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THE AMPOyEFfrjABeialNATIONS. '7-£8££k ' ...
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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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I . ' '¦¦¦ ¦ .. '¦ ¦¦ :: . ¦¦ ' - ¦ ' . - •**¦ THE NORTHERN STAR . _SBrxBMBEH _^ _Vjg _^
The Ampoyeffrjabeialnations. '7-£8££K ' ...
THE _AMPOyEFfrjABeialNATIONS . ' 7- _£ 8 ££ k ' i > OW $ of tub vefekcb . _ASSIGNATION OF THE "MASTER . " _OFFICIAL INQUIRY RESUMED— _Asdovis , ' Sett . 17 . _tOUEISBKXH OAT . _aIos morning , at ten o ' clock , Mr . _Assistant-Com-EUE-ioner Parirar re-opened his court . The l _^ _al gentlemen on each side were present 86 before . A short-hand writer , sent down by Government , took notes throughout . Before the appointed business of the day commenced , ¦ __ ¦' _-. Parkewhether
Mr . Missing inquired of Mr . r - it tms the intention of the Poor Law Commissioners to indict Jfr . M'Dougal ? If they did , he should de-J cline entering upon the defence of Ms client in this protracted inquiry , as such a course would materially prejudice hhn in his defence . Mr . Parker said nis _insirnctions were to proceed "With tiie inquiry . THE DEFENCE . ____ . _THarriet Annetts _, examined by Mr , Missing—I have been four Tears in this onion workhouse . My first occupation was that of nurse to the children * , _thentatscullerymaid . I think Jfr . Holly was marlied to ' Miss M'Dongal about March , three years ago . After their marriage their clothes were sent here to he washed . That was about three months
afterwards . I was then scullerymaid . I saw the clothes as they arrived from Stockbridge , and unpacked them . They generally came in a parcel naeked in a - " moulder ,- * which went backwards and forwards . * Xhe parcel did not contain anything besides clothes , unless it was when I wanted soap . When I wanted soap I used to apply to mistress , and she sent to Mrs . Holly for soap . When-first the clothes were sent soap - " wan sent with thorn . Som & times about 31 b ., somefames 41 b . It was generally sent in a cake . I don't exactly know how long it lasted . Waa ever anything pnt into the parcel besides the clothes ?—No , sir ; nothing at aU , sir . Any tea or sugar ?—Oh ! no , sir , not the least , sir . The sending of the clothes continued for about twelve months , as far as lean remember .
Did yon ever see any single article belonging to the "Onion packed np with the clothes ?— 'Ko , sir ; not at zll , sir ; not aa article of any land , sir . _ev « " »* * ' * . c- —* _- uiouiuer . " Cross-examined by Jir . Prendergast—I always saw the parcels of clothes packed up . Every parcel , 3 _fistres 3 never sent a little present to lier daughter . ever . Do you mean to tell , npon your oath?—Yes , sir . Stop , did your mistress never put in some little Bote or little packet for ber daughter ?—I never saw ler . "Where was the parcelfastened up I—It wa ? always
sewn tip . Mistress did it with a slight _needle and thread . It was not pnt into a basket at all tmtil the last three or four times . The " moulder " wasthrown over tbe basket . The things were the two or three last times packed in a basket , _Tjecause tliey were -very much tumbled , and Mis . Holly found fault "Kith tliem . The parcel was made up sometimes upstaira , sometimes down , most times onthe kitchen table . Mrs . M'Dougal was sometimes in the kitchen . " ¦ when it was made np . It was sometimes packed in mistress ' s room . She was net there then . She was about her business generally . Sometimes she was there . She would come in by chance while I was about it . She took no notice of what I was doing .
Do yoa mean to tell me that your mistress did not iray some little thing in the town ?—No , sir _. Question repeated—If she did she used to give it to her daughter when she came here . I never knew ter give her anything , or buy anything for her . Jfor send a note to her ?—Oh , yes , sir . Set in the same parcel with the clothes . I never saw one . I "must have seen it if she ever had . 2 ? o parcels besides the clothes ever went to Stockbridge . I sever saw it . You -were rather on good terms mth young Mr . M'Dongal ?—Good terms 11 don't know what you mean . I was his servant .
Do yon mean to swear it was not reported that yon -were too intimate with him ?—I don't know ; there -might have been a report , but I don't know what "was the reason for it . Mr . Parker here stopped thc examination , and said ihat Jfr . Westlafce wa * sittingtoo near tfte witness and looking al her in a way he should not . Mr . Westlake said the assistant-commissioner was quite mistaken . Mr . Parker thought it advisable , considering the xelative position of Mr . Westlake and ihe witness , that he should not sit so close to her with his face turned towards her in a particular way while she was -giving evidence . Mr . Westlake emphatically repeated his denial , and left the side of his legal adviser , to avoid , as he said , such unworthy insinuations . lb had never once looked at _thewUness during her examination .
Do you remember charging any woman with having tnade such a report \—No . Are yoa quite sure that yoa did not threaten a woman in the house for saying you were too intimate ¦ with Mr . M'Dougal ?—No . I never threatened any woman anything . 1 should be in a great _passion * mfli any : tme _wini said so of mc , especially With a . young boy like that . ( Laughter . ) Then ha -v came yon to be so doubtful about the report just now ?—There may be reports of which I snow nothing , as there may be of yoa and you know nothing about them . Mr . Missing—I should like to have that answer taken . Mr . Prendergast—What , about me ? ( A langh . )
Elizabeth Holly sworn , and examined by Mr . Missing—I am the wife of Stephen Holly , of Stocktedge , and the daughter of Mr . M'Dougal . My husband is a parohment-maker . He carries on business on his own account , and employs from fifteen to twenty-two men , bnt not so many in the winter as in the summer . I have been married tliree years and a half . - Since my marriage I have been inthe habit of sending my clothes to the union to be washed . I began that about nine months after I wasmarried I sent the clothes here to be -washed because my second servant was not _^ able to do the washing , and upon those conditions mother agreed to do the washing for me until the girl , Mary Ann Banks , did learn to do it . Sarah Cowdery was , my first
servant _, i did not send any clothes here while she was so until the day she left me . I found soap for the ¦ washing . It was a . yellow soap , bnt of a different kind from the union soap , if _compared—abettermost Mnd . I have never , since my marriage , received any present of union soap from Aii * . or Mrs . M'Dougal . Jfor any soap at all . Nor tea in ounce papers . Xfor any tea at all . ( The witness was . asked the same question with regard to cheese , sugar , and candles , which she answered in the negative . ) I liave never had so small a quantity of tea in my _iouse as an ounce . I buy my grocery goods in large parcels , sometimes from London , Romsey , and other places . I had a bed ftom the union when I wasmar ried . It was a kind of flock bed in an old tick , and
purchased from Mr . Hawkins ( who was present in court ) . I never received any sheets from my mother marked " Union sheets . " I never had sheets like ihe -onion sheets . I never used blankets for any lied inmy house like the union Eheets . I have the sheets and blankets here which were in use by my servants . I never received any shoes from the union , nor had any made . < Have yon ever received , since yonr marriage , any one thing from Mr , or Mrs . MDongal belonging to ihe union ?—No ; nothing , except a basin of dripping ihe first Christmas after I was married , which -was about nine months after . There might have been j 2 Ib . or 31 b ., not more . Thatis the only dripping I _« ver received from the house , and that I didn't Jaow
belonged to it . It was mast beef dripping . Mr . Missin _« r directed the master to produce the bedding . Ms . Preadergast inquired how far Stockbridge was from Andover , and having understood that it was only seven miles , he asked -why the bed and bedding _» ere not produced while the witnesses in support of ihe charges were under examination ? It was most irregular . Mr . Missing said that it was one of the inconve niences of the course pursued by the other side in not furnishing particulars of the charges . Mr . Prendeigast said , that in the opinion of the learned Assistant-Commissioner this charge was included in ihe others , and he had taken evidence -accordingly . It was most unfair not to produce the articles before .
