A barbarous murder: June, 1795
As printed in the Gazette de l'Ile de Guernesey.
EXTRACT OF GENERAL ORDERS.
ISSUED AT HEADQUARTERS,
Guernsey June 15th 1795.
The barbarous, & wantonly cruel murder that was recently committed on the road from town towards the Câtel-church, having spread dread and dismay amongst the peacable & loyal inhabitants:
The Lieutenant Governor, Major-General Small, calls for the most pointed efforts & zealous exertions of all ranks of His Majesty’s troops, with anxious invitation to all inhabitants of the island, to unite in strenuous endeavours to procure evidence to discover & bring to condign punishment, the blood-thirsty assassin,—the treacherous monster that perpetrated that abominable deed.
The General deems it also his duty to lessen the terror, & remove the alarming apprehensions wherewith (since the perpetration of this daring murder) the minds of the inhabitants have been impress’d; thinks it proper they should publicly be acquainted, that he has some time past given directions for constant patroles by day (and particularly in the night) to pervade not only the several roads and avenues leading to, and in the environs of the town, but also through the different country parishes more remote, & especially adjoining to the several military posts & garrisons.
These patroles will generally consist of (a most useful, active & confidential body of men) the Guernsey light dragoons. They will be conducted by a non-commissioned officer, & after tattoo & the hours when all non-commission’d officers and soldiers (those on duty excepted) are order’d to retire to their respective barracks, should any be found absent (or straggling) from their quarters unless furnish’d with specific passes from their commanding officers, the patroles are enjoin’d to secure & conduct them to the nearest guard, reporting them immediately to the officer of cavalry on duty, who on this account & other points of service (until major Campbell’s return from England) is requir’d to be at or near head-quarters; and the orders that may be necessary to be sent or convey’d by these officers from the commander in chief or the establish’d staff officers, are to be obey’d.
If the patroles meet with any persons (not in uniform, or) that do not belong to the navy or the army, at late or improper hours, whose appearance & deportment may create suspicion—if a stranger, that can give no proper account of himself, he is to be secur’d until either the civil or military authority have examined & are satisfied with his conduct.
If inhabitants are thus met with by the cavalry patroles (who being natives are selected for this duty) they will of course know or readily become acquainted with their names & abodes, & consequently can report all cognizable & offensive circumstances, that may by the civil magistrates to whom reported, be consider’d as breaches of the island laws, &c.
And still father to secure the safety, & restore the tranquillity of the inhabitants, they are hereby inform’d that should any of them, on their lawful affairs, or by unavoidable accidents, be detain’d to late hours in town, & are desirous of returning to his or their residences in the country, on making application at head-quarters, & to the cavalry officer on duty, they will furnish an escort for the purpose of protecting them.
Law. R. Campbell,
A. A. General.