The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-03 00:00:00

HARROW SCHOLAR.Y.

BOW-STREET.
Yesterday a man, who stated his name to be Martin Jones, and
that he was a master smith, in a small way of business, at Harrow,
came to this office, and said he had to claim the protection of the
Magistrates for himself and family, and his property, againsa the
violence of a great bomber of the young gintlemen at Harrow
School, who had for several days past assembled about his dwel-
ling, with bludgeons and other weapons, and not only threatened
to murder him anti his son, but had actually demolished a part of
his hawse.
The complainant made the following statement :
My bonze at Harrow is roofed with pantiles, and I have often
had occasion to complain of having my tiler broken by the young
gerolemen. who have amused themselves by throwing stones upon
the raof. On Friday last, between four and five o'clock, five of the
young gentlemen passed nay house, and threw stones upon the
roof, and broke several tiles. fly son went out, and said '• what
are you doing that for ? You had better mind what you are at ?"
and one of them said, " we will give you a good threshing," while
another held up his hand by way of signal to about thirty others,
who were mending at a short distance, and called out a row,
amw !" The whole body then ran down, and surrounded my
house, and swore they would have my son out, and give him a good
milling. Most .of them had sticks. I bid my son behind the
bellows in the work shop, and told the assailants that he was gone
out. I ordered them to go away, and after none demur they went,
saying they would lick my son wherever•they found hint. The
following day (Saturday), about half.psat two o'clock, about fifty
boys came down in a body, all armed with a sort of bludgeon. and
Inquired for my son, and I told them 1 had sent him to London to
pay my coal merchant. I had sent my son out of the way to save
him front their violence. I told them if they did not go away
quietly, I would acquaint the head master, Dr. Butler. Thay did
go away without committing any violence. I found two or three
of then sticks width they left behind them ; they were loaded with
lead, run into holea bored into them. On Monday morning my
wife went up to the school, and informed Dr. Butler of what lied
happened, and requested his protection. I understood that in con-
sequence of what my wife said, a boy, named Clarke, waspunished,
and yesterday (Tuesday) about 160 of the boys came down, all
armed as I have described before. A boy told me they were.
cooling, and being really afraid of my life, I ran over to an oppo-
site public house for safety. They beat the hoy across the
shoulders for telling. They snrrounded the public house, and
swore they would have me out. They attempted' to get into
the public house, but the landlord told them they should not enter
while he could prevent them. They called out " that is the old
that a ent to Dr. Butler and nosed." I said I had not been
to Dr. Butler, and their answer was," if you have not, your wife
has, and we will knock your old brains out."
Mr. Al t amok:L-1s it possible that such words as those you
have just repeated could be made use of by them ? Recollect
yourself—aunty you must be mistaken.
Complainant—No, Sir, I am not ; I can bring plenty of wit.
nearer to prove it: those words are common enough among them.
They then said one to another, "Let's get hint out, and put
an end to him at once—that's the best way ;" and called to the pub-
lican to turn me out. At this time Dr. Butler, Mr. Evans, and
another of the masters, came down, and the Dortor ordered them to
disperse, and declared that every one who attempted to annoy me
should be instantly expelled front the school. They dispersed soon
after. At five o'clock, however, about thirty returned, and got
round my house, and swore they would have my son and me one.
My son, 11 my directions, concealed himself in a room up stairs,
and I ran away, to save myself. When I returned, I found a
window at the back of the house broken to pieces, and even the
bars torn completely out. I was informed by my neighbours
that they had broken down this window, and got in, in the hope
of finding my son ; but the loner door was bolted, and they re-
treated, on hearing that Dr. Butler was riding towards the house.
They said, as they went away, " If we can't do tor him now, we
will another day." I have, since that, been afraid to go home, and
my business is completely knocked up. I saw one boy, whose
name I have been told is Campbell, have a brace of pistols with
hint. I was told, but do not know it of my own knowledge, that
some of the boys shred stones after Dr. Butler.
Mr. 311xsete;st. —T hen , from all that has occurred, do you con-
sider your life in danger ?
Complainant—i certainly do consider my own life and the lives
of my family, particularly my son, in danger; and I hope some
steps will be taken to ensure our safety.
Mr. M men van told him he might rest assured that he should
hare protection. The worthy Magistrate then gave directions that
the information, as taken in writing, should be enclosed to Dr.
Butler, the head master; and that Ellis, one of the principal
officer., shonld be the bearer of it, with directions to act as circum-
stances might require.
Ellis set off with the complainant for Harrow in the course of the
afternoon.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

DEATH OF THE HON. F. ASHLEY COOPER.