• The witness identified the bed produced as a present from her mother , the sheets as her own , and also the blankets , some of which were in her husband ' s house before she was married . She never received any bed bnt that , nor any other tick . Cress-examined by Mr . _Pi-endergagt—What was ihe name of the grocer in London of whom you purchased articles in 1842 ?—Mr . Bridger . No , in London ?—ihave bought things in London . You have got a bill-head , father , I believe ( turning to the master , who handed the witness a basket ) . I did not boy any grocery in London in the first year after my marriage , nor in the second . I have bought « aneatStockbHdge . I dealt with Mr . Bridger the first two years _principally . I can't say whether he supplied the union . I have bought some of Mr . iutcncocK aeait with
. I nave , hundreds of shops When I went out with Mr . Holly , if I wantedgroeery 1 bought it . I have bought it at Stockbridge and _Jtadover too . We generally took it home in Mi . HoUy- s gig . Were not Mr . Bridger and yonr father intimate ? - "I don ' t know . I know that much of my father a » t i dotf t _jjjj _^ wiom io Wflg _jnti _^ _k Tr « . lli j _M _^ Badger at the workhouse with my _*^ _Sfe _w * oUier _© _overinagigtosee * ny _jeroeewffiSl % _* _% _* over - Th _^ r never bro ught _^ _WiSr w " ¦ _«? present ? She r _^^& i _slx 2 \ T _^* aim dean _finea , _andthai
The Ampoyeffrjabeialnations. '7-£8££K ' ...
—They never did . They had a pony of their own when they brought tihe clothes . Nothing but the clothes ?—No , they never brought anyihinghelonging te the union . No , no , I don't ask that . Nothing then except the dripping ?—No ; one basin . 7 Did younotsay , Why , mother , of all themcethuigs in the world , you ' ve never sent me anything bnt this dripping ? No . I don't think she has all iheniee things in the world here . She did not send the drip ping , I took it myself . Where did you get it ?—From my mother in this house .
DM yon ask for it ?—I did . I told her I was very fond of beef-dripping . How ?—On a bit of bread . - ( A laugh . ) I told her I liked beef dripping , and she said she would give me that basin of dripping . Itwasa white pudding-basin . I don't think it is a union basin . I have got it now . If you have heard of pans of dripping going to Stockbridge and coming back empty , it is quite untrue . I am certain I never received a bit of tea , sugar , butter , cheese , or bacon , all the time from my mother or father . . Besides them I have sisters and a brother , and two or three aunts , only one of whom have I ever seen in my life . I never received any present from them . It wassot in their power . The only thing I got was the " dripping , which I had a taste for . The sheets produced were in my husband ' s house before I was married . I
bought some of Mr . Hawkins , about three months after I was married . The sheets produced are those used by my servant . They are not both hero . I did not bring the fellow . It is calico . _ I will swear that it has been in use three years . It is not much worn _. It is not large for a servant ' s bed . I never compared it with the union sheets . They are of brown linen . No girl could mistake this for a brown linen sheet . It appears they have though . I have been at home during the last three or four weeks . I have not slept away as I know of . I have been at Andover , expecting to be wanted . I brought the sheets here tins morning , and the bed nearly a fortnight ago , when I expected it would he wanted . I don't know why I did not bring the sheets ' at the same time . I brought them and took them back . I brought the blankets too . I brought thc bed and the sheets together . I took them away fov the bed . m _~ ~ - *
_ji ..,-.-. -- _ .. . —j mam a « cps on a leather bed besides this , and she could do that without this one . And you took them back without showing them to the witnesses ? Mr . Missing objected . Mr . Prendergast—Stop a minute . Do you know Sarah Cowdery and Mary Ann Banks 1 Witness—Tes , 1 saw them at the cottage over the way , but I did not show them the sheets . I did not show them to my father or to my mother . I took them back the same day I brought them here . Somebody told me they were not wanted . I can t say who it was . I am sure it was not father . I could not say it was Mr . Curtis who told me that they were not wanted , and I had better take them back .
Mr . Curtis—Good God ! Mr . Prendergast—Oh , yes , Good God ! _^ understand that . ( A laugh . ) Witness—I can't swear whether it _*^ as or was not he who told me so . The sheet now produced was new when I married . The _lellow can be brought here _^ Itis off the same piece . I don't know who supplied them . The girls never slept in union blankets in my house . They could not mistake this sheet for a union sheet . I don't know anything about union blankets . I have passed by them , but I don't know that they are like those now produced .
The sheet which lay on my mother ' s carpet was not brought to my house . I don't know where the new things were Wight -when I waa married , or who supplied the sheets for the servant's bed . I did not say that Mr . Bridger supplied me with grocery for the first two years . I bought from him occasionally , and sometimes from others . Where I bought my tea I bought my sugar . ( The witness produced a bill for 281 bs . of sujrar in 1841 , as bought by her from Mr . Baker , at Romsey . ) Ms . Assistant-Commissioner—Bui you were not married in I 8 il .
