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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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¦ Dbopsibs Cuiublp. Bv Hoixowav'stills.—...
TflE AM ) OV £ R WORKHOUSE _ABOIONA-.. ' . ; .. TIONS . ; . A fortnight ago we announced that a sort of official Jnquity had been instituted by the Poor Law _Comjnisaonersinto the charges of peculation and immorality preferred against the " master" of the Andover workhouse . The alleged facts first came to the knowledge of Mr . T . C . Westlake , the medical officer ofthe Union , who found that the extra diet arid gtimulantswhich , in theexerciseof Ms professional - _* _uties , hehad orderedforthesickin the workhou ' ' ' _, were either altogether withheld , or very irrejr-narly and inadequatel y supplied by the «* master , * " though they were _very regularly charged in his accounts , and duly paid for by the guardians . Mr . Westlake , us was hfc duty , apprised the Board of Guardians of the _discovery he had made ; and-fay , after making fame little inquiry , laid the matter before the _So-^
merset liouse " rulers . " who sent down one of their ( mm Assistants to hold a sort of public inquiry into the allegations . "When Br . "Westlake was apprised that such was the course to be pursued , and that he should be expected to produce witnesses to support the statements he had made , he naturally made inquiries amongst the workhouse inmates as to the extent the wiuiholding of the _« xtra food he had ordered had been practised : andthe revelations that were then made to __ him , as to the manner of the " master ' s" conducting himself in the house towards the female residents , and as to his general conduct , induced the Doctor to make other charges of gross misconduct and drunkenness against tlie same man who was charged with pilfering the food of the sick . The latter charges were also ordered to he included In Jir . Assistant Commissioner Parker ' s inquiry , after some little fighting-shy on the part of the Somerset House board .
That inquiiy has been partially proceeded with , for thirteen days . We use the term partially , to denote , firstly , that the inquiry is not yet eoncluded ; and , secondly , the manner in which it was conducted —the presiding official having shamelessly exhibited ike strongest partizanship _ with thc inculpated " master , " and a determination to defeat , if possible , { he ostensible object ofthe inquiry . Of this we shall afford abundant proof before we have done . At first , the inquiry waa confined to the first _charges—those of withholding the " extras" ordered _oy the medical officer for the sick . On this head a vast mass of evidence was adduced , to show that the " master" had charged the guardians , and be » npaid , for food and liquors which had never been supplied to
the sick , although ordered by the medical ofiicer . This evidence Mr . Presiding Assistant Commissioner Parker sought to render nugatory by the objection that thc medical ofiicer had not kept his books in proper form ; that he had not obeyed the orders of the Poor Law Commissioners in that respect ; and therefore the evidence that he had ordered the " extras" was defective , and could not be received . To this it was answered that Dr . Westlake had kept his hooks in the same form as his predecessor , but more accurately : that he had kept tliem as the Board of Guardians had ordered him ; that it was no part of the medical officer ' s duty to set the Board of Guardians r _ight , if tbey -went-wrong , aa Assistant *
_Commissionora were appointed and p aid for that purpos ? . Still all would not do . The "Jndg _« " (?) ofthis queer " Court of Inquiry" had found an informality which told in favour of the accused embezzler ; and he was constantly harping on it , every time the medical officer ' s orders for extras had to * be proved ; iterating again and again that " tha instructions of the Poor Law Commissioners to Union surgeons were in print ; and Mr . - Westlake ought to have been acauainted with them . " This went , however , too fari he day , Mr . Prendergast , the counsel in support of tlie charges , ratorted . upon Mr . Assistant Commissioner -Parker , and plainly told him that the neglect was his own , and that /< e was blameable for any informality that existed . He said : —"
If the Assistant-Commissioner does not see that the guardians do their duty , aud hare the books laid before tliem , aud properly inspected by them at tlieir meetings , he does not do hia duty , and is of no rise . JMr . JFarker . — I am the Assistant-Commissioner for the district , and I don't remember having seen the _bOOlK in nylife . ¦ JMr . I _' endergast . —I am sorry it turns out to bt so , for than other parties are much more seriously to blame than Mr . Wef _tlako , and tee shall have serious charges to bring against other persons . Mr . _Missing , tlie "master's '' counseL—That ie said for display . It is no part oi the Assistant-Commissioner ' s duty to do as yon bave stated . * On this " dispiav" the Times well remarks : —
Mr . Assistant-Commissioner 1 _'arker haying oracularly pronounced on the duty of the surgeon to be wcli acquainted with his instructions , whicli were " in print , " at _' _mlta that he himself does not remember having seen the books in his life . Kow , it does happen that thc Poor Law Commissioners have _promulgated other instructions , in print , besides those to their medical offieeis . In ISil the / caused to be published "Instructions to the _Assistant Poor Law Commissioners , " from which we select the following extracts : — "Poor Law Commission-office . "Sib , —The number of unions under jour _superintendt-ucen-iU render it impossible for you to pay Tory frequent visits to eaeh of them ; but the Commissioners think tliat you should not ou any account omit to visit the workhouse of each union once iu six months , independently of your attendance at the meeting of tke boaid of _cuardians .
" The points to which jour attention should be _prmeipa'lr directed at such visits are the following : —¦ * Having inspected the workhouse , and inquired iuto th * vendition of i » _unr-atoK , jour next duty is to ««* . mine Hit- biiks of th * union . Th _' u examination is not so imporleut ir . _reference to the technical and arithmetical accuracy w _' th which the books ar _« kept ( and for which the clerk asd the auditor must mainly be depended on ) , as In reference to the substance of the _proceedings and facts which tb > y profess to record . " From the minutes of the board of guardians , the _admission _an-i _aischarjse boolc , tbe application , aud report book , tt _« _KidicM Officer ' s books , andthe relief lists , you will he able , " n agreat _dtgree , to judge whether the rules _o'tfce _CouunissionersaB to relief have been duly observed ; and you will not fail to bring under the notice of the guardians , and also ofthe Commissioners , in the absence of explanation , any deviations in this respect "
_Thns , _aniongtt . "the pomtsto which the attention of au Assistant-Commissioner should be principally directed , " _isactreful examination of " the books of tlte union . " * An _. l this examination is specially directed to include ** tlte medical officer ' s books . " Now , here we have Mr . Assistant-Commissioner Parker lecturing tbe modioli officer on the duty of being acquainted with instructions which arc in print , while he admits that lit- does not remember having ever teen " the books " in his life , although their periodical inspection is laid down , in his priuted instructions , as a point to which Lis '' attention should be principall y directed ! " And this is a Ivew Poor Law functionary , eating the " bread of the people , and specially delegated to inquire into certain allegations of embezzlement and fraud having been committed , under the operation of whieh , and a generally stinted dietary , it is alleged that human nature lias sunk into something too _loathsi-ino and degraded to be contemplated in detail .
The evidence having been gone through in relation to the pilfering the food from the sick , and to sending the property of tlie Union" to lis son-in-law ' s at stockbridge , the " other charges" were gone into , and , among the rest , the following evidence was given _onoatli : —
_CUABGBS OF TMH 03 ALITT . Mary Aun Banks examined by Mr . rrendergast . —I _Taineinbar some time before I left , tbe inriou something particular happeaing on Christmas night , 1841 . Eliza Kout was tliere at the time . I lent her up for some plates . I thought she -was gone a long time , and went up to see for her . "When I got up the stairs she wai against the bell , and Mr . M'Dougal , the masterj was pulling her by the arms , aud saying , - " Come here ! come ner * ! " -He ivas pulling her towards the little sittingroom . He Jet her go wh _* n he saw sie , and went into that room . Several of thc servants in _the'kitehen have said , "Come h _» re ! come here !* - iri the presence oftlie master . Betty fanner in particular used to call out those word' s . Mr . M'Dougal has don * and . said something to me . He has squeezed my hand , and asked me to kiss him ; he has kissed me at the same time , ne ha *
asked me if I loved him . ( Laughter . ) I told him , no . I hare slapped bis face many a time when lie has attempted to kiss nie , or has kissed me . Mrs . H'Hougal used to go to church sometimes on a Sunday evening . On those occasions I have gone to turn down the beds and to get supper ready . Mr . M-Dougal has followed me round the beds , trying to catch bold of mi . When I bave got away from bim and gone down stairs , he has asKwd me to come up again . I said I wouldn ' t , and 1 did not , until 1 was obliged to go up to attend to my work . He said I ivas a " naughty girl" for not going up to him . 1 said " 1 am not . " He once tried to pull np my clothts In mistress ' s bedroom . I ran away down stain . After this I went to live at Mrs . Holly ' s liouse . I remember an inquest being -held-at Stockbridge . I think it was on Mr . Holly ' s man , who was killed by a waggon . It was in March or April . Mr . _M'Dongal came over there . j
Mr . Missing objected that the charges must be confined to liberties taken with the young women and girls " in the Itouse . " Tlie witness at the time was not in the bouse , but in service at Stockbridge . - ¦ ••• -- " ' j Mr . Prendergast urged that it wis in confirmation of the conduct of the master in the liouse , tbe girl baring gone to Stockbridge by bis direction , and be following up tbe same conduct . It was part of the same transaction ; The Assistant-Commissioner ruled tliat he could not take tke ecidence . ' and his ruling created a great sensation among the auditory . { Mr . Pr _« ndergast thought tbe evidence ought to be received , as proof of the accused following up his evil intentions . The Assistant-Commissioner would not hear the _evideni-e . I
. Examination ' -of-witness resumed by Mr . _'Prendeiv gas * . —1 remember his trying to catch bold of me , and chasing me round the beds on Whit-Sunday , _1812 * _J * was on that day he tried to pull up my clothes . He was doing it frequently , constantly , week days and Sundays *'
¦ Dbopsibs Cuiublp. Bv Hoixowav'stills.—...
