“ARE we never to hear the last of military murders?” the Hampshire Advertiser thundered. “Is there no remedy for this terrible and growing evil?”

The weekly newspaper’s vitriol was directed at a private in the 78th Regiment of Foot who shot dead his sergeant and injured his corporal, denigrating him as a murderer even before his first court appearance.

“There seems to have been no provocation whatsoever, and though the murderer was a notoriously bad character, yet neither the sergeant and the corporals appear to have been concerned in the punishment he received.”

First news of the killing that happened on November 23, 1861, came in a report of the coroner’s court held at the Royal Hotel in Aldershot where the men were stationed.

Thomas Jackson, just 19 and a native of Gateshead, had been held at the local police station.

Stepping into the court with a military guard, he exhibited a complete indifference in the proceedings, adopting a coolness which, under other circumstances, the paper decreed would be considered “worthy of condemnation”.

Such were the times that jurors had the unenviable duty of having to view the body of Sgt John Dickson before they returned to the hotel for the eye witnesses evidence to be presented.

Crucial testimony came from fellow private Duncan Anderson who related that after Jackson had answered his name at evening roll-call, he went directly to his bed where he took a rifle from the rack, put it to his side and moved it backwards and forwards to the position of ‘ready’ before firing. He then returned the rifle to the rack.

Dickson, who had been standing about two yards in front of him, called out in an excited state.

“Who did that?” he demanded.

“It was me, old boy,” Jackson replied matter of factly.

The sergeant muttered an unintelligible remark and then fell over dead. The corporal, a man named as Campbell, was remarkably injured in the shoulder by the same bullet but not seriously hurt.

“The prisoner was then seized by several soldiers,” said Anderson. “I have heard say on several occasions he would be hanged but not yet, mentioning the sergeant’s name. The last time was about a fortnight ago. He gave no reason for what he said.”

The jury heard further evidence from several comrades the teenager had deliberately taken up arms and directed his fire at the sergeant who it transpired had put him on menial military duties for breaking regulations.

‘Diabolical crimes’ They returned a verdict of wilful murder but added a rider.

“We cannot separate without expressing our deepest conviction that speedy and effectual steps should be taken by the military authorities and the Government to prevent a repetition of these frightful and diabolical crimes which of late have been so frequent and tend to degrade the ranks and produce terror in the minds of the officers, and spread terror through all classes of the community.”

Jackson was committed for trial in custody, appearing at Hampshire Assizes on December 12 where dressed in prison garb and not in uniform, he denied the charge.

Despite entreaties from the judge, Mr Justice Williams, he declined being represented by a barrister, indicating he was content to conduct his own defence.

Yet throughout the case he neither questioned any of the witnesses nor gave a speech in his defence, leaving the jury what the Advertiser describe as “a melancholy but very plain and simple task to perform”. Without leaving their seats they declared the prisoner guilty.

Donning the back cap Mr Justice Williams was very moved as he told the prisoner: “You have been found guilty on the clearest possible evidence and I cannot bear from saying that I have never heard or read of a more malignant mind that you were in when you took the life of the unfortunate Sergeant Dickson.

“But I do not regard it as part of my duty to dwell on the heinousness of your crime and I only allude to it in order that I may assure you there is no mercy or hope for you on this side of the grave. My only duty is to pass upon you the awful sentence of the law.”

Jackson was hanged two days after Christmas, still remarkably unruffled about his fate, taking a firm step as he mounted the scaffold.

For the first time the great bell of St Lawrence Church was not tolled during a hanging, much to the relief of the local neighbourhood, who had mounted a vigorous protest about the ritual.

His execution at the gateway to Winchester prison was witnessed by a large crowd, much of them, noted the Advertiser, of the “lower classes”.