[William Hope-Jones, Eton Maths teacher [Douglas Byng-Stamper, Railway death]] Very substantial Autograph Letter Signed (a report on schoolboy) W. Hope-Jones to Captain Byng Stamper, father of Douglas, who was found dead by the railway line.

Four neatly written pages, 4to, very good condition. SEE photograph for full text. Hope-Jones (see brief biography below, including his appearance in an M.R. James ghost story) writes a very substantial letter on the character, activities, school influence, etc. of Douglas Byng-Stamper whose death evoked an Agatha Christie style mystery. See (Google) Death on an Oban-bound Train for a comprehensive article on the incident. William Hope-Jones evokes references on Google, such as in court for bathing without sufficient dress, or the following AI spiel: William Hope-Jones, known as Hojo at Eton, was a math teacher and housemaster at Eton College, noted for his eccentricity. He was a King's Scholar (1900-1906), Assistant Master (1907-1950), and Housemaster (1924-1939). Hope-Jones is also remembered for his loud singing and for writing the humorous song National Anthem of the Ancient Britons, also known as Woad or The Woad Ode, according to Wikipedia. He was a central character in M.R. James's 1928 ghost story Wailing Well.