By JMr . _J & Gssing . —it was betwee- •«"" ¦ » nd eight o ' clock when I saw the master _pulliiur _a-ren Rout about . There had been a party of gem _' _- -, 1 | en there . Jir . Ilueh Mundy stayed to tea ; the it , _~* 2 iad-, « ne away .- I have frequently heard the servar- ' J " '* - the master about " Come here . " I had never .- _wnwtf auy prison to take liberties with me . I told - _^ the kitcii . u what ' I" saw muster . ioing to EU 7- _ttout . I was much ' _oliovktd and aiiiiuyed bv what * ae roaster did to me . It quite shocks ine now ' to tell this before so many . I suppose his pulling up yeur clothes was the worst of it _J-rYes . "Wh y did not you tell your mistress !—Mistress once tried to make an end of herself when there was a row between her and master , aud we did not like to hurt her feelings . By Mr . Prendergast . —Mistress attempted' to hang her . self once , about Whitsuntide . Hv , Missing objected , that no iuquiry ought to be made into the " row . "
By Mr . Prendergast . —I heard mistress threaten to hang herself . It was on a Sunday night the row took place . Did that row take place in consequence of——Mr . Missing again objected , and The Assistant-Commissioner too . Mr . Prendergast—My friend attempts to show that this _witnesi is not to be believed , because she did not tell the mistress of his behaviour to her , and she gives as her reason for not doing so that Mrs . M'Dougal had threatened to hang herself . If this threat was made because tbe house had been robbed , it would have nothing to do with this case ; bnt if _itarosefrom something of a similar kind having taken Macs'to excite the jealousy of Mrs . M'Dougal , it has todo witk the case . ' ' ' Mr . Parker ( to the witness ) . —• Where were you ? -Witness . —Mistress came home from church and we were called up stairs , and I heard mistress ask for a rope .
Mr . Prendergast . —What was the subject of the row ? Mr . Parker .- — How do you know \ Witness . —I was upstairs . I heard Blake say that there had been something wrong between master und Mrs . Grace , the cook , while mistress waB at church . Mr . Parker . —Between Mrs . Grace and the porter 1 Witness . —No : between Mrs . Grace and ilr . M'Dougal . Elizabeth Crouch , aged 18 , examined by Mr . Prendergast I left tbe worVbonse on the 14 th of ' April last . 1 wa » In it fire years . I remember Mary Ann Banks making a statement to me about Mr . M'Dougal ,. as to something that had passed between him and her . At ona time I was Mrs . _M'Dougal ' _s servant . He has " taken liberties with me during my servive , which was in the last two years of my stay in the workhouse . II _« has kissed me , and put his hands into my bosom . When he kissed me he asked ine to kiss bim . He has done so a great many times . When he has treated ine so 1 have not allowed him to do what he wished . I did not kiss him . I told him I would tell the
mistress of it . By Mr . Missing . —The master was the only man that _*> _rer toolc sucli liberties with mej Ho _~ did so in the kitchen first , and then upstairs ; I can ' t tell exactly how long ago he did so in tbe kitchen . He patted me on tbe back the first thing , and then asked me to kisB bim . I did not . That waB all he did that time . The next attacks were made in different places . He put his hand into my bosom one day in mistress ' s passage upstairs . I Can ' t tell the day . I was Very much annoyed at this . I hare told him hot to do so , often , Why did not you go and tell your mistress how you had been insulted and ill-used t—I was afraid , or I should have done it . What should yon be afraid of ?— -Because it was my master , and I thought lie ought to know better , It was frequently repeated after that . When you found h * did not know better , why did you not complain to the mistress or to the board ?— -I hare told you . I was afraid to do it .
Maria Laisbley , sworn and examined by Mr . _Prendergast . —I was seven years In tlie workhouse , off and on . I was nurse to the children after I had been in the work house nearly two years . While I was nurse , ilr . M'Dougal said something _particular tb me . I was engaged in cleaning the work-room . Mr . M'Dougal . was in the ofiice adjoining the work-room . * He called m « _, and I went to the door . Ha put his arm round my neck , aud attempted to kiss me . He wanted me " to givo up . to him . I told bim liowas a marritd . man , " and ought to know himself batter . I told him I was a married woman , _' If I bad no husband with me , he had a wife with hiin and lie ought not to want any other person . My husband had gone away from me . The master did not say any more to me at that time . ' Several times when I had been cleaning the office he lias come to me and hindered me from doing my work ; ' sfi patted ma oh the back , aiid laid hold ofmy hand . He tried to put his baud up my clothes , and wished , me to give up ' to his wishes . That occurred
sereral times ; I can ' t say exactly how many . After I was nurse to the ahildren I went iuto the kitchen as cook . He has said and done similar tilings to me there many times . He wished me to give up to him . I told him I never would ' to bim or any other man ; I would sooner suffer death . I had seen too much trouble befors _through a man , or I never should have been in the union . * I had an illegitimate child after niy husband left me . Hfesaid , "He knew the nature of young people , and that I could not live so long without a man ; he could not believe that I could . Of course , I must have my feelings as well as others . " Wbilt I was cook he tried to take liberties with me , as he did before . I have three children—two legitimate and ono siuce my husband left me , which I had seven years ago . I am now living in service with Mr . Gale , a farmer , at Littleton . One of my children is in , service . The others are kept by a person , and I pay ber for them out of my own pocket , I always refused the overtures of the master .
Elizabstii Harris sworn and examined by Mr . _Prsudergast . —I was an inmate of the liouse last year , Mr . M'Dougal insullad me while I was cleaning the young man's room . He came and handled me , aud pushed me back on th * badstead . I asked him what he was doing , and told bim my partner would he up directly . He took hold of my hand and _kisfed nie . He asked me who cleaned the room above 1 I told him 00 one ; it was locked up . He said , " Never niiud that , you go up there after you have done this , and pretend to _clu _. in it , and I will como to you at ten o'clock . " I said the room was not occupied , aud _therefore it did not want cleaning . The master , after asking me to meet him in thc upper room , called to tht servant to fetch tin hey , and he unlocked it , leariug the key in the door . I stopped iu the room which 1 was cleaning . At ten o ' clock I saw the master
go up . I did not go up to him . ne did not say any more to me after that on that day , but at tho beginning of the conversation he asked nie if I was in the familyway . I 6 aid , "Ho , sir ; and I don't wish to _gtt so . " He then said that be wanted to have connexion with me , and that if I was so , it would be supposed that it was his child . Xext moraiug , when I got to tlie same room to cl _«* an it , he was there . He said to . me ,. " Well , Betsey , how was ityou did not go to the room I . told you yesterday ! " I said , "Because I didn't choose . " He then began kissing me again and pulling my clothes up . I pushed him away . H _« th _« n said , "Well , Betsey , don ' t tell any one what I have _bein talking about to you . Keep your own counsel . " After that , when no one was present , ho would often take hold of my hand and hit ine on th * shoulder . I left the bouse the 1 st of May .
