The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-12 00:00:00

CLERKENWELL.

Mr. James Bishop Houseman, master of the Col-
legiate- School at Stoke-Newington, and Mr. William
Bunting Seymour, one of the ushers, appeared to a
summons beture Mr. Combe, charged by Edmund
'ralfourd Gredye aged 12 years, with having been con-
cerned in assaulting him.
Mr. Harvey attended to conduct the prosecution ;
and Mr. Lewis for the defence.

Mr. Grdye, solicitor, of Stoke-Newington, the father
of the boy, also attended, and the authorities of the
establishment were likewise present.
Mr. Harvey, in opening the case, said that the
circumstances being, as they were, connected with a
public establishment for the instruction of youth,
were of a most unpleasant character, as two assaults
had been committed on the son of his client, the one
by the master of the school, and the other by the
usher. The boy had been in the establishment since
List Midsummer, and ha complained to his father of
having received some punishment which was objec-
tionable to the father, unless for real misconduct.
The boy, it appeared, found some difficulty in con-
jugating the Latin verb, and on taking home his ex-
ercise. book it was found that there was written
on one of its pages, " This is one whole day's
work." The lather felt grieved and hurt,
and wrote on the same leaf, " Which incontestably
reflects great discredit upon the tutor, and that the
master is as idle as the boy." A communication took
place by letter from the father stating that nobody
would be capable of conjugating a Latin verb in the
time required, and it would appear that the difficulty
arose through the dodging the boy abou,, and he had
perfectly conjugated the verb. He received a letter
in answer, declining to receive the boy after the expi-
ration of the quarter. Subsequently, on the 3d of
September, the pupil was assaulted by the defendants.
The usher (Seymour) inquired who it was that wrote
the matter in the exercise-book in reference to the
conjugation of the verb. He replied, "My father,"
when the usher said, " Then he is as great a fool as
you are." The boy smilcd, and he struck the boy on
the face, which caused a contusion and abrasion of
the skin. He remonstrated, and said it was his
father's desire that he wai not to be beaten ; if he
was, he was to go home; and subsequently the usher
held him whilst the defendant Mr. House-man caned
him so severely that he bore masks upon his person.
He urged that in this instance there had been no mis-
conduct to justify the conduct of the usher Seymour,
and afterwards that of the master, Mr. Houseman.
He called—

Master Talfourd Gedye, the complainant—l took
my exercise- boor home, and showed it to my father.
Mr. Seymour first pencilled in the book " This is one
whole day's work," and Mr. Houseman afterwards
inked it over. My father wr,:te the other words al-
luded to. I took the book back to school and laid it
cn Mr. Houseman's desk. A boy named Noah
showed it to the master. He smiled when Mr. Sey-
mour said "Pa" was as great a fool as I was, and he
struck me twice on the face. He took the hook from
me and left the room, when Mr. Houseman came up
with a cane, and said I had been impudent to Mr.
Seymour. I said I had not; and he said I must be
caned. I said, "Pa " would not let me be
caned. I tried to leave the school, but was prevented
by Mr. Houseman, who ordered the boys to keep the
door, when he began to cane me. Mr. Sz.,3mour
held tne'by one arm and Mr. Houseman by the other,
while he caned me. He then told me to tale my
books and leave the school. I afterwards felt pain,
and could hardly walk home. Ointment was rubbed
on my head by my mama.
By Mr. Lewis—l walked home.

Mr. COMBE here said a schoolmaster had a right to
exercise reasonable and proper correction to a pupil.
The question was as to excess. In that case the
matter ought to go to the sessions.

Mr. Lewis con—tended that there had been no excess,
and continued his ero,is-examination.

Boy—My master did not tell me to show the writ-
ing in the book to my father. Did not go to a doctor.
My pa did not tell me to show his writing in the book
to my master. Told me I might let the boys see it
if they liked. Did not point out the writing to
the boys.
Mr. CoMBE—The boy himself proves that the
father wrote insolence to the master in the book ; for
such it was, and the case is one for the sessions.
Mr. Lewis remarked that his clients were the re-
presentatives of a public establishment, and ordering
them to find bail would be a slur, and the pupils might
as well leave the school if such a course were adopted.
He had evidence to produce, and they would much
rather have the case decided here.

The boy continued—Mr Houseman spoke to me in
a mild, gentlemanly manner. The stripes were not
gentle; they were very hard. Did not say, '' My
father is a lawyer, and he will serve you." Don't
think the mark on my forehead was caused by the
cane. Could not say how it was done.

The father (excitedly and in a loud tone)—l beg,
Sir, you will not put words into the boy's mouth. Let
him give his evidence fairly.
Boy—l never saw any other boy caned in the
school. They were usually caned below. I did
apply to my master, but he refused to give me any
information on the subject of the lesson. Could not
say how many stripes I received—five or seven.
Mr. Lewis—Be has before sworn to 14 or 15.

Waddington and Turner, officers of the court, taw
the boy when the summons was applied for; there
were three marks on the forehead, and a stripe on his
thigh, 7 or 8 inches long, as if from a cane.
Mr. Lewis, after remarking on the father's letter to
Mr. Houseman insinuating that he was as idle as the
tutor, &c., contended that the boy was only reason-
ably chastised for bis indolence, and his father ought
to have thanked his clients, instead of exhibiting his
feeling as he had done in the matter. The boy smiled
i❑ derision at his master, and the question was whether
the master of a collegiate school was to put up with
such conduct.

Mr. Gtdye was extremely excited, and said in a
loud tone that his son had been most severely treated.
Ile then bore marks of violence on his person, and he
suggested that he should be stripped and examined
by the magistrate and all present. Mr. Harvey had
seen the marks, and could give evidence, but of that
he was deprived through his being his advocate. his
frequent interrupions caused great delay in the pru-
ceedings. At length an apology Has sugg...sted. The
def.ndants, however, would not express regret for ex-
cess of violence, but said that if any excess had inten-
tionallybeen infl:cted, they were sorry.
Mr. COMBE said this was equal to an apology ; and
the worthy magistrate's opinion induced Mr. Gedye to
accept it, and thus the matter ended.