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    Prendergast thenot compared him Mr. Pren...

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    V THE ASDOVER: ABOMINATIONS. BKBAK VOWS ...

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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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    Prendergast Thenot Compared Him Mr. Pren...

    September . 27 , 1845 . THE NOR THERN STAR . _. ¦ ¦ ¦> :. - ¦ _' ' - " ' I

    V The Asdover: Abominations. Bkbak Vows ...

    V THE ASDOVER : ABOMINATIONS . BKBAK VOWS OF THE DEFENCE . RESIGNATION OF THE " MASTER . " O FFICIAL INQUIRY RESUMED-Airoovia * ., Sept . 17

    _rOOBTBESIH SAX . ' This morning , at ten o ' clock , Mr . _Assistant-Com missioner Parker re-opened hisi court . The legal gentlemen on each side were present as before . A short-hand -writer , sent down by Government , took notes throughout . Before the appointed business of the day commenced , Mr . Missing inquired of Mr . Parker whether it wa 5 the intention of the Poor Law Commissioners to indict Mr . M'Dougal ? If they did , he should decline entering upon the defence of his client in this protracted _inftuiry , as such , a . course worddinaterially prejudice Mm in his defence . Mr . Parker said his instructions were to proceed with thc inquiry .

    THE DEFENCE . Harriet Annette , examined by Mr . Missing—1 -have been four years in this union workhouse . My first occupation " was that of nurse to the children the next scnllerymaid . I think Mr . Holly was married to Miss M'Dougal about March , three _yearsaca After their marriage their clothes-w _^—untlis afterbo washed . That —> nerymaid . I saw tlie clothes vfards . _W-ived from Stockbridge , and unpacked cnem . They generally came in a parcel packed in a " moulder , " which went backwards and forwards . The parcel did not contain anything besides clotbe 3 , 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 was sent with them . Sometimes about 31 b ., sometimes 41 b . It was generally sent in a cake . I don't exactly know how lomr it lasted .

    Was ever anything put into the parcel besides the clothes ?—No , sir ; nothing at all , sir . Any tea or sugar ?—Oh ! no , sir , not thc least , sir . Thc sending of thc clothes continued for about twelve _months * , as far as / can remonkr . Did yon ever see any single article belonging to the union packed up with thc clothes 1—No , sir ; not at all , sir ; not an article of any kind , sir , except the " moulder . " __ Cross-examined by Mr . Prendergast—I always saw the parcels of clothes packed up . Every parcel , ItiMrcss never sent a little present to her daughter . ever .

    Do yon mean to tell , npon your oath ?—Yes , sir . Stop , did your mistress never put in some little note or little packet for her daughter ?—I never saw her . Where was thc parcclfastened tip ?—It w & i always sewn up . Mistress did it with a slight _nettle and thread . It was not put into a basket at all tsitil thc last three or four times . ' The " moulder" was thrown over the basket . The things were the two or three last times packed in a basket , because they were Tery ranch tumbled , and Mrs . Holly found fault with them . The parcel was made up sometimes upstairs , sometimes down , most times on the kitchen table . __ Jlr _ . M'Dougal was sometimes in the kitchen when it was made up . It was sometimes packed in _stress ' s room . She was not 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 you mean to tell me that your mistress did not buy some little thing in the town ?—No , sir . Question repeated—If ' she did she used to give it io her daughter when she came here . 1 never knew her give her anything , or buy anything for her . . Nor send a note to her ?—Oh , yes , sir . Not in the same parcel with the clothes . I never saw one . I most have seen it if she ever had . No parcels besides the clothes ever went to Stockbridge . I never saw it . You were rather on good terms with young Mr . M'Dougal ?—Good terms ! I don't know what you mean .- I was his servant .

    Do you mean to swear it was not reported that you 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 the examination , and said that Jlr . Westiake was sitting too near the witness and looking al Iter in a ivay he sliould not . Jlr . Westiake said the assistant-commissioner was quite mistaken . Mr . Parker thought it advisable , considering . the relative position of Mr . Westiake and the 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 . Westiake emphatically repeated his denial , and left the side of his legal adviser , to avoid , as he said , such unworthy insinuations , lie had- never once looked at the ivitness during her examination . Do you remember charging any woman with having made such a report?—No .

    Are yoa quite sure that you 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 . I should be in a great passion with any one who said so of me , especially with a young boy like that . ( Laughter . ) Then how came you to be so doubtful about the report just now ?—There may be reports of which I know nothing , as there niay bc of yon and you know _nothing about them . Mr . Missing—I should like to have that answer taken .