_Cross-esamined by Mr . Missing . —How soon afterwards did you get into Winchester Hospital!—I never was thtre in my life—neither as an indoor or an out-door _patitmt . ( The _witufeet admitted that she became affected with a certain disease about three months after fhe left thehouse . ) I . had no home , I left tlli 3 house because the master , insulted me , and . I was afraid that the mistress would h * ar of it . During the three months I lived anywhere I could . I was at Southampton , Portsmouth , Maidstone , and other places . -1 was not living by _prostitution the whole of that time z , only about six weeks or two months . When I lift the house before April , I went to my mother-in-law ' s house . That was my only home then . I had none afterwards . ( Tbe witness was coarsely questioned as to her mode of life , and admitted that four or five years ago she had been a prostitute . ) I did not come her * to swear that I was a virgin . ( _Laughter . )—Nobody would have believed you . —I don't wish
them . I tell 50 U the plain truth . If I am what I am , that is no reason why Mr . M'Dougal should take _liberties with me against my will . I _' was in the bouse twelve years off and on , as many as ten or twelve different times . I remember four , years ago : going ' away witliout leavo with a union . , dress . I was afraid to tell mistress . It was not out of consideration for her . * If I told her , perhaps she would . say I' was as bad as the master . I knew what a life she would lead me and all in' the house ' _, lie-examined by Mr . _Prtndergast . —Mr . M'Dougal took liberties with me a great many times , I had not been in th * workhouse twelve months before he began . If wns when I used to go upstairs the first thing ' in the morniug to light the fire in the sick-ward , and h « unlocked the door to let me in . ' He used . to' take , liberties with me in the sick-ward closet . , 1 did not go in , but he used to pull me in . What did be do ! Wliatho didii't ought . to do . II * wanted to have connexion with me . ' He took liberties
with me in a way which he ought not . He put his hand upon me . Tell us what he did—what were the liberties ! : The witness , aft « r somo hesitation , said ,- _^ -You _confounds me . You'may guess what T mean . He wanted _Itobave connexion with me , and . I would not . giye up to jhim , II » unbuttoned hi * smallclothes , and then ho ipulUd up niy clothes . I resisted Mm as . well as I could . II got away . It lias , not been . * lone _ in- that way . in other ' places and times . -When , I . have , been , going up . aud . down stairs with the bucket in my . hand , he bas . catched hold of me when . I could not help myself . . < . Ihe witness described how the master put ' his hands indecently upon
b « r person . ) That has happened nine times . I bad not the bucket _^ always ... ; I / did not mention- it ; to ; -Mrs . M'Dougal . I-. did not like . to ; _, do : it . , 1 _ranaway-frotu the _workhousejbecausejl . clid , not ; Iike , the . usage . _D goti from Mr . _M'Dougai . . It made .- me very , uneasy in my mind . I don't complain of ; any . other ill-usage , _il _. was taken up on the charge of runuing _. aivay from the workhouse . I was laken before , the justice . Mr . M'Dougal was there . , 1 did not mention in his presence wbjA ran . away . ' He ga . ve . ine a good character to the _justice , andasked me what I ran away for . ; I was _imprisoned three days and three months and then sent hack to the workhouse . 7 .: _¦¦ _-,- ¦ l -. ' _-. ' : ¦ .-:
EUzabeth Hout * awon _? and examined by Mi * . Prendergast . —I am the wife of Isaac Rout . I live at- Chariton .-I was formerly married to-a person named _^ _Hutchins _. ' He left me a widow about six _jenri and a half ago * After being here some little time I wot appointed cook ; : I was then for some little time in the laundry , and afterwards nurse in the sick ward . - , Mr . M'Dougal'made apropos * to me after I had 'been in the house a month , or * rather
¦ Dbopsibs Cuiublp. Bv Hoixowav'stills.—...
more . H » asked me a _question or two , I wa j then in the sick ward whitewashing . He _firsj asked me if , I would have any objection to go in with him 1 ' I told him to go off . He did .-After that _hsaslcid nie the _' _same a second time . My childreu were almost starved , and 1 thought I would consider of it . He said' he would give mo some victuals and beer if I would . I thousht , if lie asked me again , I would , no did ask me again , and I gave consent . It took place up in the _ilck-ward . He gave me some victuals and some beer . That took place more tbat onco or twice , —several times ; all the while I was in the house . It was not on any particular night ; but sometimes on Saturday nights . I slept with him on Saturday nights for a little while . It was in the next room to mistress ' s room . II * did not sleep with mistress on Saturday nights when he came in at that period . 1 was in bed in the ' sick-ward the time he came up to mc . — Tell us how he came to you 1—( Th _» witness knocked her knuckles on the table twice . ) Mr . _Parksr . —He tapped at the door twice \—Y « _s . _1
7 By Mr . Prendergast . —ne waited at the door until I cam * out . . I went down the sick-ward stairs and through tho kitchen with him , and then up the stairs to the lefthand room . Mistress ' s room was on the right . This was when mistress would not let him be with she . I don't know why that was . I went about twice with him into tbat room . It was once in the sick-ward . Altogether four or five times . It was not all done at ono ofmy stays in the workhouse , but at different times . By Mr . Missing . —Hutchins was my first husband . Brown was my maiden name . I was married to Hutchins about tw _» nty-eight years ago . I lived with him till we had eleven children . He was a deserter when he married me . He was taken up a fortnight afterwards . He had his flogging , and was obliged to stay in his regiment five years . I went a little way with him , but was taken very ill , and compelled to conic back . I was brought back to Abbotts Ann parisb , and given into Mr , Davis ' s hands . I did not live with my husband duriug five years . I had no child , nor was likely to have , during that timo .
Mr . Parker . —Did you say , not that you could recollect!—No . I said I was not like to hav 6 them . Mr . Prendergast . —She did not go the way . Witness . —Tho way to do that is to com * iuto this house . ' I had ten children by my husband , and one boside by some one « lse . I shan't tell you by whom . It was not by you . ( Laughter . ) I don ' t know how long it was ago that I was sold ill _Andorcr-market . ' There was no _haltur round iny neck or round my waist , Tber * was no halter at all . I was sold by my husband . The man who bought mo is dead and gone . —Wall , tell us who it was that made such an excellent bargain ?—As good a bargain as you lir * with at the present time . ( Laughter , and _alapping of hands . ) His nam * was Edward Winter .
He was a very nice man . ( A laugh . ) My husband came back soon , and took me away from him . He liked me better than t'other did . I have been married to Itout sines I left the house . There is ne ' er a one of my children alive but what belongs to my first husband . I was in the ward about a month before I consented . ' I did not know what it would come to , or I would have _Isspt better account . The first time was in Mr . M'Dougal ' s bad * , not in the _siek ward . Tha second time was in the sick ward , just going iu at tha door , where I used to sleep . Thera was no one in tha sick ward at the time , except some little children , a good many of whom are siuce dead . Another _tl m * was iii the other sick ward , in the afternoon . I can ' t . ' recollect particular times . I . speak the truth , and there sits the "gemmun , " and he can ' t deny it .
_CUABCBS 0 _P INTOXICATION . . Mary Ann Banks sworn , and examined by Mr . Prendergast . —I am in service at Andover . I was six years in this workhouse , I left three years ago como December . I remember being alarmed on one particular night in the summer . time of 1311 . Is was about ten minutes past twelve o ' clock ou a Saturday night that I was alarmed by Jane Emma and Fanny M'Dougal , 'two daughters of the master . , They called nie , Sarah Coudery , and Betty Farmer , to go up stairs to their mother , os their father had been beating her . Wo went up . I ; saw Mrs . M'Dougal- . sitting in a chair just inside Of the door . Blood was streaming all down her face and , bosom . Mr . M'Dougal was there , sitting against the fireplace in' a chair . _, He was swearing very much . The cook went to fetch water ! Jane Emma M'Dougal told me that their
father , and mother bad been quarrelling , Mr . _MBougnl mi ght hav » htard what _shesaid , hut there was a great hustle aud noise . Betty Farmer fetched water , and wa washed tb * blood from mistress's face aud head . Master swore at us for doing so— " D . -and bl your eyes , you're as bad as she is . " His head was cut too . Hewas not sober . He said ho would shoot us . He got up and fell down in tho vootn . Mis * Jano said , " Eun and get the gun . " When be fell down he appeared as if he was going outof the room iu the direction of the passage , at the end of which a gun was kept . I went and took the gun , and asked iliss Jane where I should put it . She said she did not know . I went and laid it under my bed , in th * little boys' bedroom . Whan the master fell down he lay where ho was . He was bleeding from the head . The bloodstained the carpet aud went through to the floor . He kept swearing . He was in an awful state .