Witness—But I have bought sugar I know . Mr . Prendergast—Bnt yon have sworn that you have _bought this I of a cwt . of sugar for your own use . dated September , 1841 , and paid in _Januai _* y 1843 , and you , were married in March following ?—Yes , but I mistook this bill altogether , I was confused . I have bought sugar . Mr . Holly can tell you who supplied us regularly . I have bought sugar from Mr . Parker . Mr . Prendergast—Well , thai is one of the documents for the defence ( throwing down the bill ) . My former servants , Cowdery , Banks , and Laishley , I saw at the cottage over the way the first day I came ; but I did not bring the bed there . I did not show ifc at any time , nor the sheets . It was not my business to do that , or io get any one else to do it . I don't
know that I ever bought any soap in Andover but white soap . Where did you buy the soap you sent here?—I bought in London , at Winchester , and Romsey , J of a cwt . at a time . I have bought it at Mrs . Policy ' s in London . The witness produced a paper , which Mr . Prendergast was about to look at , but Mr . Missing objected to his doing so . Mr . Prarker ruled that he might do so . The paperwas a bill , dated Feb . 25 , 1815 . Mr . Parker—Where does Sirs . Polleylive ? Witness—I can't tell you her direction , but her brother-in-law ' s—31 , Newgate-street . Mr . Parker ( reading the paper )—31 , Newgatestreet , Cripps and Co ., wholesale stationers .
Witness—The soap came through that gentleman ' s hands . We deal with him . By Mr . Prendergast—I have bought some soap I sent here at Romsey . I have had some of air . Holly's shirts once or twice washed here since last Christmas . Going back to the first , I had my washing done here during nineteen months . I bought soap to send here of the same persons I have mentioned , but I have no bills of it . I have bills of an afterdate , anil before , but not one during fhe nineteen months . I did not always get bills . I don't know that I ever got a Salisbury bill , or a London bill , or a Stock bridge bill , or a Romsey bill , or an Andover bill , or a Winchester bill , during that nineteen months . The soap I bought -was in colour brown , like the union
soap , but rather a lighter colour when compared . It looked better to me when I saw them together , but that was not very often . You can't at all tell me where it came from during that nineteen months ?—lean tell you the names , but I have not the bills ; I bought it of Baker of Romsey , Rudge of Winchester , a shop in the marketplace at Salisbury , the name of which I cannot recollect . ___ Edmund Bishop Hawkins , examined by Mr . Missing—I am a draper residing in this town . I remember bein _» applied to by Airs . M'Dougal for flock to make a bed . We call it rugging . I think it was on the lfth of Mareh . 1842 . I nrocured some . T
do not keep the article by me . 1 waa paid for it by Mr . M'Dongal . ( The witness referred to his books . ) It was paid for -with other things . There are entries in the wastcboolt , journal , and ledger ; but they are not my own making , except in the ledger . ( The witness examined the bed , opened a corner of it , and produced some of the flock . ) That is the kind of rugging I furnished to Mr . M'Dougal . ( The master 5 roduced a quantity of flock from the house . ) That sold seems to have got hard from use , but they appear to be precisely the same thing . A person might mistake one for the other .
Would the 231 b . of rugging yon sold appear to have been about the quantity in the bed here ?—I cannot say . By Jfr . Prendergast—It is entered inthe waste book , 231 b . of ragging to the gnardians ofthe Andover union . It is altered . Probably the mistake-was discovered . I did not alter it . One of my men , who has lef t me , made the entry . ( The original entry was scratched across with a pen , and the name " Mrs . M'Dougal" substituted for " the guardians of Andover . " ) In the journal it is entered to Mrs . M'Dougal . I don't know when the alteration was made . I can swear it was made before the journal was made up . I did not see ii made . Every month we make up the journal , and then I post the ledger . I usually do it every month . £ A I 8 s . iB entered in the ledger to Mrs . M'Dougal .
Mr . Prendergast—Does this alteration appear to have been done at the same time and in the same ink ? It is in the same young man ' s handwriting . He is now in a wholesale house in London . I can swear that the original entry and the correction are both in the same hand . The bill containingthe item of " rugging" was paid with other things in July , 1842 . 1 received it in cash , not by cheque . There is an entry of my own in tbe wastebook , " Mrs . M'Dougal , by cash , £ 614 s . lid . " Had it been a cheque , probably Ishouldhavementioned it .
I never received a cheque from Mr . M'Dougal on his ownaccount . I supply the union with sheets . Theyare altogether a different thing from the stoHt calico sheet nroduced by the last witness , The width ofthe unmade sheeting would be about the width of that of which this is made . I served the union with flock , the same article as that in the bed produced . The sheeting is what we call Forfar aheeting . A union sheet wasproduced , it was very coarse and brown . ) That is the sort I supplied to the union since the house was opened .
Stephen Holly sworn , and examined by Mr . Missing —I cany on the business of a parchment-maker at Stockbndge , as much , I think , as any one in the trade , I don't know bat that business is my own . I don'tknow that anyone has a better right to it . I havevisited the union occasionally eincemymarriage . I never at any time took home in my trap bed linen belonging to the onion , nor any papers of tea . I never saw such a thing in my life . I have taken away no cheese , soap , or candles , nor any article of food or clothing , from the union to my house at Stockbridge . I never knew of any such articles being brought to my house by either Mr . or Mrs . M * DorigaL I travel about three days a week in my _fi-uiiiness , to _Newbury * Winchester , Basingstoke , all _thMughtheconntry—Londonveryoften . Isometimes geon _thesejourneya'S'fttlio-Qtmywife , _Jteveiacgt ;
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of those times purchased housekeeping _articlea . _^ I never bought tea in ounce papers . I never know / d an ounce paper come in my house in my Ufe . I don t buy such a small quantity . I generally buy sugar a quarter of a hundred weight at a time , unless lump sugar , which I bought at the rate of 141 b . or 151 b . Occasionally , when we ' ve been short , missus _hassent out for a pound or so . When my wife was put with me she bought sugar at any shop , she was not particular where . ( Witness looked at the calico sheet produced in court by his wife . ) I don't very often make the bed myself , bnt that ' s the ¦ * , ' quilt" that was in my house before I married . My sister kept the house for me until the time I was married . We were both married on the same day .
Cross-examined by Mr . Prendergast—Where is she ?—I don't know , I ha ' nt aseen her . 1 never made my servant ' s bed , but I know what I bought ¦ b efore 1 was married . 1 never hemmed ' em , nor ironed _! era _, I have seen ' em come home , and looked tliat they were all right . . I never counted 'em . Missus did , and sometimes the servants . I did not _bny . _sheeting before I was married . I bought readymade sheets at sale 3 . I might have bought sheets at Stockbridge , or Romsey , or I can't say where . I can't say how many sheets I bought at Romsey . Perhaps two or three there or at Stockbridge . I can't say at which place . I bought sheets at one of the places . I bought either two or three , not . four .
Do they _e & U three a pair ot sheets ?—I don't understand ii . ( A laugh . ) I bought a bed . I did not buy blankets . I buy new blankets and old sheets . I bought old sheeis io give io the servants after wo had done with ' cm . I slept in ' em . I can't say how long I used ' em . I might have bought ' em _anout three years before I was married . They were sometimes off and sometimes on , and sometimes in the wash all that time . I don't know whether my wife or my sister afterwards gave them to tho servants . I bought the bed at the same sale I bought the sheets , and a good many things besides . It was Mr . _Hubert's sale at Stockbridge , or at one at Romsey . I bought a bed at both places , and sheets only at one . I bought blankets .
