ABSTRACT
Sir,—On perusing the proceedings of the inquest held on the body of Alice Bougham [sic] at the Royal Hotel, Purfleet, on Monday last, who was alleged to have had injuries inflicted upon her of an unmentionable kind, and subsequently deprived of life in a most shocking and brutal manner by Gunner R. Coate, R.A., stationed in the garrison there, I naturally felt some measure of astonishment at the suggestion the jury thought judicious to append to their verdict, viz., that no soldiers should in future be permitted to impart instruction to young girls in military schools, which the coroner felt it his duty to accept, and determined to communicate with the War Office on the subject, with a view of getting the practice abolished. Now, I want to ask if the coroner and jury really entertain the belief that because one soldier is alleged to have allowed his passions to overcome him, and betray himself into the commission of one of the most atrocious and revolting murders on record, which I must say is almost unparalleled in its nature, that all others are possessed of the same evil propensities. If so, it only manifests their extreme ignorance of what sort of men a large proportion of the army is composed of; and permit me to state for their edification, from my own experience, that I have found just as good-hearted, kindly-disposed, and benevolent men in the Service as are to be found among any class in Her Majesty’s dominions, whose integrity and uprightness of character are worthy of emulation by many whose sole delight it is to traduce them. The step the jury have taken is nothing more nor less than a direct attempt to depreciate the British Army in the eyes of the world. Should the War Office authorities entertain the proposition submitted them for consideration, and cause all soldiers acting in the capacity of assistants in military schools, as boys and girls are invariably mixed together, to be withdrawn, and deprive them of such a privilege, they will be simply endorsing the erroneous and uncalled-for suggestion of an English jury, who seem, in my estimation, to be totally ignorant of the nature of military men, and cause no small displeasure to prevail in the minds of many soldiers. Trusting you will find space in your next impression for the above remarks.—I am, yours, &c.