    . Mr . l rendergast—What , about me ? ( A laugh . ) Elizabeth Dolly sworn , and examined by Air . JCssing—lam the wife of Stephen Holly , of Stockbridge , and the daughter of Mr . M'Dougal . My husband is a parchment-maker . He carries on business on his own account , and employs from fifteen to twenty-two mcu , but not so many in the winter as in the summer . I have been married three years aud a half . Since my marriage I have been in the liabit of sending my clothes to thc union to be washed , I began that about nine months after I was married . 1 sent the clothes here to be washed because my second servant was not able to do the washing , and npon those conditions mother agreed to do the washing for nie until thc girl , Mary Ann Banks , did learn to do it . Sarah Cowdery was my first servant . I did not send any clothes hero while she was so until the day she left me . I found soap for the washing . It was a yellow soap , but of a different land from thc union soap , if compared—a bettermost

    kind . I have never , since my marriage , received any present of union soap from Mr . or Mrs . M'Dougal . Nor any soap at all . Nor tea in ounce papers . Nor 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 nave never had so small a quantity of tea in my house as an ounce . I buy my grocery goods in large parcels , sometimes from London , Romsey , and other places . I had a bed from the union when I was married . It was a kind of flock bed in an old tick , and purchased from Mr . Hawkins ( who was present in court ) . 1 never received any sheets from my mother marked " Union sheets . " I never had sheets like the union sheets . I never used blankets for any bed inmy house like the union sheets . I have the sheets and blankets here which were in use by my servants . I never received any shoes from thc union , nor had anv made .

    Have you ever received , since your marriage , any one thing from Mr . or _ Mrs . M'Dougal belonging to the union ?— -No ; nothing , except a basin of dripping the first Christmas after I was married , which was about nine mouths after . There might have been 21 b . or 31 b ., not more . That is the only dripping I ever received from the house , and that I didn't know belonged to it . It was roast beef dripping . Mr . Missing directed the master to produce the bedding . Mr . Prendergast inquired how far Stockbridge was from Andover , and having understood that it was only seven miles , he asked why thc bed and bedding were not produced while the witnesses in support of tiie charges were under examination ? It was most

    irregular . Mr . Missing said that it was one of the inconveniences of the course pursued by the other side in not furnishing particulars of the charges . Mr . Prendergast said , that in thc opinion of the learned Assistant-Commissioner this charge was included in tiie 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 but that , nor any otlier tick . Cross-examined by Mr . Prendergast—What was the name of the grocer in London of whom you purchased articles in 1 S _ 2 ?—Mr . Bridger .

    No , in London f—I have bought things in London . Yon have got a bill-head , father , I believe ( turning to the master , who handed the witness a basket ) . I did not buy any grocery in London in the first year after my marriage , nor in the second . I have bought some at Stockbridge . 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 . Hitchcock . I have dealt with hundreds of shops . When I went out with Mr . Holly , if I wanted grocery J bought it . I have bought it at Stockbridge and Andover too . We generally took it home in -Mr . Holly ' s gig . _Wnxi nut If- _Pnilirm _onJ _«> .. _ _Cll ... _! - _! . . — -1- o _URia lauuu _uiuuiau

    ««» «™» _»* - »• _"" _ouu juiu ; : —I don't know . I know that much of my father that I don't know whom he was intimate with . I have seen Mr . Bridger at the workhouse with my father , but J know nothing of their intimacy —• nothing more than civility . Did your father and mother go over in a gig to see you ?—They have been over . They never brought _"ZS _^ _o y from Bridger , nor any at all for me . _««»_? £ _? _•_?? ? ier brin S y < "i a _° y _praeirt % —She _ww _^^ nlo _^*^ bnt my clean finen , and that _fcl _^ _fK _? £ _&* _% ' _v mother ¦ Bd _J-Wtt- _^ _- _^ _thrt _tw "" -8 * be mat two years of »* nase , _^ _t _^ neTertoqkyouany / resent ?

    V The Asdover: Abominations. Bkbak Vows ...