You told me that you always bought new blankets just now did'nt you ?—No , not always , I _jboutrht old i ' i ' * * -it . ..-1 . 2- * * one . - } too at a _saie oy aucuon . I don't say where I nought the old blankets . Did you not just now give me a reason why you bought new blankets ?—I don't know . I did not buy new blankets at a sale . Can you give me the name of the grocer who sup-1 plied you with tea and sugar during the first two years I after your marriage ?—I buy things at any shop wh _/* -, , I be , at different places , where it suits me . _sometimes at Mr . Starkie ' s , in London . I _•*'> .. money in Stockbridge , so I don't buy t _\* Vi _^ I bought 21 b , of tea in London dm-- . _lgJ tw » Si » but I tat know what the na _^ _^ _teVKS Ididntputitdown . M _w _* _^ . A dover lib ., or * lb ., or ., nt T i , „ ,. _» K- _> .. i * _f « . *»« _«* uuver siu ., « , , ir _* , u . j j _^ goffie ot
_„ , ¦ __ _^ a travelling tw _^^ named Heslop > a Scotchman , wiio nves r _^ _Southampton , about a quarter of a . pound ata _uime . Mr . Prendergast proposed to call the two servants to question them as tothe identity of the bed and bodding . Mr , Missing objected on the grounds so frequently repeated . Mr . Prendergast said , it was an every-day practice to recall witnesses to identify property . Mr . Parker—Certainly , it would have been more desirable to have those sheets produced at the time the witnesses were examined . That they were not may be accounted for by the manner in which the charges were presented , and the omission—no thing more—to giYe those specific details which Mr . May promised me should be furnished fo Mr . I M'Dougal . As that was not done , we must secure the evidence in the best way we can . As the sheets
and bedding are now here , we will call the witnesses and ask them if these are tho sheets , and this the bed , they used at Stockbridge . Sarah Cowdery , sworn and examined by Mr . ? rendergast—I was the first servant to Mrs . Holly . The sheeis produced are neither of them those I slept in or upon while there . I am quite sure of that on a second inspection . It was not of the same kind of stuff at all . Mr . Missing—Look at the bed . Is that the bed you slept on ?—No , sir , it is not . And all your evidence is as true as ihat , is it 1—1 am quite certain that is not the bed . It was like the bed at the union . This is not at all like it . Bring one ofthe union beds and compare them—anybody can tell the difference . The blankets do not appear to be the same . They were all new when I went there .
By Mr . Prendergast—The coarser sheet was not one I slept in . The sheets I did use were much browner . One of these sheets is calico , the other is coarser stuff . ( A union sheet was shown to the witness . ) That is move _Mce the sheets I had at Stockbridge , only they were not so new . They had been washed more a good deal . Maiy Ann Banks sworn , and examined by Mr . Prendergast—I am in service at Andover now . Among the sheets the witness picked out the union sheet and said , Thatis the sort of sheet I slept in when I woo In _sei-rlco at Stockbridge , but noD SO
coarse or so new . By Mr . Missing—The bed is the same I slept on at Stockbridge , I ' m confident . That is the same pillow . Cowdery left that service in July , and I went there in the December following . This is the bedtick I got out oftlie press for mistress before the marriage of Mr . Holly . By Mr . Parker—I picked some ofthe flock . Mr ; Missing ( addressing the Commissioner ) said he should be unable to go on with any other case today , not expecting so speedy a resumption of the inq uiry . He trusted that Mr . Parker would give a lew days , as he had formerly intimated he would , to get up the defence of his client . It would be totally impossible to make a defence under existing
circumstances . Mr . Prendergast observed , tbat those -who had taken the evidence for the master must have made him acquainted with what had been charged ; so far he had an advantage . But an adjournment fora day he ( Mr . Prendergast ) would not object to . Mr . Parker alluded to the adjournment that had taken place last week , and said that hewas willing to agree lo an adjournment , but he hoped the master would be prepared at an early day to go into his defence . Mr . Missing , after consulting with Mr . Curtis and the defendant , asked for a week . Mr . Parker said it would be very inconvenient to adjourn for so long a period . It was ultimately agreed that the inquiry should be adjourned until Tuesday morning next , at ten o'clock . Andoveb , Sept . 19 .
The Poor Law Commissioners seem to entertain the opinion that there was no ground for a further adjournment of the inquiry to enable the master to get up his defence . They , therefore , sent down their Assistant-Commissioner on the same day that he left this place , directing him to rescind his adjournment , and to proceed with the inquiry , as the following letters show ;—" Poor law _Commission-office , Somerset-house , Sept . 18 , 1845 . " Sir , —1 am directed by the Poor law Commissioners to enclose to you , for your information , the accompanying copy of a letter , which the commissioners have this day addressed to Mr . M'Dougal , the master of the Andover Union workhouse . " I am , Sir , your most obedient servant , " _Geoeoe Coode , Assistant Secretary . " To F , 0 . Westlake , Esq ., Andover . "
( Copy . ) " Poor Law Commissioners' -office , Somerset-house , Sept . 18 , 1815 . " Sir , —I am directed by the Poor Law Commissioners to state that they have this day had an interview -with their assistant-commissioner , Mr . Parker . " The commissioners are informed by him , that at your request , and -with the consent of Mr . _Westlake ' _s counsel , Mr . Parker has adjourned the inquiry into your conduct on Tuesday next , when you would proceed with your defence to the charges preferred against you , " The commissioners are of opinion that an officer against _trhoni charges of the kind involved in the investigation now pending in the Andover Union hare been made on oath , is liable to he called upon to give an explanation and enter upon his defence with the least possible delay .
" The tme which has already elapsed since the investigation began has been amply sufficient , in the opinion of tho commissioners , to enable you to get together the materials necessary for your defence , especially as most of the charges relate to facts to be proved , or disproved , by witnesses on the spot . " Had the board of guardian s acceded to the recommendation of the commissioners and suspended you { a proceeding which would neither have assumed your guilt , nor have prejudiced any of your rights ) , the commissioners might have taken a different view ofthe course they now think it fit to adopt . «• As it is , tbe commissioners have requested Mr . Parker to return to Andover forthwith ; and they must call upon you to proceed with your defence either tomorrow os Saturday , and continue with it from day to day .