I never saw any 0110 look so dreadful in my life . JQe kept or swearing . He said "Bloody" sometliing to his wife . She cams out oftlie room , having got her dress , and said , pointing to bor bosom , " Yes , here I am , bloody Mary ; the old name . " When I left the room , he was still in it , lying on the floor . Mrs . M'Dougal came out aud locked the door , leaving him in tha room . _Sha slept witli herebildreu that night . It was about twenty minutes past two o ' clock on Sunday morning _bsfore I got to bed . 1 hare not seen the master iu sueh a dreadful state of intoxication at any other time , ne has not always been sober when I have seen him at other times . I have seen bim under the influence of drink many times , more than a dozen I think ; but I never kept account . I-knew he was intoxicated bv bis way of talking , nnd his staggering about , I liave known him at prayer-time to read some of the prayers over twice _^—the Lord ' s Prayer and another . He went over thein once , and then again directly .
William Smart examined by Mr . Prendergast . —I was betwixt twelve months and two . years in the . workhouse , undleftonthel 8 th of Juua , 1839 . While I was here I have seen Mr . M'Dougal come home on a Saturday night , and sometimes he was intoxicated . Ho was mostly intoxicated ou Saturday nights . I saw bim so many times . I bave sat up for him with Thomas Blake , the porter . On Saturday nights he came home at ten , or half-past ten , or at nine , or thereaway , and at different times , as near its I can say . Sometimes he required help . Thomas Bluke has helped him in tlie hall , but I can't say who helped bim up stairs ; nor say whether be got up without help . Sometimes ho was more intoxicated than at others , I remember he came homo oue night with scratches on his nose .. It was in the winter-time , when the evenings ivere longer . It was while I was in tho -pantry , the winter before I left tbe house to go to Abbott ' s Inn . He was drunk . He told the porter the next morning , that he had made a . falsa step in getting over the stile , aud fell clown
and scratched his nose . The stile was . just over here ; it is now taken up . It was betwixt ten aud halt-past ten o ' clock . Thomas Blake helped him in the hall . I remained in the hall . Blake went somewhere , but I can ' t tell where . He did not _teU us that night how ho had hurt himself . He was speechless . I did not ask him how lie got hurt . I wished liim " Good night , " and he could not answer ine . He had _stielciiig-plaster on his nos » the next day . I cau _' t say where he slept on Saturday nights ,. nor whether he slept with Mrs . M'Dougal or not . I did not go out ofthe hall . Whilst the porter was out I always stayed in . I remember Mrs . M'Dougal going to fetch him sometimes on a Saturday evening , and _sometimes She brought him home . The sou went after him occasionally . I don ' t know of any one els * . I have been for him . Ihave not found him . I went part of the way and returned again . . Mrs . M'Dougal sent me to look for liim . I can ' t say whether it contiaued up to the time I left , _btcause I was ill ten weeks with a scalded leg . But it continued up to sho lime I was ill .
("•¦ _oss-examined by Mr . Curtis . —Saturday is marketday . It is . not unusual for tradesman-and farmers t * spend their evenings together ou that day . Many of the _jruardians maj he farmers ; I cau't suy . Mr . rrendergast . —If you will only provs tho publichouse I shall be obliged to you . ( Laughter . ) Mr . Curtis . —You say , using a . word put into your mouth , that he was drunk , what do you nieau by drunk 1 . Witness . —Intoxicated . . ' , Mr . Parker . —What do you mean by intoxicated ! • ¦ Mr . Prendergast , —Drunk . ¦ ( Laughter . ) -, ; Mr . Parker . _—Waluive had a definition of _druiikenuoss as being between drunk aud tipsy ., -, _.--: . - _-. ¦ ¦ Mr . ' Curtis .- * -1 lieard a gentleman of the bar say , that a man was not drunk as long as he could lie still without holding . ¦¦ ¦ ¦•¦
Mr . Prendergast . —I believe that is . tha opinion 111 Russia . ( Laughter . ) . I _havn heard of - . as . "Drunk as David ' s sow . " ( Laughter . ) By Mr . Curtis . —J have seen the master brought home drunk twice . _.. - "'; . _* ¦ - ' ¦ Mr ! Prendergast . —Brought home 1 . Witness . —Yes . Anthony Antony , sworn and examined by Ilr . _Freuder _* gast . —I was porter in this liouse about four years and a half . I left about twelve weeks ago ... ., During the time you were porter was Mr . M'Dougal in the habit of coining home sober on Saturday nights ? - ' Witness . —>" ot at all times .- He went out every Saturday night . He . came home at all hours , half-past eight , nine , ten , eleven , sometimes twelve ' o ' clock . I ¦ _hava 'known ) him comehome at two o ' clock on Sunday
mornjiigs , just after I . got to bed . I and others have bein sen t for him . . This happened on most ¦ Saturdays . ' -1 : have _, gone for hini sometimes at . ten or . half-past ten . I did ' not khoiv exactly . ivhich house to go to .:- ; I have inquired jfor him . as Iwent . along ; at tbeBigbt Bells , . the New Inn , j tbe .. Globe ;; aud the . George ., Ihave . never . seen him atthe jGeorge . ; I , have inquired for , him at . the Masons' . 'Arms _| also . ; . ; l have found him there , at the Eight Bells ; andat ithe Globe .. il haye sent iii for him , and have lia < i to wait two or . three . Lours before ho would come . ' away . ; He was tipsy whenihe _. did Conic . ' . Mistress , went . with , me _some-, times .. . _-IJiavesometiraes returned withouthiin , because he would not come , just then . . 1 , can't tell why .. -Then
mistress andl , have , gone down after him . - Mistress ; has ; gonejnibr him and brought him- out , ; . . ' she-, used to talk j to him ., She would , talk of kicking him along tlia _. _iano'j sometimes , ;;( Laughter . ) ; He , > vas then just able to walk >; along _wifbout bejp , _, ; , I knew he was intoxicated , because •' be could not talk .,. Master never , could talk when ba was ; j tipsy ., ; He .-. _cp-ild . npt -walk-, . quite ' _. _i-traigbt . 11 _Hcwalkedi sWggery _. frora . one side to the other . When hegot to'the house ' I have locked ' tbi _^ . door ami giv 4 ii Uimth ' e key ! . ' ; . I ; ' - don't know tiathe was abje ' to walk up . stairs . ' by himseif . j I could not _. see liim - , because ,- lie locked ' _tije ' door ' behind I him . He , walked , up . the steps . . outside . ' liy _, ' _taiun ' g hbld ' . of ' ' . .. _;* ' J
¦ Dbopsibs Cuiublp. Bv Hoixowav'stills.—...
the rail . Mistress was before , he followed , and I was behind fastening tha gate . I can ' t say how often I have seen him come homo in this way . It was most Saturday nights . "So'inetiihes he wi * rather w rise tliati at others . I have known him rctchod from the public-house as late as twelve , half-post twelve , and one o ' clock . Mrs . ; Mary Am . Taskcr , sworn and exuininod by Mr . _Preiidi-vijast . —I carry on the business of a blacksmith iu Ando . _;«* , which my late husband carried on . I Know Mr . M'Dougal . In January , 1841 , ho called upon mo to pay me a bill due from the guardians of the unioD . H * cam * into my _sittins-room . It was abent 8 o ' clock iu thc evening . Ho paid me _thras _half-crowi 1 There was some ale on th * table , ne took up the cup and kept drinking until he had finished it .. no then rattled tho cup on the table and said , " Come , liissus _, fill the cup
again . " I had not _aeked him to drink a" all . I told liim lift had had too much already . , Ha then went to sleep a little . - When he woke up ho looked into the cup and said , " Missus , fill it up - * . gain . " ( Laughter . ) I brought him no , beer , I wished him to go home . He said . he should stay all night . lie . brought the chair close over to mine and pressed my foot privately with his , saying to my daughter , " Why , Miss , you ought to be in bed . " I went to call a young man , my servant , to coma and sit in the room till Mr . M'Dougal should leave the house . He did so . Mr . M'Dougal remained for an hour or more . Sometimes he sang a little . The song . was , " The heln-et on the brow . " ( A laugh . ) I am quite sure that he wns drunk . I begged of him to go more than once , twice , or thrice . But be still stayed after that . He looked as if he would pierce any one through when he spoke to niy daughter . We wero quite alarmed .