    —They never did . They had a pony of their own when they brought the clothes . Nothing but the clothes ?—No , they never brought anything Delonging to the union . No no , I don't ask that . Nothing then except thc dripping ?—No ; one basin . Did you not say , Why , mother , of all the nice tilings in the world , you _' Te never sent me anything but this dripping ? No . I don't think she has all the nice things in the world here . She did not send the dripping , I took it myself . Where did you get it ?—From my mother in this house . Did you 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 nie that basin of dripping . It was a 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 mv mother or father . Besides them I have sisters and a brother , and two qr three _aunts ,. oiiJy one of whom have I ever sem . _WYWasnotm * b . eir received anv . nxxay thing I got was the dripping , nmcuI had a taste for . The sheets produced were in my husband's house before I was married . I bought some of Mr . Hawkins , ahout three months after I was married . The sheets produced are those used by my servant . They are not both here . 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 this morning , and the bed nearly a fortnight ago , when I _expected it would bc 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 the bed and thc sheets together . I took them away for the bed . My maid sleeps on a featherbed 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 ? Witness—Yes , I saw thorn 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 mc 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 I We understand that . ( Alaugh . ) Witness—I can't swear whether it was or was not he who told me so . The sheet now produced was new when I married . The fellow 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 bought when I was 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 2 Slbs . of sugar in 1841 , as bought by her from Mr . Baker , at ftomsey . )

    Mr . Assistant-Commissioner—But you were not married in 1841 . Witness—But I have bought sugar I know . ' Mr . Prendergast—But you have sworn that you have bought this i of a cwt . of sugar for your own use , dated September , 1 S 41 , and paid in " January , 1 S 12 , and you wercmarricdinMarchfollowing f —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 , that is one of tho 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 Icame , but I did not bring the bed there . I did not show it at any time , nor the sheets . It was not my business to do that , or to 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 , i 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 paper was a bill , dated Feb . 25 , 18-5 . Mr . Parker—Where does Mrs . Policy live ? 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 Air . Prendergast—I have bought some soap I sent here at Romsey . I have had some of Mr . 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 after date , and before , but not one during the 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 Stockbridge 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 ?—I can tell you tbe names , but I have not the bills ; I bought it of Baker of Romsey , Rudgo of Winchester , a shop in the marketplace at Salisbury , the name of which I cannot recollect . Edmund Bishop Hawkins , eKimined by Mr . Missing—I am a draper residing in this town . I remember being applied to by Mrs . M'Dougal for flock to make a bed . We call it rugging . I think it was on the lfth of March , 1842 . I procured some . I do not keep the article by me . I was paid for it by Mr . M'DouEal . ( The witness referred to his books . )

    It was paid for with other things . There are entries in the waste-book , 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 froduced 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 sav .

    By Mr . Prendergast—It is entered inthe wastebook , 2 SSo . ofruggingtothe guardians ofthe Andover union . It is altered . Probably the mistake was discovered . I did not alter it . One of my men , who has left 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 _WHmade up . I did not see it made . Every month we make up the journal , and then I post the ledger . I usually do it every month . £ _ 18 s . is 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 containing the item of " rugging" was paid with other things in July , 1842 . I received it in cash , not by cheque . There is an entry of my own in the wastebook , " Mrs . M'Dougal , by cash , £ 614 s . lid . " Had it been a cheque , probably I should have mentioned it . I never received a cheque from Mr . M'Dougal on his ownaccount . I supply the union with sheets . They are altogether a different thing from the stout calico sheet produced bythelast witness . Thewidthofthe 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 thc bed produced . The sheeting is what we call Forfar sheeting , A union sheet was produced , 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 carry on the business of a parchment-maker at Stockbridge , as much , I think , as any one in the trade . I don't know but that business is myown . I don't know that any one has a better right to it . 1 have visited the union occasionally since my marriage . I never at any time took home in my trap bed linen belonging to the union , nor any papers of tea . I never saw such a thing in my liia . 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 . orMrs . M'Dougal , 1 travel about three dayB a week in roy business , to Newbury , Winchester , Basingstoke , all through thecountry—London very often . Isometimes _gt on these journeys without my wife , I have most

    V The Asdover: Abominations. Bkbak Vows ...

    of those . thnes purchased housekeeping articles . _ncyer bought tea in ounce papers . I never know'd an ounce paper come inmy house in my life . 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 has sent out for a pound or so . When my wife was out with mc 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 , but that ' s the " quilt" that was in my liouse before I married . My sister kept the house for mc until the time I was married . We were both married on the same day .