" An inquiry by an assistant-commissioner is not a court constituted in auch a manner that an adjournment to a future day can vitiate proceedings taken in the interval , and the commissioners , in thus exercising the discretion necessarily reserved to their hoard , feel confident that they are not inflicting upon you any substantial injustice . " 1 am , Sir , your most obedient servant " . " Geoeoe Coode , _Assistant-Seeretarv "ToMr . M'Dougal , Master of the J * Union-workhouse , Andover . " These sudden and erratic flirtings of ihe assistantcommisBioner were , as may easily be conceived , productive of great inconvenience to the parties con cemed in carrying on the inquiry . Mr . Prendergast went to London , and had only _jnat got home , when he received an intimation of the change of arrange ment , and was immediately compelled to return to Andover . . A correspondence ensued between Mr . Parker and Mr . Westlake this morning , in which the former
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stated that _heshould proceed to the _? _workhouse at twelve o ' clook , fer the purpose of receiving from the master the names of the witnesses whom he intends to call in his defence . Mr . Westlake proffered the names of the witnesses to support the charges yet untouched , but , to his great astonishment , he was informed in a note from the assistant-commissioner , that it was not his intention to enter upon ihose charges , not having received any instructions from the Poor Law Commissioners . Eeally , Mr . Parker ' s memory is sadly at fault sometimes , for if he refer to the"letters from the Poor Law Commissioners to Mr . Westlake , he will find that tbey have given that gentleman an assurance that all the charges should be duly investigated . Those which remain unopened are of the most direct and important nature , relating to cruelty , and the flogging of women with the " cat o' two tails , " contrary to the regulations of the Poor
Law Commissioners , and the ringing of the changes on articles supplied for the use of the union by sending away large quantities of those articles , and receiving in return smaller quantities of a superior quality . If Mr . Parker persist in declining to hear these charges , application will be made to the commissioners in London to fulfil the promise that _thej should be investigated . At twelve o ' clock , according to appointment , Mr . Parker came to the board-room of the workhouse . Mr . Prendergast , on the one side , and Mr . Curtis on the other , were in attendance , Mr . Parker , addressing Mr . Curtis , apprised hh » that the commissioners had directed him to proceed with the inquiry , and he was bound to obey them . He proposed , therefore , to-day to receive the names of witnesses to beexamined for the defence , and issue summonses , and to commence hearing them
tomorrow . Mr . Curtis said he was unprepared io give the names of several witnesses , because he did not know that they would give evidence . He must first ascertain tbat point . Mr . Prendergast thought these delays hard upon thc persons who had to follow up the charges made against the _master . Mr . Curtis said n ' . ; _£ *•< - ¦ some witji 5 S 383 wli"" ' roadv _imw . _jgjg - io give _eyy ap , , _^ « _tkemto-nioi-row , but he would not tor _K Ki r to issue summonses for them , no * fr- .-., ; _^ _Lf „ arKe TO Mr . Parker said he must . ** " ™ e <>« - _«« - directions ofthe comm < 7 ± 2 tJll ?
. _-T _^^ . ™ _* _* i , _+ _! , _« « i , _„ = ¦ _v- --sioners , press tins inquiry 2 LH ° - _* M ? idity . as Mr . Curtis declined asi \ _j g lor _Summonses he should go tlirough the _Evidence and select the names of tliose witnesses whom ne thought important for the defence , and ' mmraonthem accordinglyuponhisown responsibility , by the hands of Mr . Moore , a sheriff's officer . So then , ihe master declining to furnish evidence for the defence , thb commisioner does so fob him . In answer to a question from Mr . Prendergast , Mr . Parker said he had no instructions to enter unon the other charges . " Adjourned . Andoveb , _Sepi . 20 .
FIFTEENTH DAY . At the opening of the court this morning , Mr . Missing inquired ef the Assistant-Commissioner whether Mr . _Mitchiner had furnished any report of his investigation of the master ' s accounts and the union books _; and , if so , whether that report should be read ? Mr . Parker said , he was in possesion of such a report . Mr . Prendergast—We blame the false entries . If the books are all right upon the face of them , the greater the fraud . Mr . Missing—It is easy to say that . Mr . Prendergast—But we have proved them to be false . We had a tradesman ' s booKs here the other day , and there was a false entry in the waste-book , consequently the entries in ihe journal and ledger
were false also . The books are falsely kept . Mr . Parker read the report , which was an elaborate defence of the master , instead of a mere " aud it bf his accounts" as it purported to be . It had evidently been drawn up " for the nonce , " and was full of misapprehensions and gratuitous explanations of the master's position , and even speculations as to intentions . When it was finished reading , Mr . Prendergast said , this reminds me of the boy who had to spend 3 d . for his master , and fully accounted for 4 d . ; but his master did not think liim a bit more honest . I will undertake to prove that these books are false throughout , and that from the commencement the master has carried on a regular system of fraud . Mr . Missing—What right have you to say so ?
Mr . Prendergast—What right have you to put in such a document as that ? Mr . Missing—I put it in aa part of ihe defence . Mr . Prendergast—You have no right to do it . It is not a legal document . We say the entries are false , and this gentleman says they are consistently false . DEFENCE IN ANSWER TO THB _CO / _lKCES OT _DBPiVKEX
NE 8 S . The Rev . Chistopher Dodson , sworn and examined by Mr . Missing—I am chairman of the board of guardians of this union , and have been so since its establishment , for nine or ten years . I have been well acquainted with Mr . M'Dougal during the whole uf thai time . What has been his general character for honesty and correct conduct ?—Perfectly good . Mr . Prendergast—That is , general character ? Mr . Missing—Yes .
Cross-examined by Mr . Prendergast—I remember Mr . Westlake calling upon me in reference to this matter . He told me he had some charges against Mr . M'Dougal . Do you mean to swear that you never heard Mr . M'Dougal was a person of drunken habits ? I do . I have lieard that he was merry on Saturday nights . ( A laugh . ) A gentleman of this town told me since this inquiry began . I think it was Mr . Clark . He said he had met the master looking very merry on a
Saturday evening , walking home . I have heard that he was a person of drunken habits from Mr . Westlake , but not before this inquiry . Had you heard that he was also irregular with regard to women ?—Never in my Ufe . I had not a suspicion of it . Did you say to Mr . Westlake , when he told you he had charges against the master , " What is it ? Drunkenness V '—I don't recollect . If I don ' t remember , I don't . I cannot remember that I did . I can say no more . I will not swear that I did not , but I would rather swear I did not than I did .
