Page 234 - Reading Mercury

could not say who it was. Deceased sometimes held by the horse’s tail, sometimes
by the strap, and at other times he would walk on alone. Some time after, the farrier-
major accused the deceased of drinking, or concealing in his clothes some liquor. The
farrier-major told witness that deceased had been up drinking all night, and if he did
not make him a prisoner, he should be made one himself for allowing him to get
drunk on the march, which he really had not done. They were about three miles from
Wokingham when Lockhart gave up, and he appeared to be wandering. He did not
hear the farrier-major swear at him, nor did he see the farrier-major ride his horse
against him.
Major George Sullivan, of the Scots Greys, stated that he marched the men with bad
horses half an hour in advance of the main body, under the command of Farrier-Major
Gray. Passed them about six miles from Wokingham. The farrier-major had been in
the regiment upwards of twenty years, and it was his duty to get the men and horses
along the road, and on no account to allow a sick horse to be ridden; he held the office
of farrier-major quite a dozen years, and bore an irreproachable character. Witness
saw Lockhart on parade, and should not have allowed him to march had he been
drunk. The farrier-major was not allowed to put a man in the cart except under the
circumstances of his being ill.
Bernard Coin, an officer’s servant, said he was examined on Thursday last, and
remembered stating that the farrier-major pushed his horse against Lockhart, about
eight miles from where they started, and he (witness) was only a hundred yards from
Gray, during the march, who dismounted, and pulling him up told him he would give
him a rest upon condition that he cleaned his horse when he arrived in the town; he
did not then complain of sickness. Coin was 30 yards from the farrier-major when he
swore at Lockhart, and said he was “a d---- rascal.”
Alexander MacDonald was recalled, and stated that when he last saw Lockhart he
was lying down under the embankment on the road side, and that a short distance
before he laid down he complained of being very tired, but he did not see him take
hold of the tail of the farrier-major’s horse.
John Loader was also recalled, and said that he had charge of two prisoners from
Farnham to Wokingham, and had some drink with them on the roadside, for which the
adjutant reprimanded him. Witness stated that he thought the verdict would be
brought home on Friday afternoon, but did not remember saying “I hope to God the
jury will bring in a verdict of manslaughter against the brute Gray,” although he
would not swear he did not use the expression.
Daniel Gray was re-examined, and stated that a cart came up the last time Lockhart
laid down; and two prisoners, in charge of Corporal Loader, removed deceased, under
the direction of witness; but he had no recollection of Loader suggesting that the cart
should be emptied, and Lockhart put in it, although he had thought of putting him in,
but being fearful that he might fall off and injure himself, he abandoned the idea.
Witness held the horses belonging to the men in charge of the cart, whist they tried to
shake him up, so as to remove him and get him into the cart; whilst attempting to lift
him, he threw himself up very much, and they were unable to lift him into the cart. He
left Corporal Loader, Corporal Benrie, two men who drove the cart, and the two
prisoners, with the deceased. He principally galloped after leaving Lockhart, until
reaching Coin, who was taken sick near a gentleman’s house, when two ladies came
up and attended to him; it was about half an hour from the time he saw Lockhart, to
the time of his arriving at Wokingham, where he saw the doctor and the colonel. The
whole of the evidence having been gone through, the Coroner summed up, and the
jury having deliberated for a considerable time, returned the following verdict:--

232