On e;unday last, about the hour of two o'clock. two young Gen
tlemen. Collegians of Eton, the Honourable F. A. Cooper and
Mr. %Food, were in the play-ground, when some words arose be-
tween them, and they pushed each other. Who gave the first as-
sault is differelitly stated ; but from words they proceeded to
blows, end had fought fur several minutes, when the Captain came
up and separated them. It was subsequently determined that they
should meet on the following afternoon, and terminate their di&
ferences by a pugilistic contest, a custom prevalent among the
scholars of Eton, and, indeed, of all other public schools ; and the
conqueror always terelers the hand of friendship to his defeated ad-
versary. In this instance the majority of the scholars were present
to wi mom the battle, and the centhatents stripped, at four o'clock
on Monday afternoon, and commenced lighting. Mr. Cooper was
smaller in stature than his opponent, his age ICAtunder fifteen years,
and his oppor.ent, who was half a head taller, was nearly seventeen.
Mr. Wood had the advantage in point of set ength, but the quick-
ness and precision of Mr. Cooper were remarkable for one so young,
and lie declared thet he would never give in. In the eighth, ninth,
and tenth rounds, he became weak and exhausted, and it was then
evident that he was not a match for Mr. Wood, and he ought to
have been teken away. Some of the " backers" had brought a
quantity of brandy in bottles it.to the field, and the second of Mr.
Cooper. in the eleventh round, poured a considerable quantity
down Mr. C.'s throat, and be recovered his wind and strength.
The young men continued fighting from four till nearly six o'clock,
and when they were in a state of exhaustion they were constantly
plied between the rounds with neat brandy. It is stated that Mr.
Cooper drank during the fight considerably above half a pint of the
spine. They fought about sixty rounds, and at the end of the last
round, Mr. Cooper fell very heavily upon hie head, and never spoke
afterwards. lie was carried off the ground to his zoom, at the
house of the Rev. Mr. Knapp, by his brothers, who were present at
the fight. He was put to bed ; but on medical assistance was sent
for till four hours afterwards, a short time before lie expired. As
soon as his death was known, expresses were sent off to the Earl of
Shaftesbury, and other relations of the deceased, to inform them of
the 'amenable catastrophe. Tuesday morning the Secretary of
the Noble Earl arrived at Eton, and took away the deceased's two
brothers. About one o'clock on Tuesday, Colonel Wood arrived
at Eton, and evinced much sorrow at the event which had taken
plea. The Coroner, 11111/ received intelligence of the death of the
deceased by an express messenger, arrived at the Christopher Inn,
at Eton. at two o'clock on Tuesday, and • Jury (which had been
previously summoned) assembled to bold an Inquest.
INQUEST ON THE BODY, TCESDAY, MARCH I.
The Jury being sworn, Mr. CHLItSLEY. the Coroner, said they
were summoned to inquire intothe cause of the death of the lion.
I. A. Cooper. They would have a view of the body, and would
be careful in examining if any marks of violence were thereon,
which, together with the evidence he should lay before them, sould
enable them tp conic to a conclusion on this melancholy occasion.
Ile should avoid making any charge to them which might be pain-
ful to the relatives and friends of the parties whose conduct would
be the subject of their inquiry ; but, after the evidence was taken,
he should feel it his duty to state to them what was the law, as ap.
plicable to the facts proved before them.
The Jury and Coroner proceeded to the house of the Rev. Mr.
Knapp, and viewed the body. The temples, eyes, and upper part
of the cheek bones were very black, and there were other external
marks or violenciabouf the ribs, breast, &c. The Jury baring re-
turned to the room at the Inn, the Conner asked the constable to
bring forward his witnesses. lie said lie had no evidence at hand ;
be certainly had inquired amongst the Collegians, but they were
not inclined to give him any information on the eel:eject of the
young gentleman's death. There were severaiMosters of the College
in the Jury-room, and crowds of scholars in the inneyard, and the
Curor.er directed the constable to bring any gentleman who witnessed
the fight. except the seconds.
The following evidence was then taken :
Christopher Teesdale sworn—l am a student at Eton College.
I know tee decimal ' be is the son of Lard Sliafteeleury ; I know
his antagonist, Mr. Wood, the son of Colonel WoOd.
[This witness evinced some reluctance to state particulars,
and he was admonished by the Coroner not to suppress a single fact.]
He proceeded—l know the cause of the tight which led to the
death ul the deceased. On Sundae last, about twoso'clock, I was
in the play-ground, anti saw the deceased and Wood pushing each
other ; 1 don't know the cause of the fracas; the first blow-that I
saw struck was given by the deceased, and it was returned by
Wood ; they fought for several minutes. and being separated, I
heard it wastifterwards agreed between them that they should fight
it out next daz.
Coroner.—lrou have stated all you observed on the Sunday ?
Yes.
Coroner—Did you know from the parties the time appointed
for the fight to take place ?—lt was spread over the school
that the light was to take place yesterday 4 as soon as church was
over.
Coroner—Were you present at the
—Yes, I was.
Coroner--State to the Jury what occurred at the battle ?—1
saw them set-to shout the hour of four o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Coroner—Before you proceed with your evidence, you will state
if you aided in the combat. Did you sezond either of the boys?—
Yes. i did, for about six rounds. 1 picked Wood up and rubbed

it of the contest?

Lis hands.
Coroner—Were you the acknowledged second of the party ?--I
was not. There was no absolute second for Nt-riod any one pre-
sent, who was on Wood's side, picked him up when he fell.
Mr. Carter. one of the under-masters of the College, said that
one part of the scholars took pert with Wood, end the other with
Cooper ; they called it " backing. ap" the combatants.
Coroner—You did take a part in the fight?—Yes, the same es
other boys preNcr t.
Curoner—Werc: there I.!y feu! Wows struck?-1 saw none; but

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