New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-22
",vrrPyaTJONALp COcK-FIGHT


The admirers of HOgarth will remember his
fine print of The Cockpit, and how promi-
nent among the eager spectators is a figure
which the commentators tell lis is that of
Hind nobleman, well known to be. in spite OF
his infirmity, devotee Of the sport. lie en-
ioyed it, we suppose, something as the slsht-
less naturalist Huber enjoyed his bees. COCK
fighting, it seems, is still among the amuse-
ments of conyentonally respectable people IN
England Last May there was great battle
of these birds in Cheshire, which at
tracted attention enough to form the
subject of q question in the House Oh
Commons. Late in July, the investigation
of the affair at the Edisbury petty sessions
excited a renewed interest and there mas been
an eruption of paragraphs and leading articiea
on the subject in most of the newspapers
The fight was called international" IL seems
because it was between the cocks Oh AiD'on
and the cocks of Erin, as II there were nov
g. bindiesn enough already going on between
England and Ireland. Among the distinguished
narties present were Col Peel aud Col. Con.
with a perfect mob of Captains, several oil
whom received summons from the detective
At the Senior Army and Navy Club. The hgh'
was conducted after the usual cruel and pitt
less fashion, the birds being stripped OF their
feathers and otherwise mutilated before oeins
mt into the ring. When the constab-
ulary came down upon the PIT, the dlShineo
gentlemen present bolted in the most unulg-
ni6ed way. Some of them concealed them.
selves under heaps of straw. Others proved
their agility by scaling "six-foot Walls Ina
aristocratic Col. Peel, upon being collarea'
Gave the constable the card of Lieut.. f. W.
Snencer stanhope, 18th Light Infantry
Lieut.. staplope, not at all Felisbipg this free'
dom. has written to the newspapers anu ih-
formed the public that at the time OIL un'
foht he was with his regiment III Duoiin'
Among the minor gentry assisting at this
,,Ilinaceous tournament was Z" Mr. John HoD-
8 inson. Justice of the Peace, Oldham ana
obout this iudicial aristocrat a suggestive tale
is unfolded.
For it appears that while twelve OF ms
associates were expiating their SINS IN the
Edisbury Police Court, Mr. John koDlnson'
7 p. could MT be present, since he couldn't.
like the Irishman's bird, be in two places az
"oncer Mr.. John Robinson didn't go TO De
tried of Fdisbury because he was sitting OH
the bench at Oldham trying somebody else.
Two lads were before him who were chalgeo
with feloniously playing at pitch ana loss Oh
&" a vacant piece of ground OIL ROchdale-roau'
Albeit himself a miserable sinner to the extent
of f5 and costs. Mr.. Justice John Robinson
showed no mercy to the juvenile pitchers ana
tossers who were hailed before him. On INC
contrary. he fined each of the precocious
LITTLE rascals five shillings and costs. lie was
IL, GIVING the Youngsters wholesome les
COZ, in law while he was himself slmultane-
o,,slv ON trial for far more heinOus offense,
involving heavy gambling and the most TO-
voting cruelty. Simple minded people 10 no.
admire this specimen of juridical purity anu
vioor. and they are writing to the newspapers
70 know WHY the Lord Chancellor does not
un-iustice Justice Jack Robinson by turning
him ont of his place. We might ask, too, why
the COMMANDMENTS Chief does not deal with
these colonies and captains who have broken the
laws of the land. And especially WIN this
Col Peel, who is Thoroughbred plachguaiu
onouob TO give a false address, and to take
liberties with the card of fellow SOLDIER IL
this ia conduct becoming an officer ana gen
feman. why not give up Courts Martial alto
gether? ,..
II is melancholy to observe that Dy this Ill.
ternational COckfght between All Ehglsno
and All Ireland as usual, nothing was se'''eu'
As this has been the result OF all contests oo-
tween the big one and the little one Tor three
centuries, we must say that there seems 10 %
a fatality about it. To thousand other dls-
mites a new one is added, and new and I'M
nleasant note to the insolcnt Growing upon
both Sides