The Sun. — 1869-08-16 (London, England)

JUVENILE RUFFIANISM IN LONDON.  An inquiry is being conducted by Dr. Hardwicke at the Coach and Horses, Eyre-street-hill, Leather-lane, relative to the death of a compositor named George Ross, fifty-seven years of age, who, as alleged, was killed by a boy having mischievously thrown a bottle or similar missile at him, inflicting a severe wound upon his head. Catherine Ross, widow of the deceased, said that she lived at No. 7, Summers-street, in the above mentioned locality. One evening, about ten weeks since, while her husband was passing through the street to his home he was struck on the head with a pot or bottle, which was thrown by one of a gang of boys who infested the street. When her husband entered the room the blood was profusely flowing from a large wound in his head. He said, " I think lam murdered." He was medically attended, but had not been well since, and had been able only to do a little work. He lost his speech for a time.— Mr. Stribling, the coroner's officer, said he had two witnesses who saw the occurrence and knew the boy, but although he had summoned them, they refused to attend, as they had been threatened by the gang.—A juror said that Summers-street was a perfect den. No person could safely pass through it. While they (the jury) went to view the body of the deceased they were insulted and hooted. Mr. Stribling added that, as the doctor was going to visit his patient, he received a smart blow on the head from something that had been thrown at him. Mrs. Ross said on that morning (Friday) she was going out to buy some articles of mourning, and had only proceeded a short distance through Summers-street, when she was surrounded by several boys and robbed of sixteen shillings. The coroner directed hisofficer to take a policeman with him and force the attendance of the witnesses required, which was accordingly done.— Catherine M`Gowan said she lived at No. 7, Summers-street, and was a French polisher. She knew Mr. Ross as a quiet, inoffensive man. Several weeks ago, between nine and ten in the evening, she saw him coming down the street. There were several boys standing with stones and other things in their hands ready to throw at the cats as they came out of the houses. As Mr. Ross passed, one of the boys said to the others, " I'll have a lark with that old —," and immediately threw at him a broken earthenware coffee-pot. It hit him on the head. The poor man called out, " Good God, you've killed me." Witness and others ran to him. His bat was cut through, and the blood was streaming from his head down the back of his coat. The boy who had thrown the coffee-pot at him asked him if he knew who had till own it, and deceased said "No." The boy then gathered up the broken pieces of the coffee-pot and buried them in the dust-hole at No 7.— The Coroner: Do you know this boy—the one who threw the coffee-pot ?—Witness: Oh yes, sir. I can swear toliirn.- The Coroner : Why did you not attend here upon your summons?—Witness: I was afraid, for the boys had told me, if I gave evidence against them, they would waylay me and pay me.—The Coroner said he thought Summers-street required the special attention of the police. A man had there been apparently killed, a doctor had been assaulted, the jury had been insulted, witnesses had been threatened, and robbery had been effected. He would suggest an adjournment so as to afford an opportunity for the police to apprehend the boy, who could be sworn to. The medical gentleman was not then present, and he would, therefore, leave that evidence till their next meeting. The inquiry was aecordingly adjourned.  It is stated that Miss Burdett et:itts has accepted the invitation of the Burgomaster of Li:,ge to be present at the Volunteer Fate, which is shortly to take place in that city.  A PATB,LAILCIL —A few days since Richard "Wood George died at Green-street, Kent, at the age of years. lie was the father of ten sons and two daughters, nine of whom survive him, the eldest being 71. years of age. His grandchildren number forty-nine alivet ; and 'tis great grandchildren ninety-six, of whom twenty-three Are dead. He lived to see the fifth generation, and the number of his posterity alive is no fewer than 121, Many of whom attended the funeral.  A