Mr . Prendergast—Very likely . But ive don't want to know what you would _hatuer swear . Will you swear that you did not ? Witness—I will not . I did not say " women . " I never dreamt of it . I believe I did not . I would not undertake to swear that I did not . I know the guardians . None of them ever mentioned to me that the master was a person given to drinking . I am a magistrate of the county , not for the borough . I do not , therefore , know the constables of the town . I am here every Saturday , and leave seldom later than four o ' clock . The Rev . Charles Henry Redding , vicar of Andover , examined by Mr . Missing—I am chaplain to the union workhouse , I have known Mr . M'Dougal from the commencement of the union . His general character during that time , as far as it has been
known to me , was perfectly satisfactory . Octavius Hammond examined—I am a surgeon , residing in Andover . I was medical officer to the workhouse from March , 1838 , to March , 1830 . I knew Mr , M'Dougal during that period . I would rather speak more particularly ofhis character during the time I was surgeon to this house . I never knew him act in any way unbecoming or unfitting his station as master ofthis house . As far as his general character has come to my knowledge it has corresponded with what I'have already said . Of course I don't speak of what I hare heard within the last fortnight . Mr . Prendergast objected to evidence except as to general character . Mr . Missing wished to know whether his learned friend wished to abide by all the technicalities of a court of law ?
Mr . Prendergast said , it was a question for the Assistant-Commissioner to decide . Mr . Parker—I shall take any particular fact bearing on general character . Witness—I was going to say that I thought bis conduct to the inmates humane and kind . Mr . Prendergast—That is not evidence . Witness ( laughing)—I don't care for that , as long as I get it out . That is six years ago you speak of ?—Yes . If the old men complained of not getting those allowances , would you consider him humane and kind ? I never heard that they did not get their allowances . I think they had . their allowances . That is your supposition . Perhaps you would expect that the people and the children would complain to you ?—I see no reason why they should not . I have had access to them at all hours . They might have comnlained to me if they wished . The children
did not come crying to me and say they had not got their bread and butter . ( A laugh . ) 1 have been in the habit of coming to the house occasionally since I was medical ofiicer . I speak of occasions of indisposition , but not among the paupers , when I attended the master ' s family , and on other occasions . I can't say hoir many times . I can't say once a year . During the last six years have you been here six times ?—Most unquestionably , and more . I won't say eight times . I am sure it averages once a year . I won't say more . I might have visited the house half a dozen times within the last month , and previous to the inquiry . 1 never saw the master drunk . I have heard ol his being in liquor , and I have generally disbelieved jit , ( A laugh . ) I have heard that on one or two occasions he was so on Saturday evenings . There was no specific occasion on which I had reason to believe it . J never heard of his haying been drank in this house .
The Rev . 6 . Watson Smy the examined—I am a _fa ardian and a member ofthe finance committee . I ave known Mr . M'Dougal three years . Hia general character for honesty , I should say , was good , from my capacity aa one ofthe finance co mmittee ; and as to his humanity , Ihave always had a very high opinion , from my own observation and from inquiries of people who _haye been in the workhouse ,
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- Mr . Prendergast—Hare- they not _compared - Jura with his wife ?—yes . , . . ¦ , e Have they not said that he was a good sort _ ot person compared with his wife ?—Not exactly ; but 1 have asked my parishioners who have been in the house how they liked the house and the conduct of the master . They said , " Very well . " I have asked about the matron ; and—Mr . Prendergast—I dont want that . Mr . Parker decided on receiving it . Witness—They said they did not like her . They complained of her being sever © . I do not live in Andover . lam not in the town on Saturday
evenings . I leave about four or five o'clock . I have never heard that the master was occasionally drunk before this inquiry , I have lieard many persons speak of it since who have been in public-houses with Mm , and they told me , one and all , they had never seen him drunk . He is under very peculiar temptations of being asked by different people to have glasses of beer and spirits . I have heard also , from others who were not present with him , that he has been drunk . Respectable people told me the reverse . I don't go to public-houses . . I scarcely know the sound of the Eight Bells . I pass it often . I go to the Star every day I come into the town .
Mr . Parker asked the witness if the term " severe " meant " strict ? " He replied that he thought it meant strict , but not unkind . Mr . Prendergast—Ask him if they said sho was a devil ? ( Laughter . ) Witness—They did not . Nor a devil of a temper ?—That is another thing . I am not sure that they said that . I will not swear that they did not . Mr . Henry Earle , a solicitor of the town , examined . —I was auditor ofthe union up to within the last few weeks , for more than two years . During that time I investigated Mr . M'Dougal ' s accounts generally . My opinion is that he was always extremely correct in his accounts , and rendered every 8 SSista 5 C _to * 3 power to the cor * _'"* '" i in _„„! _.-. » _throus-1 . a- - " *• - * " _— " - 0-. . _ mem .
Cross _* examined—In going through the accounts did you find the establishment charge for beer correspond with the Medical Relief and Sick Diet Book?—I found that the beer brought into the house was always certified by the finance committee to be correct . I dare say they did that ; but did you compare the quantity stated to be consumed in the Medical Relief or Sick Diet Book with tho quantity stated to be consumed in the Establishment Book ?—No I don't think that would be much test , and unless I compared the books with store , I should not like to say anything on that point . I never heard any reports of
his drunkenness until this inquiry . I was quire surprised when I did hear them . c * Is the master entitled to double rations ?—I should not like to speak upon that point without looking at the books . Well , but you have been auditor for a long time , tell us what quantity of rations he has a right to subtract from the whole for himself ?—I cannot speak to that without the books . But that is a sort of principle , you know , to guide you in ihe investigation of the accounts . If you had compared these books , you would , I think , have found how much he was entitled to take for himself , would you not ?—I don't remember .
RESIGNATION OF THE MASTER . Mr . Missing now rose , and addressing the Assistant-Commissioner , said , —I am placed in an awkward and unpleasant position . The extraordinary and most unprecedented circumstance of the resumption ofthe inquiry to-day , after thc adjournment you were so kind as to grant , and which was acceded to by the other side , has placed it entirely out of my power , and that of Mr . Curtis , to be prepared with the necessary evidence to counteract the charges of improper conduct with regard to the female inmates preferred against us . You are , no doubt , aware , sir ,
that charges of that description are most easy to be made and most difficult to disprove . Such offences , from their very nature , are generally committed in secret , and not in the presence of third parties . Therefore , it is only by a minute examination of the evidence given in accusing the party , and by documentary evidence , probably bearing upon that statement , that we could , under the most favourable circumstances , rebut such evidence . The charges have been preferred to the Poor Law Commissioners . We asked for time to enable us to make our defence to them . Time was granted by you , but it has been refused by the Poor Law Commissioners ; and the
consequence Air . Parker—I cannot hear any observations upon the course the Poor Law Commissioners have thought fit to adopt . My instructions are to proceed with the inquiry , and I apprehend you are going to tell me what you ave about io do . Mr . Missing—The consequence is , that inasmuch as we cannot lay before the public the defence of Mr . M'Dougal in a shape satisfactory either to ourselves or to the public , I take upon myself the responsibility of advising Mr . M'Dougal to withdraw from this
inquiry altogether . I shall , tlierofore . neither call any witnesses nor attend further upon this inquiry . I beg to state also , that it is Mr . M'Dougal ' s intention to tender his resignation to the board of guardians . Mr . Parker—Is that course intended to stop the inquiry ? Mr . Missing—I do not mean to stop the inquiry , but to withdraw from it as the legal adviser of Mr . M'Dougal ; and Mr . Curtis will do so too . I have to express to you , sir , before I leave , my sincere thanks for the great courtesy you have shown to me throughout . I have , then , no further evidence to offer .