    Cross-examined by Mr . Prendergast—W here is she?—I don't know , I ha ' nt aseen her . 1 never made my servant ' s bed , but I know what I bought before I was married . I _ _ftf * _heMMcd ' em , MB ironed ' cm . I have seen ' em come home , and looked that they were all right . I never counted _^ cm . Missus did , and sometimes tho . _scvvants ugh < . readjr _ buy sheeting bcforel W _^ _iSjj _^ j _' _t'havc bought sheets at made sheet ? " 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 whicli place . I bought sheets at one of the places . I bought either two or three , not four . Do they call three a pair of sheets ?—I don't

    understand it . ( A laugh . ) I bought a bed . I did not buy blankets . I buy new blankets and old sheets . I bought old sheets to give to the servants after wo had done with ' er a . I slept in ' cm . I can't say how long I used'em . I might have bought ' cm about 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 the servants . I bought the bed at the same sale I bought the sheets , and a good many things besides . It was Mr . Hulberl ' 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 mc that you always bought new blankets just now , did ' nt you ?—No , not always . I bought old ones too at a sale by auction . I don't say where I bought 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 supplied you with tea and sugar during the first two years after your marriage ?—I buy things at any shop where I bc , at different places , where it suits ine . Sometimes at Mr . Starkie ' s , in London . I don ' t take money in Stockbridge , so I don't buy there . I think I bought 21 b . of tea in London during that two years , but I don't know what thc name was over the door . I didn't put it down . My wife has bought in Andover lib ., or 31 b ., or a lib . I have bought some ot a travelling teaman , named Ileslop , a Scotchman , who lives in Southampton , about a quarter of a pound

    at a time . Mr . Prendergast proposed to call the two servants to question them as to the identity of the bed and bedding . Mr , Missing objected on the grounds so frequently repeated . Mr . Prendergast said , it was an cvery-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 maybe accounted for by the manner in which the charges were presented , and the omission—nothing more—to give those specific details which Mr . May promised me should bc furnished fo Mv . 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 the sheets , and this the bed , they used at Stockbridge . Sarah Cowdery , sworn and examined by Mr ;

    Prendergast—I was the first servant to Mra . Holly . The sheets produced aro 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 atthe bed . Is that the bed you slept on 1—No , sir , it is not . And all your evidence is as true as that , isit ?—I am quite certain that is not thc bed . It was like the bed at the union . This is not at all like it . Bring one of the 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 Blept 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 more like thc sheets I had at Stockbridge , only they were not so new . They had been washed more a good deal .

    Mary 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 , That is the sort of sheet I slept in when I was in service at Stockbridge , but not 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 ofthe press for mistress before tho marriage of Mr . nolly . 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 inquiry . He trusted that Mr . Parker would give a few 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 . Pre _* ndc _* fgast observed , tbat those who bad taken the evidence for tho 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 he was willing to agree to 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 . Andovbr , Sept . 10 .

    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 ad journment , and to proceed with the inquiry , as the following letters show : — " Poor Law Commission-office , Somerset-house , Sept . , 1845 . " Sir , —I 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 , " George Coode , Assistant Secretary . " To P . C . Westiake , Esq ., Andover . "

    ( Copy . ) " Poor Law _Commissioners ' -omce , 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 nest , when you would proceed with your defence to the charges preferred against you . " The commissioners are of opinion that an officer against whom charges of the kind involved in the _investi . gation now pending in tbe Andover Union have been made on oath , is liable to be callad upon to give an explanation and enter upon his defence with the least possible delay .

    " The time which has already elapsed since the InvcAtigation began has been amply sufficient , in the opinion of the commissioners , to enable you to get together the materials necessary for your defence , especially as most of the charges relate to facts io be proved , or disproved , by witnesses on the spot . " Had the board of guardians acceded to tho recommendation of tbe 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 of the course they now think it fit to adopt . "As it is , the commissioners have requested Mr . Parker to return to Andover forthwith ; and they must call upon you to proceed with your defence either tomorrow or Saturday , and continue with it from day today ,

    " An inquiry by an assistant-commissioner is not a court constituted in such 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 board , feci confident that they are not inflicting upon you any substantial injustice . " I am , Sir , your most obedient servant , " George Coooe , Assistant-Secretary . " To Mr . M'Dougal , Master of the Union-workhouse , Andover . " These sudden and erratlo flirtings ofthe assistant _, commissioner were , as may easily be conceived , productive of great inconvenience to the parties concerned in carrying on the inouiry . Mr . Prendergast went to London , and had only just got home , when he received an intimation of the ehange of arrange * ment _, and was _fflamemately compelled to return to Andover . m ¦ r _° _« s P , _f ? . ce ensued between Mr . Parker and Mr . Westiake this morning , in which , the " former

    V The Asdover: Abominations. Bkbak Vows ...

    stated , that he should proceed to the workhouse at twelve o _' clook _, for the purpose of receiving from the master the names of the witnesses whom he intends to call in his defence . Mr . Westiake proffered the names of the witnesses to support the charges vet 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 those charges , not having received any instructions from the Poor Law Commissioners . Really , Mr . _Parlfcr _' s memory is sadly at fault sometimes , for if he refer to theletters from the Poor Law Commissioners to Mr . Westiake , he will find that they _haye given that

    gentleman an assurance that all the charges should be duly investigated . Those wliich remain unopened are of the most direct and important nature , relating to cruelty , and the flogging of women with thc " cat o * two tails , " contrary to the _relations , ofJhePon _* Law Commissioners , and % nn _^ ; _ttl (> Vl _bymu on articles supi ) lH 3 d i _^ ' of thoso _^ _tideg _, and ree 8 fVing"in return smaller quantities of a superior quality . B _? Mr . Parker persist in declining to hear these charges , application will be made to the commissioners in London to fulfil the promise fcliai tliey should be investigated .

