01 October 1858
Yesterday morning, in accordance with an order to that affectioned the previous evening, the companies of the Royal Engineers and the East India Sappers and Miners, now at headquarters, Brompton Barracks, Chatham, were marched off at an early hour to the space of ground near the hut barracks for the purpose of witnessing the caring into effect the sentence of a district court-martial on a Sapper named George Merilese, of the 34th Company, who was recently tried and found guilty of having been drunk and absent from barracks, and also for striking and violently resisting a non-commissioned officer of the corps who was in the execution of his duty. For this crime, which was by the Articles of War is considered of a very serious character, the accused was adjudged to receive 50 lashes in the presence of the whole corps, the Court not awarding any imprisonment. At the conclusion of the punishment, which is happily exceedingly rare in the corps of royal Engineers, the prisoner, who bears a very bad character, was removed to the hospital, and the troops returned to barracks. On the previous morning, at the usual early hour, the troops of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of Infantry at Chatham Barracks proceeded inside the Spur Battery, where they were drawn up in the form of a square to witness the infliction of corporal punishment on two private soldiers, each of them notoriously reprobate character. One of them, Private Thomas Wad, 1st Battalion 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, had been tried a few days previously for a most savage and unprovoked attack on Colour-Sergeant Lowery, of the same corps, whom he had threatened to kill. The sergeant had had occasion to report the prisoner for some breach of military discipline, when the latter took the opportunity, a day or two afterwards, to most violently assault him, knocking the sergeant down, kicking him, and finishing his attack by jumping on him, inflicting such serious injuries that he has been unwell ever since. The prisoner bears a very bad character, and it has been ascertained that he was discharged with disgrace from two other regiments, owing to his violent, ungovernable conduct; he has also been in other regiments. The court-martial before whom he was tried sentenced him to receive the maximum number of 50 lashes, and to be imprisoned for 12 months in Fort Clarence. The other prisoner, Private Charles Smith, 32nd Light Infantry, was also tried for assaulting two non-commissioned officers who were attempting to place him under confinement when ordered to do so, and for attempting to bite off the finger of a soldier who came to render assistance. He was sentenced to receive 50 lashes, and further, to be imprisoned for 56 days. After each prisoner had received his punishment he was conveyed to the garrison hospital, and as soon as they are reported to be fit to leave that establishment they will undergo the remaining portion of their sentence in the military prison, Rochester.