Mr . Prendergast*—That is just the sort of evidence I expected you would offer—none at all . ( Laughter . ) Mr . Missing , Mr . Curtis , and their client then left the hall , and proceeded to the board-room . They were soon followed by the Assistant-Commissioner . The unexpected announcement created much surprise among the auditory , and was the subject of animated conversation during the absence of Mr . Parker , who returned in about an hour , and having filled up a summons , which he sent out by Moore , tho summoning-officer , he informed Mr . Prendergast that he had summoned the master to attend the inquiry .
The master came in , and resumed his former seat . Mr . Parker said—In consequence of the withdrawal of yourself and your legal advisers , I feel compelled , in pursuing the inquiry , to summon you as a witness . I shall put the questions to the witnesses myself . The following persons , whom the Assistant Commissioner had named on the previous day , were then called : — Mr , Charles _Matctiara , _laudlotd ef tl _\& _Globa Inn , examined—2 _Jiave often seen Mr . M'Dougal at my house in the afternoon and evening of Saturdays . I have seen him intoxicated half a dozen times perhaps . I have kept the house four years and a half . I think he was not capable of managing any business . He could walk home except on one occasion , when he
could not walk home . It has been mostly in the evening that I have seen him drunk . I never saw him so in the day-time . By Mr . Prendergast—He generally left my house early in the evening ' . Mr . William Philip Devon examined—I am landlord of the George Inn , Andover . Mr . M'Dougal has not much frequented my house _| during the last two or three years . Ihave seen him the worse for liquor three or four years ago . I believe on a Saturday night . I have not often seen him intoxicated . By the worse for liquor , I mean he had some difficulty in walking ; that was from ten to eleven o ' clock at night , Ihave not seen him so in the day-time .. By Mr . Prendergast—That was the last occasion which I mentioned . There was some disturbance in
my house on a former' occasion , when some soldiers were quartered on me . He was intoxicated , and addressing the soldiers who were in the market room , said— " Soldiers , retire ! Go to bed ! " They refused to mind him , and said . their commanding officer was present , and he had nothing to do with thorn . There was a little bother * there wag no fight , but what you gentlemen would call "jaw . " ( k laugh . ) They called each other hard names . Mr . Prendergast—The word "jaw" is not in my vocabulary . ( A laugh . ) Mr . t . Pontin examined—lam landlord of the Masons' Arms-inn . Mr . M'Dougal has frequented my house . I have seen bim drunk several times perhaps twenty , during the tliree years and a half f
nave kept the Masons' Arms . By drunk I mean that he was not capable of taking care of himself It was in the evening , and principally on Saturdays . I should say I had seen him incapable of taking care of himself eight or ten times . By Mr . Prendergast-Antony , the porter , would come for lum sometimes , and young M'Dougal sometimes , and finally Mrs . M'Dougal would come and fetch lather , son , and porter . I don't mean to say tnat the son and porter were tipsy . ( A la _\ iah . ) fehe would see them all out , and follow him . Sometimes the son would come first , and wait half an hour or an hour , and then the porter would come , and wait sometimes an hour , or perhaps more , and then the mistress would come . This would take place at ten , eleven , or twelve o ' clock , and on one occasion it was later than that . He was rather inclined to sine on those occasions .
# Did he get on very well ?—I am not much of a judge of music . ( A laugh . ) Mr . Parker—I have not examined all the witnesses Ihave summoned . If I find it necessary I must go on on Monday . I have not yet had an _oppor-% _VS _lfcy ° / collecting the names of parties residing in different parts , and some in London . There are Mr Pitch _u' _s f _I- 7 ' ' _Bafeer » of _& -ms < _£ and somebody at Winchester and Salisbury , whose names I do not know . As Mr . M'Dougal has SneT T sliall report what evidence I have receive ! to the Poor Law Commissioners , and ask them if I am to go on and take other evidence on these charees " In answer to a question by Mr . Prendergast The Assistant-Commissioner further stated , that it was uncertain that he should hold a court on Monday ; with regard to other charges , he ha }\> instructions to investigate them .
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Mh Pren _^^^ nortance _, not only to Mr . M Dougai , m * payers of the whole limon . Adjourned . _^ — . - ' _ . _ After Mr . _Missing announced _^ _gVS cliciit to resign , they _PS _^ _-ES & _l- _** board-room , wEeraihe _rffted _^ tM _ow ; had just beforeaddressed to _^ _X _^ Vugal sioner , and presented along _^ " _^ _rSs were conto the board , in which those observations _^ v-e _siderably amplified , and _Y _^ ch e , ided _« " _* receiYe il of thanks for the many _k- . n _^ es £ SS of SB ? if " _ATft * _"> * have been preconcerted . _--. ¦ , _• , ; _.,, aeenied Thetencferingofthe mas f _^ _resign seeme to take the generality of them by suipwse , mer especially those who had that _yfK _^ ffclphim so _/ ood a character _W _^ _ja peared , however , that they felt themselves oouu
accept his resignation . " - / . marks UPOU Mr . Missing , in the course of h , si _^ _frM _tlhe the subject , said ( pointing to the ni _^ ter ) _^ that tne Poor Law Commissioners wereirealiy visiting W _£ j » of the guardians on the head of that unfortunate _mcUVi Theguardians , it will be seen , think _themselves more sinned against than sinning . ¦ , j Mr . Parker said , that as the master had acted contrary to the regulations of the Poor Law Commissioners , they did not think him a fit person to remain any longer in the workhouse . He should , t he **™* * be instantly removed . He ( Mr . Parker ) had fl peMOtt ready , who was well accustomed to the details ot _™ management ofa workhouse under the old law , ana who , no doubt , would be able to attend to do the duty here until a new master should be appointed . It then proposed that ail election <•«¦ _•" ¦ _•* : " nets i _/ iicu _ttu _vivwm
was am _yiuyuo- _viiuy «*« — n & W n _utter should _tak-, _^ — _^^^ _-Um .. _« , _uiu lair would take place in about three _weetos , Weyhill being close to Andover , and many ol tne guardians interested in it , it was ultimately settleo thatit should be postponed for a month . While this subject was _underidiscussion Mr . Parker had left the room to converse with Mr . Missing ; ana before he returned M'Dougal was sent for by . the Chairman and asked if he ' would stay . a month to take care ofthe house ? He said , he was so thankful to the board for all their kindness , that he would stay twelve montlis , or as long as he lived , if they wished it .