Joseph Bevan , in the employment of the last witness , sworn and examined . —I remunibev Mr . M'Dougal being at mistress ' s house . She called me into the room and told me uot to leave it while he was there . He threw his feet up on the grate , and told mistress to fetch bim some beer . She said she would not , because he had had too much already . He attempted to sing , but he was too tipsy to get on . He sang a few . words of " _WitlW helmet on his brow . " After a considerable time he went away . Mistress repeatedly told him to leave , but he would not . He went out the back way . I wanted him to go out tbe
right way . no said that was the way he came in . I said he was wrong . He could not get iu at the back way , the shop beingfast . He could not gst out at back , the garden being _walled-in . At last he went out at the front door . I did not notice how he walked out , because I shut the door directly . Mistress was glad to get rid of him . His conduct was that of a drunken man—very much indeed . He was very tipsy . Quite drunk . Mr . C , King , sworn and examined by Mr . Prendergast . —I am 3 master-butcher in Andover . I know Mr . _M'Doui-al . I have seen liim tipsy in the _Btrcets of Andover several times . I have seen him betwixt two and
three o ' clock on a Monday afternoon at tho George bar . I have seen him drunk ut the _^ Globe a great many times , at different hours—six , seven , and eight o'clock . It was generally on a Saturday . I have 6 een him drunk at the Masons' Arms . The first time I saw Mr . M'Dougal tipsy , and asleep in the George bar , was about three years ago . Some of these times I speak of were within the last six months . I havo seen him drunk about two months _8 Ko . . 1 hftv * seen .- him go out of the Bight Bells very tipsy . Cross-examined . —This qulto shocked you!—Oh , no ,
not at all . ( Laughter . )—You have never beau drunk , have you ?—A great many times . ( Renewed laughter . ) —Then you don ' t think it a very heinous offence to get drunk !—I think it is quito as well to keep sober ; particularly for a man placed in Mr . M'Dougal ' s situation , I think it is worse for him to get drunk than I . I have very little to do . —Then you fill up the intervals by drinking-bouts 1—Sometimes . I don ' t like to be idle , sir . ( Laughter . ) I was sober when I saw him drunk . —Then it was not tjw * he , but tipsy he 1 Mr . _Prendergast The Latin is tipsy . ( A laugh . )
William Robinson , sworn and 1 _xumined by Mr . l _' _fendergast . —I am beadle and constable of the borough of Andover . I know Mr . M'Dougal . E have seen him frequently in ihe streets of Andover on Saturdays . I have " times and often" seen him intoxicated , and particularly on a Saturday . He was roeliug abi u _* .. I have seen him come out of the Globe so in the evening , and go towards the union-house . I _havs soon bim as late as eleven o ' clock , and at nearly one o ' clock in the morning . I cannot tell how many times ; forty would not be too many to say . 16 aw him so not above six weeks back . . As he
passed some persons remarked , "He's got enough of it again . " ( A laugh ) It was in tho . year 1843 that I saw him drunk in Andover at one o ' clock in tlio morninp - . I had beeli watching Mr . Loscomhe ' s turnips . I left the turnip-field after twelve o ' clock . I was in the lane near tho workhouse . I heard somo one ooming . I lay down by the gate , as I thought il might be some one after Mr . Loscomhe's turnips . I saw ifc was Mr . M'Dougal . He came up to the gate , He was drunk . It wan-several minutes before he got in at tho gate . He was staggering at the gate , ( The witness acted the manner . ) He was all of a boggle . ( Laughter . )
Mr . William Clark , farmer , sworn and examined by Mr . Prendergast . —I . live at Cholderton , I attend the Andover market sometimes on Saturdays . I have 6 _CC 11 Mr .. M'Dougal drunk in the streets on tliose occasions a great many times . I have seen him so within the last six months . I have also seen him in public-houses , in a state of intoxication . I have seen him intoxicated more particularly iu Mr . King ' s liouse , tha Eight Bells , four or live times , within the last six months . On one occasion I saw him asleep , a person put a piece of . lighted paper to his nose . ( A laugh . ) He roused up for a moineut , rubbed his nose , nnd went off to sleep again . That was on the 28 th of last Deeember . It . was generally towards evening when I saw him . in this state , from about three or four to seven or eight o'clock , when I generally left the town . I did not stay after eight o ' clock .
Cross-examined Cholderton -is five miles from Andover . My _business has generally brought ine hero on Saturdays . I have not seen him drunk more thau four or five tiniek within the last six montlis . The person who put the lighted paper to his nose was Mr . Isaac l _' othecary , of Clatford . ( A Guardian /) Mr . John King examined I am landlord of the Eight Bells Inn . " I have seen Mr . M'Dougal at my liouse frequently on Saturday evenings the worse for drinking . I have seen the porter oftlie workhouse coma for him , generall y from nine to ten o ' clock . He has been told the porter has come for him every time . He did not go when
so told . -Sometimes the porter has waited for him . His son also has been for him . I have seen Mrs . M'Dougal come after him . He has left my house intoxicated at various times , sometimes as lato as eleven o ' clock , It would be impossible for me to gay how . many times . It has happened more than once or twice , and as many or more than four or five times during the last six months . I didn ' t say he was incapable of going home . By liis manner of going home , he showed that he was intoxicated . The conversation between Mr . and Mrs . M'Dougal was similar to what takes place . between man aiid wife when one is in fault . She * aid he ought to be ashamed of hiniself , and should come home .
Sarah Cowdery examined . —Ihave been an inmate of the Andover Union workhouse . I have left it about four years . I am now in service- at Andover . I lived with Mrs . M'Dougal as servant for some time , and saw Mr . M'Dougal come home very tipsy on Saturday evenings . He was all of a stagger upstairs ; sometimes mistress would help him , sometimes not . He came home at all hours—liino _, ten , and eleven o ' clock . I remember on ono particular night we were alarmed about twenty minutes past twelve o'clock . Mary Ann Banks , Betty Parmer , and me , were all called up by Jane Emma M'Dougal . When I went up into the room I found Mrs . M'Dougal with the blood running down her face . Mr .