    At twelve o ' clock , according to appointment , Mr . Parker came to the board-room oi the workhouse . Mr . Prendergast , on the one side , and Mr . Curtis on the other , were in attendance , Mr . Parker , addressing Mr , Curtis , apprised hir 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 be examined for the defence , and issue summonses , and to commence hearing them tomorrow . Mr . Curtis said he was unprepared to give the names of several witnesses , because he did not know that they would give evidence . He must first ascertain that point . _Tkf-M _73 iiAr _»»)** iTrtJ ¥ ne _* fr _+ 1 i /\ _iijvh _£ "Mi _/ if-sv i _^ _rtlrtifO _Ttrtn / 1 unAvi _Mrirrenuergast thought these aeiays nam

    . upon the persons who had to follow up the charges made against the master . Mr . Curtis said he bad some witnesses who were ready aud willing to give evidence , and he would call them to-morrow , but he would not ask Mr . Parker to issue summonses for them , nor for thc others . Mr . Parker said he must , in compliance with the directions of the commisioners , press this inquiry with the utmost rapidity ; as Mr . Curtis declined asking for summonses he should go through the evidence and select the names of those witnesses whom he thought important for the defence , and summon them accordinglyupon his own responsibility , by the hands of Mr . Moore , a sheriff's officer . So then , the master declining to furnish evidence for the defence , tub _commisionbii _ooes so ron him . In answer to a question from Mr . Prendergast , Mr . Parker said he had no instructions to enter upon the other charges . Adjourned . Akdover , Sept . 20 .

    _FlFTEENM DAY . At the opening of the court this morning , Mr . Missing inquired of the Assistant-Commissioner whether Mr . Mitchiner had furnished any report ofhis investigation of thc master's accounts and the union books ; and , ii 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 tho 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 thc otlier day , and there was a false entry in the waste-book , consequently the entries in the journal and ledger were false also . The books are falsely kept . Mr . Parker read the report , which was an

    elaborate defence oi the master , instead oi a mere aud it of his accounts" as it purported to bc . It had evidently been drawn up " for thc 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 him 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 liave you to put in such a document as that ? Mr . Missing—I put it in es part of the 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 IK ANSWER TO THE CHARGES OF DRUNKENNESS . The Rev . Chistophcr Dodson , sworn and examined by Mr . Missing—I am chairman of thc board of guardians of this union , and havo been so since its establishment , for nine or ten years . I have been well acquainted with Mr . M'Dougal during the whole of that 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 Mi _\ Westiake calling upon me in reference to this

    matter , hq 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 heard that he was merry on Saturday nights . ( A laugh . ) A gentleman of this town told me since tliis 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 . Vfest _lake , bnt not before this inquiry . Had you heard that he was also irregular with regard to women ?—Never in my life . I had not a suspicion of it .

    Did you say to Mr . Westiake , when he told you he had charges against the master , " AYhat is it ? Drunkenness ?"—I don ' t recollect . If I don't remember , I don't . I cannot remember that I did . I ean 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 we don ' t want to knoiv ivhat yoa would hathur 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 tbat the master was a person given to drinking . I am a magistrate ofthe 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 .

    lhe 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 , 1839 . I knew Mr . M'Dougal during that period . I would rather speak more particularly of his 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 of this 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 have heard within the last fortnight .

    Mr . Prendergast objected to . evidcnce 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 thc As 3 istant-Commissioner to decide . Mr . Parker—1 shall take any particular fact bearingon general character . Witness—I was going to say that I thought his 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 _j-ears 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 tbey should not . I have had access to them at all hours . They might have complained 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 . ) I have been in thc habit of coming to the house occasionally since I

    was medical officer . I speak of occasions of indisposition , but not among thepawpcrs , when I attended the master ' s family , and on other occasions . 1 can't say how many times . I can't say once a year . During thc 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 _halfadozentimes within the last month , and preyi ous to the inquiry . 1 never saw the master drunk . I have heard oi his being in liquor , and I have generally disbelieved _^ . ( A laugh . ) I have heard that on one or two occasions he was so on Saturday evenings . There wasno specific occasion on which I had reason h ? tMs _houte nWr ° _** iaving bMtt < , runk

    T o ? ' a G Wa tson Smythe examined-I am a guardian and a member ofthe finance committee I have known Mr . M'Dougal three _yS ? _ffisgeneral Eft one of the finailce committee ; and as _SJWte ? ' J ha aIwayfl had a _W -Web opinion , from my own observation and from inquiries of people who have beenin the workhouse .

