The Court Martial Testimony
When I first came across this article, I couldn't be sure that it mentioned the same Edward Little. But now that we know about his early service record, we know that he was indeed serving aboard HMS Dublin as mate (from Nov 1831 to Oct 1834)
So, he's most certainly the one mentioned here : ¹
"A Mr. Edward Little, mate, was brought forward as witness, to prove Mr. Christie's assaulting him. The manner in which this Gentleman gave his evidence called forth the animadversions of the Court."
There is more newspapers covering the full trial (but with no other mention of Little) : ² ³ ⁴ ⁵ ⁶
Back at The National Archive, I have found more information on this case, including a full transcript of the court martial (60 pages)⁷. The grievance was between John Christie, assistant surgeon aboard HMS Dublin and several crewmembers, including Edward Little. From the testimonies, Mr Christie assaulted several men during his stay onboard the Dublin and had a "violent and improper conduct". By order of the Captain, he was restrained and confined for several months while the ship was sailing. The Court Martial was held on board HMS San Josef and lasted four days (September 20, 22 to 24 1834). By the end of it, the court concluded that "the Charges had been partly proved against the Prisoner Mr John Christie, but in consideration of circumstances which had appeared upon his Trial, the Court did only adjudge the said Mr John Christie to lose One Year’s Rank as an Assistant Surgeon in His Majesty's Navy and to be severely reprimanded"
As for Edward's testimony :
Mr Edward Little Master’s mate on board His Majesty’s Ship Dublin, sworn and examined as follows.
Pros° [Captain James Townshend]
State if the Prisoner has ever made use or any violent expressions toward you since he has been under arrest
Ans° [Edward Little]
He has made use of violent language at different times to me. As he was going down the Cockpit one day, he looked at me in the face and said “Blackguard” - He has frequently insulted me, but I don’t now remember the words -
Pros° [Captain James Townshend]
Was any one present ?
Ans° [Edward Little]
Mead was the Sentry, and was within hearing -
Pris° [Mr Christie]
Were you ever reprimanded by Lieutenant Henderson for violent conduct and abusive language to me ?
Ans° [Edward Little]
No, I was not
Pris° [Mr Christie]
Do you swear that Lieutenant Henderson said nothing to you upon that subject ?
Ans° [Edward Little]
Mr Henderson spoke to me once about something that had taken place on the preceding evening between myself and Mr Christie - words were spoken on my part of an irritable kind - Mr Henderson found fault with the words -
Pris° [Mr Christie]
Was not your leave stopped in consequence of your conduct to me ?
Ans° [Edward Little]
No, my leave was stopped once, but not in consequence of my conduct to the Prisoner.
Pris° [Mr Christie]
Was not your leave stopped at Callas in consequence of the circumstance you have alluded to ?
Ans° [Edward Little]
It was - and to the best of my recollection it was for disobedience of an order, and not from any thing I said or did to the Prisoner
[The Court here directed the 17 Section of the Act of Parliament 22° Geo 2° Cap 33 imposing a penalty upon a person who shall prevaricate in his Evidence] Court What was the Order you disobeyed ?
Ans° [Edward Little]
I forgot
Pris° [Mr Christie]
Did you not come down into the Cockpit in your shirt followed by Mr Crawford, and threaten my life ?
Ans° [Edward Little]
I beg to decline answering that question -
Captain Lord James Townshend the Prosecutor here put in the annexed letter n°9, which having been admitted by the Prisoner to be in his handwriting, was read to the Court Captain Lord James Townshend informed the Court that he had other Witnesses in support of the Charges, but as they were to the same facts as had already been deposed, he should not call them.
You can read my transcript of the full trial (72 pages) here
