MR. WILLIAMSwish to asked a question of the Secretary of the Admiralty whether, as so much irregularity had taken place in courts martial in the navy, the opinion of the law officers of the Crown had been taken with regard to the trial of a marine lately sentenced to be hanged at Cork for striking his superior officer?
§ MR. WARDreplied, that the minutes of the court martial alluded to by the hon. Member for Coventry, were received in due course by the Board of Admiralty, who having found reason to suppose there was a legal flaw in the constitution of the court, submitted them to the law officers of the Crown. The law officers considered the court was illegally constituted, 623 and thought it unnecessary and undesirable, bearing in mind the suspense which the offender must have undergone, to order a new trial. Under these circumstances they directed the proceedings to be considered null and void; and recommended the offender to be brought back to his company, in the hope that the anxiety and suspense he suffered would have a salutary effect upon his future conduct.