M'Dougal also was bleediug ; he had been struck with a tin can , which was all over blood . Ho was swearing . He swore at all of us . When I went up he WU 3 Sitting in a chair . He got up , and said lie would go and get the gun and shoot us . He went nbout two steps and fell down . Mary Ami Banks ran and got the gun , and hid it under ono of the beds . When he fell down , there he lay swearing all the time . We left him in the room , Mrs . M'Dougal went to bed with the children . Wo went to bed . Itwas twenty minutes past two o ' clock when we went to bed . We noticed the time particularly by Mr . M'Dougal ' s clock , when we went down stairs to bed . I have seen him intoxicated at pension times , and Saturday nights often . - '
• _.- " • _JIASNIB OJ CONDUCTISGJ THE _INQUIRr _. - We have before alluded to the proofs of partiality evinced by the Presiding Assistant-Commissioner , and given one remarkable instance of it , which was made to recoil upou-himself- ; that , where ho so often complained that the medical officer ' s books were informal—for . which informalit y he ( the Assistant-Commissioner ) was answerable . We shall now give one or two other specimens , leaving them to tell their oivn _. tale . 'on the public mind , both as the particular partizansl . iip . of Mr . Parker , and of the system which elevates those who are criminated by these revelations into tho position of " Judges . " ¦ ¦ ' :- During the- examination of one ofthe witnesses on the " charges of . immorality" the following occurred * . — . ... Mr . Missing . and the Assistant-Commissioner objected that a question should .. not .-bevput , " Were you engaged in cleaning the . workroom !? It was leading the witness , ¦
Mr . I ' reiidorgast—lt might as-well be objected that if I were to ask a person if she was going from Andover to Southampton when she was indecently assaulted : that t | iat wpuW ; be a leading question . ' .. I never heard of sueh an objection in my life ,.- ¦ _-, - . ¦' , . ¦ , . Mr . _AHssing . _—TlieB 1 wiliteach you what is evidence . Mr . Prendergast . _~ -1 am : -much -obliged to ' ybu . ' ( Laughter . ) -. _ _-.. . v _ . ;; .. . ; . : ¦ . - '¦ .. " J . . . Mr .: Parker . —Ithink His an . improper question . - '¦ , ¦ , % _V 'endergast . i . I ,. ; am . . 1 satisfied- thai -is TOtro opinion ; _axidlameqiuMy _scilUfitd ' thatitis a proper question to . _putaxiywIwremdiKany . place , i Biitnow I must not press it .. . ( To the , witness ; ) - _^ -Wberewereyoul ; Witness , —lu , the work-room . . 7 '; _,- . . ' . < > : Mr .. Missing .- _^ Qf course _sheiJhasl _gotitnow . itis an old trick , -. ;• ¦ ,. ¦ ¦ , :, ' ¦ •¦ . _•( . :. _, , . _,:: (! , ;¦ :- ; . ; 7 Mr . Prendergast , _--Isjours _t ' llGW trick , then ' ? ( Laugh _^ r . ) _,,.., _,,,, ; ::.:.:, _. ¦ _- . . . I i v .: ; . . _* .:.- .. I . ' ! . ¦ _¦ = / : - - ;
i , _. _^ _issi-ig . —It is ' aii , old . trickto put a question _tfora purpose , anil w _^ ren _ypuihave got if to gift -up _a-question for a show , . „ _.,.., 1 , , , , i _,.,..,. _, ; 1 , _> ,., ! . ... f ,. _i _.., ;¦•¦ : ¦ v _" _^ _S _^ _M _^ _iiWflre _^ _notOMtisfled _lno \ Wi r _, _-. " _:-itfA-i ' ' \ ni . (' . _'i ! , !¦ . •'•• . '' •¦¦ . '' . 'i .. i . 1 . ! , ' • ¦!¦•¦ > _¦¦ ¦ _•¦ ; ¦ : _- _' : _Duringaenrocee . d _- _^ s _,, onoday .,, . _- „; . i . f _' _¦•; ' _)• ' " ., _* _rf : _i . _wW Vf _^ _Sift _" _. J Wi « n ) . : enterfid / _tHei-hall : " and ' called ut _i _^^ _rkerr . _^ _-lasheA _i _Mjr _,. Prenierg «« t , to ' . .. . .. __> ' _Jv ; .-. " . _?¦ ; * " ... .. ' ...,.. „ , ,. ' 1 ' •' ¦ _£ ¦ , « . ..
¦ Dbopsibs Cuiublp. Bv Hoixowav'stills.—...
accompany them . They proceeded to tho board-room , where tho guardians were assembled , at their weekly meeting _. During theli _'' _anscuca , Mr . _TJlwalV , " MiP " entered the hall , and said h « and other _ratepayers were about to _makt _' nn application to the board ' of guardians to suspend tlio master until 'lie conclusion of the inquiry , on . tho ground ofthe statements made by the _wimussus , and particularly those made that morning . Mr ., MisBing observed that he did not know he had auy . thing to do with it . It was a caso for the guardians . Shortly afterwards , Mr . Etwall returned and said that tho guardians had refused the application . They would not agree to any such thing until they knew whether the master was innocent or guilty . The attorney for the defendant thought it was a pity that ths application should be made bohiud ths master ' s back . .. ' . .. .
Mr . Etwall . —I am not going into any argument upon the subject , . The attorney thought Mr . Westlake ought to be suspended . Mr . rrendergast . —Suspend the prosecutor ! that would be quite consistent with the whole proceedings , To complete thera you should suspend the witnesses by the neck . ( Laughter . ) Take another instance : — Mr . H . Mundy , a magistrate and a guardian , addressed the commissioner , - and said , that being a guardian , he wished to explain the circumstimeo ofhis stopping to tea upou the occasion alluded to by one of the witnesses , Mr . Parker thought itwas quite unnecessary . Mr . _Muudy—I might have stayed to tea ; but I should notlike it to be understood that I took tea at tho expense ofthe union .
Mr . ; Prendergast—Mr . Mundy baa a great suspicion that all the tea drunk : there was union tea . ( Laughter . ) Mr . Mundy—I can only say I spent as pleasant a day as ever I did in my life . ; ( Laughter . ) Mr . Parker—If you interrupt the business , Mr . Mundy , you must walk into the yard . ( Sensation . ) Mr . Mundy—When jou order me to go out , sir , I . wiil SO * .. . ' . Mr . Missing—He did not take tea only . Mr . Prendergast—It was a subscription feast , I believe . Mr . Mundy—Yes , it was . Tliere was no _ousiue ' ss at this moment beforo tboCOUVt , a messenger having been despatched for the licit witness . Tho manner bf the Assistant Commissioner towards Mr . Mundy formed a striking contrast to his never interfering with Mr . H . Loscombe , _tufto is not o guardian , ' but who really interrupted the proceedings several times . But Mr . Mundy is the man that brought the bone-gnawing affair before the public .
Here is another instance . It occurred while Ann Knight was being cross-examined , after sho had deposed to improper conduct on tho part of the " master" towards hor . In answer to questions by Mr . Missing she stated : — One time when he tried to kiss me In the sick ward tliere was only . an old woman tliere , and she was out aud about . I can ' t recollect when that was . Was it in the summer or tha winter t—In the summer —at least in the spring . Oh I in the spring was it J Then it was not in tho sumtow . Mr . Prendergast objected that the observation was unfair to the witness . The two great divisions of the year were put to the witness , and she said summer . After that she said spring , making the time more _precise . Mr . Parker said it was quite regular , aud that was his decision .
Mr . Prendergast . —What is your decision , sirl—that an observation is a question ' Mr . Parker . —That it was right to ask whether it was winter or summer . Mr . Prendergast , —1 should not object to that ; hut I object that when the witness lia 3 fairly answered tho question she should be charged with malting a false answer .- . Mr . Missing . —I said no such thing . You aro objecting to air-bubbles , and nothing else . Mr . Prendergast . —I think I am . ( Laughter . ) . Still another instance . A witness is under crossexamination , after having deposed to what the Poor Law Commissioners call " an assault with an improper intention . " She states , in answor to the question : —
You did notlike _thisbebaviour of Mr . M'Dougal t—No , of course I'did not . I thought he was put here totako care of us , and uot to take liberties with us . I did not toll Mrs ' . M'Dougal , because there would have been a disturbance , and perhaps I should havo got murdered . T here was such a row about master bring great with Mrs . Grace that I did not like—I was afraid . I did not complain to the guardians , because they would not listeu to my story against his . He ought not to have taken liberties . He ought to be ashamed of himself . If lie had notdoneso I should not have been brought forward in this manner , which I don ' t wish . Me is grinning at me now . Mr . Parker—Who is grinning at you 1 Witness—Mr , M'Dougal . ' _' . " .. ' .. '' Mr . Prendergast said , ho had been informed that tho master liad conducted hiniself improperly towards the witnesses throughout ; although he had not taken particular notice of it himself .
Mr . Parker said he had observed Mr . M'Dougal ' s countenance _CONSTANTLV , and it _wu 3 at staid and quiet as tliat of any other person . Mr . Prendergast—Every witness who bus been examined bas more or less _complained of liis conduct , aud many persons have informed me that his conduct was such as to terrify and alarm tho witnesses . I do uot speak of what I have seen . Mr . Missing—Good God ! I think you ought to bring tliose persons forward . Mr . Prendergast—I can bring them forward ; they are not far olf . The witness is on her oath ; _rou ahe mot , noji is tub _Commissioneh . - Mr . Parker—What do you mean to say ? Mr . Prendergast—That the accused conducts himself iii such a manner as to intimidate the witnesses . Mr . Missing—I deny it . My word is a » worthy to be believed as Iter oath , Mr . Prendergast—This irregularity is not mine .