When Mr . Parker returned , and found that the board had decided on retaining M'Dougal to do the duties of master for another month , he appeared greatly disconcerted , and very emphatically expressed his disapprobation of the course the guardians had just taken . . A very stormy discussion ensued , during wluca Mr , Dodson and Mr . Smythe , the two clergymen , said they very sincerely regretted that the master had resigned , and that he hud come to that determination , for they had as much confidence in him
as ever . . Mr . Dodson ( the Chairman ) ended the altercation by saying , that" though he did not wish to fly in the face of the Poor Law Commissioners , if he was to be drilled in eveiy way they thought proper , he should make his bow to them ; " and so saying he took ia- * - big hat , and walked away . Mr . Haines , tho vice-cJl 8 ir- _* man , - -aid he should do the same , and so he did . Mr . J . Lywood followed tlieir example , remarking that the Commissioners might got somebody else ; he was not going to be humbugged by such people as they . And then the whole board broke up in most admired disorder . A . _NDOVEB , _MOXBAY , SeFT . 22 ., The excitement created by the news thatthe master had resigned , and also the chairman ,
vice-chairman , and others of the guardians , has been intense . Saturday being market-day , the town was more than _, usually lull of strangers ; who , with " the great body of the inhabitants , hailed these events with hearty satisfaction , considering the departure of the master and his men as " a good riddance , " and a circumstance likely to lead to some improvement in the management of the union . It is almost impossible to say how many of the guardians have not intimated their intention of going without the camp , and bearing reproach with tlieir immaculate brother-delinquents . It is easy enough to tell what is the moving cause ofthis desertion of office : the resignation or dismissal of the master necessarily involves those ill censure who so long have had him under their control , and have suffered him to pursue a course which has led to such a result .
In addition to the statement of what took place at the stormy meeting ofthe board on Saturday , I hear that the assistant commissioner was so deoply affected that he almost shed tears while he expostulated with the unruly members of that board , tolling tliem , that throughout the inquiry he had leaned towards them and the accused , and endeavoured to further their views , bo much so as to bring down npon him the condemnation of the Poor Law Commissioners ; and this was his reward . He had stood b , _** them , but now they woidd desert him . The whole of the proceedings ihat morning evinced that they had been artfully prearranged . The master had determined upon sending in his resignation , and a letter for that purpose was prepared , written , sealed , and directed to the
guardians , announcing that determination , and was actually in the pouch ofhis legal adviser before the proceedings of the day began . But it was deemed advisable not to beat a retreat without an attempt to plaister up the damaged reputation of the accused , not by evidence to rebut the facts deposed to , but by an Old Bailey trick of calling accomplices to give him a character . They were clergymen , three in number , and their evidence has elicited almost universal contempt . The church has not been so thinly attended for years as it was yesterday . The rain might account for this in some measure , but I know some , who stayed away solely on account of the disgust created in their minds by the conduetof the clergy throughout the inquiry , and particularly on Saturday last . Their
evidence was perfectly valueless to their p > _rotege : it was ofthe same kind whicli a poacher once produced to rebut the testimony of two men who saw him kill a hare ; ho brought ten men to prove that they did not see him do so . In this case , however , there wag an important difference , the majorityof the witnesses being those who had seen the master drunk repeatedly , and the meagre minority those who professed neither to have seen nor lieard of such a thing , though one of them confessed that tlie master would get ¦• merry " on Saturday nights . The Rev . G . W . Smythe was asked by Mr . Prendergast more than once ' or twice whether or no some persons who had been inmates of the house had not told him that the mistress was a perfect devil ? In vain was the question repeated ; the _twwitness
. - as often said he had not been so told . But why did the learned counsel so pointedlv put the question again and again ? Because some daVs before , while in conversation , the rev . witness did actually tell him that persons had so described the mistress to him . The rev . gentleman , as one oftlie _Wltnessea said , seems to have a memory like a rabbit ' s tail , — very short . But this is the kind of evidence which was used to raiBc up a sort of masked batterv , under which the soldier-master might retreat ; and a "Poore" defence it afforded , although a gallant lieutenant volunteered his professional aid . lhe ingeniously constructed report of the " eminent accountant" furnished no better shelter . Before Mr . Parker proceeded to read it ha _saiil _tlmf . Mr .
Shaw had lent some assistance to Mr . Mitchiner in getting it up and had given it his sanction , or at least had made no objection to any of its statements . Aow , what is the fact ? Mr . Shaw never saw that report until late on Saturday evening , when Mr . _larker called upon him and showed it to him , enueavounngthen to secure the sanction which in the morning he alleged to have been given . Mr . Shaw , however , on perusing the report could not express hnnselt satisfied with it , and he is surprised that Mr . Mitchiner should ( if he did ) tell the assistant-corn _, _missioner that he had sanctioned anv such report , which he declares to be bo got up as earefuuv to conceal evei-ything that would tell against the master , and to make a case in his favour bv clever
manaeement . It is a fact , that Mr . Shaw one dav positively objected to the course the " eminent accountant " Was taking , and in order that there might be no mistake , wrote a note to him expressing his dissatisfaction , pointing out certain errors , and requesting attention thereto . Mr . Shaw discovered , by comparing the house-provision book with the ledger , that on beef days the beef was short four or five pounds . The master explained this by saying that a family might come in after the meat was down to cook , and be divided the quantity intended , say for 40 , among the increased number 45 ; but . to make up for that , be pnt in an excess of bacon on the Mowing Saturdav . It was further discovered that the bacon was short eight or nine pounds on the very Saturdavs following
the _luesdays when the beef was short . This may account , to some extent , for the bone-gnawing . Of this fact , however , the " eminent accountant" take 3 no notice . Itwas well observed by Mr . Prendergast that if the books were right upon the face of them , the greater must be the fraud . The report seems lo present the same aspect ; and it is no answer whatever to the charge of having deprived several paupers of the allowances set down against their names , which they have sworn they never had . Mr . Mitchiner endeavours to make an excuse lor the master in depriving the children of iSib . of bread in a week , by saying that he supplied them with milk , and that with milk a less quantity ol bread would suffice . But
this statement , ingenious aa it ia , goes for nothing . The bills show that tbe expense of the milk averaged about Is . lid . per week , and the -181 b . of bread would cost about 6 s . i 0 } d _., go that the master pocketed the difference . Mr . Prendergast did quite right in protesting against the introduction of this illegal document ; but it is one of .. the many wrong steps whicli the Assistant-Commissioner and his legal friends have taken Jto serve their mutual client , the master . It proves too much ; and they must have been somewhat sensible of that , or they weuld not have produced it at an improper time . The defence in reply to the charges or peculation had elosed ; and any such evidence ought to have been given upon oath ( Concluded in our seventh page . )
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 27, 1845, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns4_27091845/page/6/
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