    V The Asdover: Abominations. Bkbak Vows ...

    Mr . Prendergast—Have they not compared him with his wife ?—yes . ¦ ¦ , . ¦ , Have _* they not said that ho was a good sort of person compared with his wife ? -Notexactly ; but I have asked my parishioners-who have been in the house how they liked the liouse and the conduct of _themaster . 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 . _ lhcy complained of her being severe . I do not live m Andtown i 1 him

    over . I am not in the - on Saturday evenings . I leave about four or live o'clock . I have never heard that the master was pe _^ c , 0 " _*" r drunk before this inquiry . _luTfJThLn l _* , nersons _snw _> ' - " *• ' _^ _w " ° uavc " m J , „ w _.-w » ouses with him , and they told me , one and all , they had never seen him drunk . He is under very _piculiat' _temptations of _bmg 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 mc 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 she 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 of thc 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 assistance in his power to thc committee in going through them .

    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 bc 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 thc quantity stated to be consumed in the Establishment Book ?—No ; I don't think that would be much test , and unless I com *

    pared __ tho 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 . Is the master entitled to double rations 1—1 should not like to speak upon that point without looking at thc 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 the 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 of tbe inquiry to-day , after thc adjournment you were bo 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 oharges 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 is

    Mr . Parker—I cannot hear any observations upon the course the Poor Law Commissioners have thought fit to adopt . My instructions arc to proceed with the inquiry , and I apprehend you are going to tell me what you are about to 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 cither 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 , therefore , neither call any

    witnesses nor _attendiurtiierupon _thisinquuy . 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 , the summoning-ofiicer , 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 . . CharlesMatcham _, landlord ofthe Globe Inn , examined—1 have 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 _, f have kept the liouse four years and a half . I think he was not capable of managing any business . lie could walk home except on one occasion , when he could not walkkonie . It has been mostly in the evening that I have seen him drunk . I never saw him so inthe day-time . By Mr . Prendergast—He generally left my liouse early in the evening . Mr . William Philip Devon examined—I am landlord ofthe Georgo Inn , Andover . Mr . M'Dougal has not much frequented my house _| during the last two or three years . I have seen him the worse for liouor

    three or four years ago . I believe on a Saturdav 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 , I have not seen him so in the day-time . By Mr . Prendergast—That was the last occasion which I mentioned . Thero was some disturbance in my house on a former occasion , when some soldiers were quartered on me . He was intoxicated , and addressing tho soldiers who were in the market room , * _~!» ' _?? ldiers » retire ! Go to bed ! " They refused to mind him , and said their commanding officer was present , and he had nothing to do with them . There was a , little bother ; there was no fight , but what you gentlemen would call "jaw . " ( A laugh . ) Theycalled each other hard names .

    Mr . Prendergast—The word "jaw" is notia mv vocabulary . ( A laugh . ) ' Mr . T . Pontin examined—I am landlord of the Masons' Arms-inn . Mr . M'Dougal has frequented my house . I have seen hiin drunk several times , perhaps twenty , during thc three years and a half I have kept the Masons' Arms . By drunk I mean that he . was not capable of taking care of himself . It was m 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 _norter . would

    come lor him sometimes , and young M'Dougal sometimes , and finally Mrs . M'Dougal would come and letch lather , son , and porter . I don't mean to say that the son and porter were tipsy . ( A laugh . ) She would see them all out , and follow him . Sometimes the son would come first , and wait half aD 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 sing on those occasions .

    Did he get on very well ?—I am not much of a judge of music . ( Alaugh . ) Mr . Parker—I have not examined all the witnesses I have summoned . If I find it necessary I must go on on Monday . I have not yet had an opportunity of collecting the names of parties residing in different parts , and some in London . There are Mr . bitch Mrs . Pollw , Mr . Baker , of Romsey , and somebody at Winchester and Salisbury , whose names I do not know . As Mr . M'Dougal has resigned , I shall report what evidence I have received to the Poor Law Commissioners , and ask them if I am to go on and take other evidence on these charges . In answer to ft 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 , be had win structwns to investigate them .