Mr . Missing—It is your witness ' s irregularity . If she makes false assertions , 1 shall not stand horo without cerreeting them . . Mr . Parker—It is one of the inconveniences of this inquiry that the persons who have to judge of it only see tbe evidence in writing . If a jury had heard On statement _jitst made by the witness , THEY WOULD 1 CM 0 W HOW TO TREAT HER TESTIMONY . '( Great sensation . ) Mr . Prendergast—That was just my remark . I wish this matter was before a jury . Mr . Missing—So do I—an independent jury . Mr . Prendergast—Of course . I do not know of any other . ( Laughter , )
( The woman whom the Assistant-Commissioner refused lo hear examined because she was not a " youug person , " has complained that while she was being sworn the master winked at her . ) Mr . Missing ( to the witness)—Why did you complain 1 Mr ret . devgast—I do now say , sir , that Mr . M'Dougal is lookiug at the _ivitiiess in a style , and in such a way ) as to terrify and alarm her , 1 suw it myself this lime , ( _GfWB of " Hear , hear , " from some of the auditory . ) Mr . Parker—I had my eyes upon Mr , M'Dougal ; I DID NOT BEE _ANYTUING OF TUB SOttT . Mr . Prendergast—I dare say not . But what I saw that very moment I never witnessed before ; I have been told of it , however , frequently . Mr . Etwall—I witnessed it . Ami justified in stating it 3 Mr . Parker—I don ' t think you are . Mr . Prendergast—You were one who mentioned it to me ? Mr . Etwall—1 was .
Still another instance . It occurred when Mrs . Mary Ann Tanker was being cross-examined , after having sworn to the " master ' s" drunken visit to her house , and the alarm which thac visit caused her . In answer to tho defendant ' s attorney , she stated ;—I have not been iu that state uf alarm ever sinco . It did not go off immediately , for I said I should never like to see that man again in thc house . Then it did not go oil' \—It did so far as that . Then it did go oft' ?—No , it did not altogether _^ Then , wliich was it ? which way will you huve it f—That is not a fair question . Mr . Prendergast;—No ,-it is an impertinent one . ¦ Mr . Curtis . —When Mr . Prendergast is asked his opinion upon-a question , ho may givo it ; when not , I think itis impertinence . Mr . Prendergast . —I take that - whence it comes . Goon .
Witness . —I told him that night and the next morning , when , he came to apologU -. , that I never wished to see his face again in my house . . . Prendergast _repeii ... ! part of thu witness ' s answer , to have it taken down . Mr . Parker said that Vf . Prendergast was constantly interrupting him , and tiu . i lie acted very irregularl y . Mr . Prendergast , —I _hii _. M had the honour to appear hefore many learned juii _' , - - hut I neiw found among them siich a schoolmaster as m < j l ; _srned Assistant-commissioner . ( Laughter . ) : _ . Mr , Parker —I have seen _j-i . _lges stop you when examining witnesses . ¦! _believa tt 1 . notorious that your mode of examination is to keep a * - 1 running commentary on the evidence ,. It does you m > .... » injury , and has dorio aU yourlife , -. _! _. ¦ ¦¦'
- . Mv . . Prendergast . —I air . _** : > -ccuingly obliged to you , Sir . I have had the opinio ; , , _i ? several eminent judges rupon my professional cOndut " . i > ut I have not paid inucli attention to them , they hare I . mi so _flattering to myself . But I he _. ver have heard the . ¦ > . . ion _. you express . I havo received many cqmmendatioi , - \ from the judges ,-but never anything in the shape of _rtprovt ; I shall be very happy _Iprivately , and in another- place , to'te ' ll you who ; those judges are who have be-ii-pleased to ' express that high approbation ; . li certainlyklid not come ' _froni an . Assistant Poor Law ' Commissioner , - '( laughter and applause . ) .
During the _' _courseofhisdaily labpui _* s , the reporter for tlie . - _2 ¥ » iiE »' felf Mmsclf constrained : to , say : •* -. ' ' . ! i ' . I cannot " let ' pass ' tho ., opportunity , of noticing ; one cir- ' _icurostancp ; namely , ' the _presence ofthe son of _Ihegecuted , a , ydutli ' of about tw ' enty year ' s o { agi , _firing the whok of , the filthy d _^ mi ' _irilh' _^ hich ' _'Mifather ' smmeM 1 _? _- _?«<•/ yOuug _fa ' a ' ni _46 o , _is _& ie sch _^ for his-services ;• but ' froni' . thb comm-jp _^' eDient o £ , the , . in _** j Wry ttiroiighouthe h & _B'befch pr _^ ent at the proceedings . This 16 the -niori )'• _ftmirkable _;^ _^ sidner'told th'e 'iWlM ,. p _O _^^« _fe _^*^^ fi _^ . * l . * fe _1 hairy dixdhis " n _*& ss * ry _^ _PBBSONJrLLY ' _-iobK _ito-JM » M . i »» pMiAi <; ,.. y \ _M-r '• ' ' " '¦''"¦¦ .... : ~ ii ., ; . ; im . star _iw-s ! _-s )» Jit - _'W '
¦ Dbopsibs Cuiublp. Bv Hoixowav'stills.—...
It was currently reported in the town one day that _t-a mittrcss had seized a knife nnd swore she would 6 taD Mr Prendergast as he came out of lhe hall . It is _saiq , howtTef , ' thlt she was restraiued and kept within her apartments . The cause of her wrath appears to havo been the questions put by the _lcarngd gentleman with re . spect to dinners beiug sent from the workhouse to » daughter who _residedin the town at the time , and who afterwards died in France . On the same day the mistress , watching her opportunity ; pounced upou a woman , one oftlie witnesses , und abused aiid assaulted her , shaking her violently by the shouldew and pushing her down the steps , telling her to be off , sh * had been there onco too often . Mr . Etwall called the
attention 0 / the _aMijton _^ _omi-iiJuionM * the circumstante as he teas pasting by , but he _refos » d to _stat to notice it , I cannot Close without expressing my regret at seeing persons in the garb of gentUmeri , who no doubt _maka _; pretensions to high moral bearing , persons in office , too _,, laughing at the evidence recorded above , while it wa s'delivered by the witnesses , as though they thought ita mers ) joke or a very light matter ; whereas , the nature of ' ths statements reflects the highest discredit on tho mamW in which they or their friends have managed the establishment where these woineri were lodged , and 6 omi _* _T oi " them trained from childhood . If they look contemptuously on these poor creatures because of the character some of them subsequently acquired , let the guardians and their admirers rocollect the sort of education those ) unfortunate persons received in the union-house , and sec how well it corresponds with their mode of life after the ** left it . Of the system so long blindly tolerated here it .
may ba well said , Frucla nc * nlur . ' S 0 SPENS 10 . V OP THE _mOCEEMNCS . When evidence of the aboro character had been ** adduced , anil it was manifest that public attention would be directed to the whole iVcto Poor Law system , which had permitted such a state of things to continue for years without either detection or puniflbment , tho Poor Law Commissioners tried tooi ' t / eo twist to the proceedings , and present them in such a shape as that _chey should be screened from _observatioili while the " master" wonld have every chance of g etting scbt-freo ; attention in tho meantime being exclusively confined to him , and to Mr . Westlake , who it was adroitly sought to . make "Public Prosecutor . " To accomplish all this , the commissioners addressed to Mr . Westlake , the following letter . < It is nn extraordinary document , and . worthy of its
concoctors : — " toor Law Commission Office ,. * _Bomerset-house , 9 th September , 1845 . "Sir , *—The Poor Law Commissioners have had under consideration the length to which tlio inquiry at Audovei has already extended , and the suspense as wall as tho outlay to which both parties interested in this iuquiry have necessarily already been exposed . All this must be _utill further _increaied if the inquiry is continued in th ** - Samo form . Ou these grounds , and because the commissioners wish that some , at least , of the questions now raised should be brought before a jury , they havo deter * mined to take the following course : —
" 1 .. The commissioners will cause an indictment to bo preferred ngainst tho master in respect of flnv OW ' case of ail assault , tyitb an . improper intention , alleged to have been committed on a pauper whilst an inmate of tho workhouse . Tlie commissioners will take any case whieh yoa , as the ACCCSI 8 or tub masteu , may suggest , andwill ' cauio tho . bill to be preferred at the next ( j . uartez ' sessions , which will take place in the month of October . "i . The commissioners will , in like manner , causa an information before justices to be laid against the master or matron , under section 97 of thc 1 'oor Law Amendment Act , for ani one act of embezzlement or misapplication of food , clothing , or goods belonging to the union _xchieh you may seteel . . •'¦ . •¦• ' It will on this chargo bo open to- any oue to show thatthe inmates have not received their full and proper allowance of food . It is needless to say that if tbe master is convicted by a jury on the first of these charges , tha commissioners would at onco dismiss him from office .
