted, but the
prisoners were on foot; two other men, mounted, were with him, forming a guard.
There were two baggage wagons—one carrying the general baggage, and the other the
saddler belonging to the led horses. Lockhart and MacDonald were on the parade
ground that morning, and they appeared sober. Witness passed through Sandhurst, and
on arriving about two miles and a half from Wokingham, he came up with Gray, who
called to him, and he then saw some one lying on the ground. Gray told him to bring
up the prisoners; they came and took up the body, and carried it into a bye-lane, and
left him there. He was groaning at the time. He remonstrated with Gray on the
impropriety of leaving the man there by himself.
This observation drew forth a marked expression of applause from several of the
jury, much to the surprise of the Coroner, who told them, if such conduct be repeated,
he should at once stop the proceedings, and commence anew. If they suffered their
minds to be influenced by any bias, they were not fit to be on the jury.
Witness proceeded.—He told Gray it was improper to leave the man there, and
asked him to put as much things off the baggage wagon, (which was then come up),
as would make room for the man, and then send it on as fast as possible, while he
(Gray), galloped after the surgeon, adding that he (witness) would remain with the
baggage. Gray would not do so, but ordered witness to put him by the side of the road.
He ordered one of the prisoners to take deceased medal, and give it to witness, and
Gray galloped on, leaving the man quite alone. The next time he saw Gray was at his
billet, when he called up to tell him that Lockhart was dead. Deceased was servant to
the sergeant-major of the regiment. Mr. Donald was quite sober on Wednesday
morning.
Some additional evidence was taken, and the enquiry was further adjourned until
Monday.

th
Sat 9 Aug
THE ADJOURNED INQUEST ON THE CRIMEAN HERO
The inquest on Robert Lockhart, of the Scots Grays, was resumed on Monday,
before Rupert Clarke, Esq., Coroner, when the following additional evidence was
given:--
John Charles Thorn, of the Royal Military College band, stated he was at the
Foresters’ public house, and walked by the side of the Farrier-major’s horse, and led
his horse. He saw Lockhart take hold of the farrier-major’s horse, and was dragged;
he saw a man take some water in his forage-cap, and give it to one of the men, but

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