    V The Asdover: Abominations. Bkbak Vows ...

    Mr . Prendergast said , they were of the utmost to portancc , not only to Mr . M'Dougal , but to the rate . payers of the whole union . Adjourned . MORE _RESIO-VATION'S . __ . After Mr . Missing announced the intention of _fe client to resign , they proceeded together to the board-room , where he repeated the observations W had just before addressed to thc Assistant-Corami 5 sioncr , and presented a long letter from M'Dougal to the board , in which those observations were con . siderably amplified , and whicli ended with a atrinoof thanks for the many kindnesses he had received from the guardians since he had tilled the _ofhee of master of the union . This letter must have been prepared before the proceedings of the day com menced . In fact , they appear up to that point to have been preconcerted . Mr . Prendergast said , they we _; ofthe utmost im _.

    The tendering of the master ' s resignation scetilcd to take tho _cenerality of them by surprise , Wore especially those who had that very morning giv _^ him so good a character upon their oatlis . It an . peared , however , that they felt themselves bound to accept his resignation . Mr . Missing , in the course of his remarks upo the subject , said ( pointing _, to the master ) that t ! ie Poor Law Commissioners were really visiting the sin * of the guardians ou thc head of that unfortunate indU vidual . The guardians , it will be seen , think _themselves more sinned against than _sinning .

    Mr . Parker said , that as the master had acted contrary to the regulations of the Poor Law _Comiuij . _sioners , they did not think him a fit person to remain any longer in the workhouse , lie should , therefo re be instantly removed . He ( Mr . Parker ) bad a person ready , who was well accustomed to the details of tlie management of a workhouse under the old law , and who , no doubt , would be able to attend to do the ilutv here until a new master should be appointed . It was then proposed that an election of a new master should take place that day fortnight ; but ai Weyhill fair would take place in about three weeks , Waybill being close to Andover and many of the guardians interested in it , it was ultimately settled thatit sliould be postponed for a month .

    While this subject was _under'discussion Mr . Parker had left the room to converse with Mr . Missing ; and before he returned M'Dougal was sent for by tho 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 lie would stay twelve months , or as long as he lived , if they wished it . When Mr . Parker returned , and found that tlic board had decided on retaining M'Dougal to do the duties of master for another month , he an . peared greatly disconcerted , and very emphatically expressed his disapprobation of the course the guar , dians had just taken .

    A very stormy discussion ensued , during which Mr . Dodson and Mr . Smythe , the two _elergvmen , said tlicy very sincerely regretted that the _lhastor hud resigned , ami that he had come to that dc " termination , 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 faee of the Poor Law Commissioners , if he was to be drilled in every way they thought proper , lie should make his bow to them ; " and so saying he took up his hat , and walked away . Mr . Biunes , thc viec-eliair . man , said he should do the same , and so he did . Jlr . J . Lywood followed their example , remarking tha ; the Commissioners might get somebody aha : ho . was not going to be humbugged by such people as ( her . And then thc whole board broke up in most admired disorder . Andover , Moxoay , Skit . 22 .

    The excitement created by the news that the mas . ter had resigned , and also the chairman , vice-chairman , and others of the guardians , has been _iutenae . Saturday being market-day . thc town was more than usually full of strangers ; who , with the great body of the inhabitants , hailed these events with hearty satisfaction , considering the departure of tlic master and his men as " a good riddance , " and a circum . stance likely to lead to some improvement in the management of the union . It is almost impossible to say ; how many ofthe guardians have not intimated their intention of going without the camp , and bearing reproach with their immaculate _brother-delmquents . It is easy enough to tell what is the moving cause of this desertion of office : the resignation or dismissal of the master necessarily involves those in censure who so long have had him under tlieir control , and have suffered him to pursue a course which has led to suoh 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 deeply affected that he almost shed te * ars while he expostulated with the unruly members of that board , telling them , that throughout the inquiry ho had loaned towards them and the accused , and endeavoured to further their views , so much so as to bring down upon him the condemnation ofthe Poor Law Commissioners ; and ' this was his reward . He had stood by them , but now they would desert him . The whol _? of the proceedings that 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 , scaled , and directed to the

    guardians , announcing that determination , and was actually in the pouch ofhis legal adviser before the proceedings of tne day began . But it was deemed ad . visable not to beat a retreat without an attempt to plaistcr up the damaged reputation of the accused , not by evidence to rebut thc facts deposed to , but by an Old Bailey trick of calling accomplices to give liim a character . Thoy 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 somo who stayed away solely on account of thc disgust created in tlieir minds by the conductof thc clergy throughout the inquiry , aiid particularly on Saturday last . Their