" If he is convicted on the , second charge he becomesdisqualified , by the operation of- the act , from holding : office hereafter . Jf an indictment for embezzlement or theft be thought more effective , tbe _eommissioners have no objection to tbat form of proceeding , instead of theinformation under the 97 th section , above referred to . " Tho , commissioners are convinced that this cour & O will at once be the most satisfactory and tbe most expeditious in bringing . the matter to an issue . " In order to remove misapprehension , the commit ' _siomrswish it to be understood that they will iause the indiolMent tobe prepared , _and'the bill to be preferred , _andtks information to be . laid ot tht cost of the commission . Bui TflEV ' will , ' NOT UNBEBTAKI TO DEFBA . T , OUT _« F : THB FUNDS AT THEia _DISPOSAL ANT _SOUSEUEENT EXPENSES , either for the prosecution or thi defence . The _pavtiaa making , tho charge cau , ha this as in every other caso take their owu measures to obtain conviction ; and the maetor must of course provide for bis owu defence .
' * The commissioners will ulso recommend the hoard of guardians that they suspend tho . master and matron _, until tlie result of the indictment and information art } known ; aud place some other persons in charge of ths workhouse . The discretion of doing- this is by the regt > lations of the commissioners vested in the board-of guardians ; The commissioners can dismiss , but this of course is a step implying a final decision on tbe merits of the case , on which no evidence as regards the master is yet before the _commissionero , and on which .. thoy must be understood as expressing no opinion whatever .
" Ilr . Parker , assistant-commissioner , will be directed on tlio receipt of a copy of this letter to _suspeiitZ all fu » - ther inquiry until the result of the indictment aud information shall he known ; since the continuance of suclt proceedings in the interval might be held to prejudice ths case one way or tbe other . The commissioners request that you will notify to thorn , as soon as possible , the exact cases which you desiro to select , in such a form as to enable the indictment aud the information to bo properly prepared forthwith , The commissioners havo no objection to both of them being seen by your solicitor before they are finally settled . _.--, ' "They also _request , with reference to tho former , that you will supply them with a Hat of witnesses _necessary iu your opinion to support the bill beforo the grand ' jury , " I am , Sir , your most obedient servant , " George Coode , _Assiitaut-Sccretary , " T . C . Westlake , Esq ., Andover . " .
Mr . "WestlaUc replied to this extraordinary demand as follows : — "Gentlemen , —I have received your letter of the 9 th of September , and I beg respectfully to stats that the purport .. of that lottor very greatly- surprised me . ' ¦ _,...-"I will venture to hope that , upon re-consideration , you will sec the impropriety and injustice of stopping tho inquiry , now so near ita close . " The only charges against ilr . M'Dougal which youi assistant-commissioner has , according to bis own statement , power to inquire iuto , and to which he has _w-COrdillgly limited the inquiry , are the following : —
'" 1 . The neglecting to give to the sick and infirm paujiers the extra food directed to be given by thomediml uflicer , and stated by the master to bave been given accordingly , " 3 . The sending of various articles , the property of the union , to the house of Mr . Holly , M'Dougal ' s son-in > - law , at Stockbridge , and the washing of the clothes * f Mr . l , Iolly * 3 family at tho union-house . _, - _^ " 3 . Taking liberties with the _youngcwwonien , and attempting to prevail upon them by ; ' . i % ' oi \ l ; fcnd- otherwise to consent to gratify bis wishes , ( _gf _^ jny letter ¦ of Aug . 16 . ) . _ . _^ _Jfa . . _^ .. , " * i . HKYing had sexual _inttrcourso _jvj ' lh _^ t Joast one of the paupers , _;* 5 , Gross drunkenness on various occasions , -andinebriety at prayers ,
" The evidence for tho prosecution and the dei ' ono * upon the two former of these charges is already given , Two or three days _ag-o the assistant-commissioner directed that the defence upon the remaining charges sliould be postponed until Thursday , when it was probable that thc caso for the prosecution upon all tho charges would be closed . This has now taken place , anil a mass of sworn testimony given which , uncontradicted , establishes that the master of the Andover union workhouse has taken _indeoent liberties with ' and attomptod CO seduce the young women and girls in that establishment , and that he is a confirmed and notorious drunkard . If . these two charges , or ., either of them , be true , Mr . M'Dougal ought no longer to remain tbe master of tlra _WOl'khous _* . I therefore respectfully ask you , gentle .
men , if it would not bo monstrous , when these chargei have heen established after great expense and troubleon my part , suddenly to close tbe inquiry , leaving tlw master iu full possession of his present power , to do evil , and referring me to atribuual which cannot by any _possibility investigate thc most important of the charges ? SucU a proceeding would be manifestly injurious to the public morals , if Mr . M'Dougal bo guilty ; or , on the con , _trary , if he be iuuocent , it would be unjust to bim , as iii would deprive him of the only opportunity he has or can have ' of refuting and contradicting the testimony which ; 1 18 iO injurious 10 his official and personal character , . hi 1 to fhe courso which you point out to me of indicting _Mr--: M'Dougal for ' assault with improperinteation , ' by which , ' I presume , you mean with intent . to commit a rape , I shall cortainly leave to othors the task . of prosec ' _utit-g . that
_persou for an oflence with which . he has never b ' _eei _cbargea . You will , I ' am sure , . upon further consideration , pere » _ive that if indicted . for assault Mr . M'Dougal ' would ; in all probability , find a safe defence in the silenoe or little resistance of tho women . Mr . M'Dougal's . offence ; is , that he , being the master , of a union workhouse , conducted himself indecently , towards the girls he . . was boundtb protest , a very serious offence in _. morals , but not _Irgaily . punishable an offence ' which tho law of the land will not reach ; but the repetition of which ought to be prevented ; by the exercise of . the discretionary power w _^ tJU _^ vhich you ar * invested . It was in tho exercise . of _^ _lJi g ' Ppwe "" . that you originally directed the present _jnjjix _Vffr al , d - _* i respectfully submit that justice and your _qimMnsUteney . demand ' that that inquiry should proceed to its , legitimate •• termination . . i ' - ' i
' " The observations already mado apply to almost . every ? eliarge made against Mr . M'Dougal ; if , for .. instance , he , h ' ae had ' his son-in-law ' s clothes regularly . washed at the « _ejepensa of the union , ha has committed a fraud upon the , guardians ' , but I doubt if the . _acutest lawyer could ! _fraijlfl art indie . _tmpntXdapf'd tothe case . Again , _^ witb . regar _^ to' ' tfle ' j-tfoss _'jsnd _^ notorious drunkenness chargei . _againj _^ Mi " . _li'Douga _! , '" and .. teBtihe'd b ' _s- _^ ueli ' ample : evideD _* 6 v , ¦ ' ¦ »*•; ¦ _i' ii _' . ' . " ** » _~ . ¦ *• ' - ' ** - ¦ - _* _w * " * _;*• ' * /*¦•** • » ii * -tv . j-f . i . 5 . e _'•>& . '( iloncludtd : n _iiir , eWthf _^ pttge : _)^ _»''• _'' * _}» *; en i \ r . _imc ' . I . * -- .- r . _- * / oi - 3 i ' > . _v- 'j _» i 0 ' " _- ' - - n _.-. i - _' _'siii ' _. ' u . _'S'm ; olfi ; . l : ! _W "> T _*' . 5 _Vi''l & _10 _« 1 ¦' . " _.:: _, .: _* j : _- ,: 7 « _, _w A ' ... _•;** - 5 . *! W
¦ • ' : '¦ -¦* ¦ ¦ ;- 7 "' I ."':¦¦'•" ;...
¦ ' : '¦ - ¦* ¦ ¦ ; - 7 _"' _i . _"' : ¦¦'• " ; ' 7 ' ' _- ; : ' ; : 7 . "" " . ¦¦ . ' . '¦ ' : " . '¦ ' 7 - - '' : '; ' v -. ¦¦ _- . : _-- > - '¦'¦ " -: ' _-- - : _i'J - ' . ' 7 - _' / -: ' : i mHa n 2 ° ' 1845 ' THE NORTHERN STAR . 7
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 20, 1845, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns4_20091845/page/7/
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