The Sun. — 1842-09-17 (London, England)

COMMITTAL FOR ATTEMPT TO MURDER.-It will be in the recollection of our readers that Mr. Cooper, an extensive manufacturer in the neighbourhood of Glossop, had his hands ttvned out, and factory stopped about three weeks ago, and that on the 24th ult. lie and two of his sons gave evidence before the Magistrates against several of the rioters, who were in consequence committed to Derby gaol for trial. On their way home, Mr. Cooper and his friends, and two of his sons, were attacked by a furious mob, severely beaten, and one of Mr. Cooper's sons left in a field in a state of insensibility. Connected with this attack a person named Howard, a boy eighteen years old, has been committed by the Magistrates to Derby gaol, to take his trial for wounding, with intent to murder, Joseph Cooper, jun. The facts of the case will be collected from the evidence of the following witnesses : • Joseph Cooper, jun., said he was a witness before the Magistrates on the 24th of August, against Jos. Lawton and others. Witness, his father, uncle, and brother, accompanied the prisoners, who were guarded by the soldiers, to the Norfolk Arms. They were hooted and hissed all the way by the crowd. When they had turned round the corner of the street, the mother of Joseph Lawton and the wife of another prisoner called out something, on which the mob ran at them. The two women headed the mob, and one of them came up behind witness and said he would never die in his bed for what he had done to her son. She then struck him a severe blow on the back of the head, and the mob began to throw stones. Witness and his party were obliged to run, but they were followed by the mob and all hit with stones. When he got near a stile in Mr. Howard's field he saw the, prisoner, who was throwing lumps of clay at witness; and on his reaching near a wall the prisoner took a large stone from the wall and threw it with such violence that it made a hole through his hat and knocked him down. Witness had no doubt the prisoner was the person who threw the stone. —[The hat was here produced and had a hole in it, which had evidently been done with violence, and was large enough to admit a man's fist.] The rest of the mob then came up and began to kick witness very violently. He got up, and attempted to defend himself with a stick he had in his hand, but was again knocked down, and kicked very much about the body and legs. Shortly afterwards, two persons came up to where witness was lying on the ground, and one of them took hold of him by the hands, and then re marked to the other, "He's dead, by —." Witness then lost all recollection for some time. On his re cover.), he was carried to his father-in-law's house, and from thence home. He was confined to his bed for a week from the effects of the wounds. He was very much beaten about the head, back, and loins. It was evident from the appearance of the witness that he had been much bruised, and on his face, over the left eye, there was still to be observed a large wound, and another on the back of the head.  The prisoner, after being cautioned by the Magistrates not to criminate himself, was asked if he wished to put any questions to the witness. He merely remarked that he was not present when the attack was made on the witness.  Mr. Joseph Cooper, sen.. corroborated the evidence of his son respecting the attack of the mob on them. Joseph Cooper, son of the last named witness, fully corroborated the testimony of his father and brother. The mother and father of the prisoner here stepped forward, and wished to be examined in his behalf, on which they were sworn, and cautioned by the Magistrates. The mother entered into a statement to show that he was not present at the attack on Mr. Cooper, and the father said he was not at home at the time, and therefore did not know where his son was. The Magistrates then informed him that he stood committed to take his trial for the offence at the next Derby assizes ; bail was refused, and the prisoner re moved.