Source:
Early Days of Port Stephens
Details:
On tour in inspection of Australian Agricultural Company holdings with Sir E. Parry
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Well known in Maitland district. 57th Regiment. Shot dead by private of the 57th on a Parade Ground in Madras. Soldier executed
Place:
Fort St. George, Madras
Source:
The Gentleman's Magazine Volume 157
Details:
57th regiment. Died at Fort St. George, Madras.
Details:
57th regiment. Lieut. J.W. Donelan to be Captain without purchase vice Logan deceased. Ensign Thomas Aubin to be Lieutenant vice Donellan
Source:
List of the Officers of the Army and Corps of Royal Marines - 57th (or West Middlesex) regiment of foot
Details:
Appointed ensign on 3 April 1817
Source:
The Asiatic Journal
Details:
Kearn Delany was indicted for the wilful murder of his officer. Captain John William Donelan, of H. M. 57th regt., on the 30th December last. The prisoner. being asked, in the usual way, whether he pleaded guilty or not guilty, replied guilty. Sir R. Comyn told him that by that plea he confessed himself to have perpetrated the murder, and the court must pass on him sentence of death. The prisoner, in reply, said that he had been mollified by witchery, and was under the influence of a diabolical spell. Sir R. Comyn, however, prevailed upon him to plead not guilty. The Advocate General conducted the prosecution. Major Aubin examined: I am in command of H. M. 57th regiment. The prisoner is a private in the regiment- He came to me on the 21st December, and told me he had a complaint to make. I said his complaint ought to come through his captain. He replied it was a particular complaint, and that he wished me to attend to it. I desired him to state it. He was perfectly respectful ; he commenced by saying, you know me to be a steady, good soldier, sober; I never appeared before you since you have taken the command of the regiment, and I apply to you for redress. He went on to say that he could not stand it; he had no rest, night or day, on guard or any where else ; be was under a magic spell by the officers; he was held up as a laughingstock, and he could not stand it. I asked him, if he had any complaint against any officer in particular. He said no, but against the commissioned officers, generally. I asked him if he had been drinking ; he said no, he did not drink. I asked him if he had been to hospital; lie replied no, he had not been to hospital for nine months. I never before observed anything particular in his conduct. I wrote a note to the surgeon and sent it to him with the prisoner. I saw nothing afterwards of the man until he appeared before the coroner. I was on parade in the Fort, on the morning of the 30th December last. The companies had fallen in ; I heard the report of a musket a very few minutes after my arrival ; it came from the direction where Capt. Donelan s company was. Immediately upon hearing the report, I turned round and observed Capt. DoneIan stagger and fall. I jumped off my horse, went up to him and found him dead. The prisoner put the following questions to the witnesses. Did you ever know me to be labouring under a diabolical spell, or under the influence of witchcraft? No, never. Prisoner. But you do, and every one knows it they all know it every man. Several witnesses, officers and privates in the regiment, deposed that the prisoner was the man who fired, and that, when he had done it, he said, I have shot a crow! He did not appear insane, and though he was in liquor the night before, he knew what he was about and spoke rationally. He declared that his motive for the deed was because Capt. Donelan had stopped his promotion. Mr. Macdonald, the surgeon of the regiment, stated that the prisoner had been in hospital for aberration of mind, apparently from excitement. He complained that there was a conspiracy against him, and that he was labouring under a spell of witchcraft, formed by u woman in the regiment; that he was not happy in Madras, and that he wished to get away, as if he went three miles from Madras the spell would be broken. He said he had had a hurt on board ship, and the witness attributed his aberration to that blow and the effects of the sun s rays. This aberration re-appeared a few days before the occurrence, when he complained to Mr. Macdonald that all the commissioned officers of the regiment had conspired against him. He was of opinion that the prisoner was deranged. The prisoner, on being called on for his defence, said, he was out of his senses he was labouring under a diabolical spell and there was not an officer in the regiment that could deny it they all knew it they all knew it they all knew it; every man of them that they did. He was under a magic influence and a diabolical spell. He called, as witnesses to prove the existence of this spell, several officers, most of whom declared they did not know the man ; one said he always thought him a good soldier. Sir R. Comyn left it to the jury to say whether the prisoner committed the deed, and if so, whether he was at the time capable of discriminating right from wrong. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and sentence of death was passed by the judge in so impressive a manner as to affect many persons in court, the foreman of the jury being dissolved in tears. The prisoner appeared totally unconcerned, and observed, They all know I am under the influence of magic. This individual was executed on the 10th. After conviction, he shewed no signs of contrition ; he denied that Capt. Donelan had impeded his promotion, declaring he was a kind good man; he would not state the motives which impelled him to the act, but expressed bis belief in witchcraft. On the day of execution, however, he evinced a more becoming sense of his situation, and appeared duly impressed with religious feelings......
Details:
Appointed Magistrate of the Territory
Source:
Early Days of Port Stephens
Details:
Of 57th Regiment. Recalled from Port Stephens. 57th to embark for India
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57th Regiment. Embarked on 'Resource' for India.
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Pursued mutinous convicts at Norfolk Island in September 1826