    evidence was perfectly valueless to their protege : ii was ofthe same kind which a poacher once produced to rebut the testimony of two men who saw him kill a hare ; he brought ten men to prove that they did not see him do so . In this ease , however , there irai an important difference , the majority of the witnessea being those who had seen the master drunk repeatedly , and the meagre minority those who professed neither to have seen nor heard of such a thing , though one ot them confessed that the master would get ' * merry on Saturday nights . The llcv . G . W . Smythe waa asked by Mr . Prendergast more than once or twice whether or no some persons who had been inmates ot the house had not told him that the mistress was a perfect devil ? In vain was the question repeated ; the rev , witness as often said he had not been so tow . But why did the learned counsel so pointedly put tlie

    question again and again ? Because some days below , while in conversation , the rev . witness did _actuaJy tell him that persons had so described the mistress to him . Thc rev . gentleman , as one ofthe witnesses said , seems to have a memory like a rabbit ' s taii ,-very short . But this is the kind of evidence _ffluctt was used to raise up a sort of masked battery , under which the soldier-master might retreat ; am' a "Poore" defence it afforded , _althougli a _aalW lieutenant volunteered his professional aid . ({ . The ingeniously constructed report of the _<«* _nent accountant" furnished no better shelter , before Mr . Parker proceeded to read it he said that Mr . Shaw had lent some assistance to Mr . Mitchiner m getting it up , and had given it his sanction , or ai least had made no objection to any of its statcmen _* - _* Now , what is the fact ? Mr . Shaw never saw am rennvf . until lnfi > _n-n _Safni-Js _. v Avpninff . when l " '

    Parker called upon hira and showed'it to him , _<*' deavouringthen to secure the sanction winch in _*> morning he alleged to havo been given . Mr . _on »'•> however , on perusing the report could » ° * _K _£ himself satisfied with it , and he is _surprises that _>¦ _" Mitchiner should ( if he did ) tell the ass-s . tant _2 _missioner that he had sanctioned any such top 1 ' which he declares to be so got up as carefully to ( * ceal everything that would tell against the _masw , and to make a case in his favour by clever maw ** _, ment . It is a fact , that Mr . Shaw one day posiuwV objected to the course the " eminent . c 01 , n _"L was taking , and in order that there mig ht be ii ° . | " take , wrote a note to him expressing his al 5 sa .. _!„« tion , pointing out certain errors , and _reiniesi o attention thereto . Mr . Shaw discovered , by comF that

    ing tho house-provision book with tbe ledger , beef days the beef was short four or five pounds * master explained this by saying that a family _w * come in after the meat was down to cook , anu te divided the quantity intended , sav for 40 . ann > o _^ inoreased number io ; but . to make up __ fi » r _' ¦» ' m _^ put in an excess of bacon on the following _Sa ? ' _^ It was further discovered that the bacon was sia eight or nine pounds on the very Saturdays piio _* _- thc Tuesdays when the beef was short . \ ~ q ' j account , to some extent , for the bone- gnawing' _} this fact , however , the " eminent accountant w , no notice . It was well observed by Mr . _WK that if the books were right upon the face ot w " . thc greater must be the _Iraud . Thc report seen _» present the same aspect ; and it is no answer *« _^ ever to the charge of having deprived several paui of the allowances set down against their n . which they have sworn they never had . I , lr _' ! tcr jn iner endeavours lor the nu _» iol ¦ '

    to make an excuse . mer enueavours to mane an excuse . »•• -- . _^ depriving the children of 481 b . of bread in a _^ _"V _^ saying that he supplied them with mdk - anu . with milk a less quantity ot bread would sum * _T _yn _,, . this statement , ingenious as it is , goes » r noi _^ The bills show that the expense of the milk aver . about ls . IU . per week , and the 481 b . ot _b- _**" _V thj cost about 6 s . _lOJd _., so tliat the master pocKeic _" difference . Mr . Prendergast did quite _ngw » * testing against tbe introduction of this _ilwgw " _^ ment ; but it is one of the many -wron st Y frieudi the Assistant-Commissioner and his leg- " _^ r , have taken to serve their mutual client , _tML It proves too much ; and they must iave , f " , pro what sensible of that , or they would not h _»*» _' jduceditat an improper time . The'defence in r to the oharges of peculation had elosen , ¦» _^ such evidence ought to have been given uf " ( C < _iwkMir \ our _ww _& P _< _W

• Citation
  • Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 27, 1845, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_27091845/page/6/