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Northern Star (1837-1852), 20th September 1845, Edition 1 of 4, Page 7, Untitled Article

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      THE AXDOYER WORKHOUSE ABOMINATIONS . A fortnight ago \ re announced that a sort of official inmiirp hni been instituted by the Poor Law Commissioners Into the charges of peculation and imnio * rality preferred against the "master" of the Andover ¦ workhouse . The alleged facts first came to the knowledge of Mr . T . C . Westlahe , the medical officer of the Union , who found that the extra diet and s tin » nIants -nrWch fintieexerciMoflua professional duties , he had ordered for the sick in the workhouse , were either altogether withheld , or Tory irregularly and jfflsdt < iv . atcly supplied l » y the " paster , " though they wrc roy reguiarly charged in his accounts , and dnk paid for by the guardians . Mr . "ffestlako , a 3 wn » bis duty , apprised the Board of Guardians of the discovery he had made ; and i / taj , after makin . "

      EOinc little inquiry , laid the matter before the Somerset llouso " rulers . " who sent down one of their ( , vjn A ^ iftanU to hold a sort of public inquiry into the alfeaaiioas . "When Dr . AVestlake was apprised ilmt i-m-U was ttic cowsc to bo pursued , and that he rfiiniM be expected to produce witnesses to support ju eVi-iiemenis lie Lad made , lie naturally made inflBii ' ies aniousst the workhouse inmates as to the extent ilsc tviiliholding of the extra food he had ort £ red lind been practised : and the revelations that Tvcre ilic-n made to ^ him , as to the manner of the " waiter ' s" conducting himself in the house towards fliefeinafc ^ dents , and as lo his general conduct , iiithiecd the Doctor to make other charges of gross

      mis conduct and drunkenness ajamst tlte same man wlio was chargad Trith pilfering the food of the siek . U 1 : e Saticr charges were also ordered to be included in Mr . Assistant Commissioner Parker ' s inquiry , after sonic little fighting-shy on the part of the Somerset lloase board . That inquiry has been partially proceeded with , for thirteen days . " \ Yc use the term partially , to denote , firstly , that the inquiry is not yet concluded ; and , secondly , ike Kutnntr m which it was conducted —the presiding official having shamelessly exhibited the strongest partisanship with the inculpated '' master , " and a determination to defeat , if possible , the ostensible object of the inquiry . Of this we shall sfibrd abnudant proof before we have done .

      At first , tho inquiry was confined to the first charges—those of withholding the " extras" ordered by ihs medical offieer for the sick . On this head a Vast mass of evidence was adduced , to show that the " master" Lad charged the guardians , and been paid , for fooil anil liquors which hail never beon supplied to the sis !; , BlfiiMigh ordered by the medical oih ' eer . This evidence Mr . Presiding Assistant Commissioner Parker sought to render nugatory by the objection that the medical officer had not kept his books in proper fami ; that he had nos obeyed the orders of the Poor Law Gommissisneis in that respect ; and iOiorcf on the evidence that lie had < Mvfe *< vJ the " extras" was defective , and could not b » received . To this it was answered that Dr . Wcstlake had kept his books in the sniac form as his predecessor , but more accurately ; that he / wrf JciPt them , as tin Board of

      Guardians had ordered him ; that it was no part of iho medical officer ' s duty lo set the Board of Guardians right , if they went wrong , as Assistant Commissioners were appointed and paid for that pvrrposa . Still all would not <] o . The "Judge" (?) of this queer "Court of Inquiry" had found an informality which told in favour of the accused embezzler ; and he was constantly harping on it , every time the mclk-al officer ' s orders for extras had to he proved ; iterating again and again that "tho instructions of tlio Poor Law Coniniissionora to Union surgeons were in print ; and Mr . Yfestlake ought to have been ac- 1 qu : Vm \ cd wkh them . " This went , however , too far . j One day , Mr . Prendergast , t 3 ie counsel in support ofi the charges , retorted T : j > on Mr . Assistant Commissioner Parker , and plainly told him that the neglect was In * mm , and that he was Wanieable for any infonKaiiiv that existed . lie said : —

      If the Assistant-Commissioner does not see that the guardians do thrfr duty , and hare the book ? laid before tiifin , ansl properly inspected by them at tlicir meetings , 7 . S

      Mr . Assktsat-Comaussioner Parker having oracu-Jariy pi-enounced on the duty of the surgeon to be tojI acqimlnteu with Ilia instructions , which wero " in print / ' ailmits tlint he himself does not remember having sssn the books in uislifo . Xow , it docs happen ihat tlie Toor Law CoininissioneK have proinul ^ ateu oilier instructions , in , print , besides those to their mctlitsl olncers . la 1811 they caused to be psblishci " Lvlraetioiis to ilie Assistant J'oor Liw Csisii&ivafrs , " from which wo select ths following extracts ;— "Poor Law Commission-oGce . "Sis , —T 3 isnunil > er of unions wider your sujjerinten-8 eTiceivili render it impossible for you to pay very frcgacn ; vi .= ; ts to each of them ; but the Commissioners flaiJ : that you slioald nut on any account omit to visit the vrork * : ju-i' of each union once iu six mouths , indensniiiiiiy < . f i < iur uticuQancc at the meeting of tho hoard of rar ; Ia « s .

      " Tlse jiuuits to which your attention should oe prineipaliT diivcti-ii : ! t snob , visits are the following : — '" Jliivii !^ ins ;' . ectcd the workhouse , and inquired into t 2 w fyiuiitliin of its isunatte , your nest duty is to txurainc feIr&ksvf iiievnion . This examination is notso hnpor-• fe . 5 : t in rt-ftr « ice to the tcelmieal and arithmetical accukict mih whic-li the books are kc-jit ( and for which tlie clu-k : ra

      Tliat . amongst "the pointsto which the attention cf a ;; Assistant-Commissioner should be principali j directtJ , " is a careful examination cf "the books of , ht v . ! ion" And this examination is specially di : cvuri to icelntlc " ihetaedlndo ^ xet ' s hooks . " Xow , lisrc v . c have Mr . xVssisiant-Conimissioncr Pahker IccturiKsr tise medical oliiecr on the duty of being scqnainte-i ! wkh insiractiona which are in print s while he adiiiiis ihat i-. o does not remember having ever scon " the bool-i" in his life , although their periodical iisycctiua is laid down , in Ms primed instructions , ss j ; prj . jit io iriuch ills " attention should , Ire princq-nlUi ' 'irccicd ! " And this is a K « w Poor Law fuui-tWary , eating the bread of the people , anti E ^ fciniiy . ' eiegateuto inquire into certain allegations of tint-: Tzleinent and fraud having been committed-. Biiutr tl . e isperatioa of vvbieli , and a generally stinted dietary , U is alk-jrcd tliat Luman nature has sank Into :-r : ;; t'ihiii ^ too loa thsome and degraded to be « ffiU-iBli- ! t « l ia detail .

      Ik- t ' - .-i : leaee having been gone through in relation to t ] ii > jjiirerlitjr the food from the sick , and to sending the i- ^ .-pi'i-jy of the Union to his son-in-law ' s at Si » x-i ' ii ! - ; , iSc , the "other charges" -were gone iato , aiiU , .. li- Diiij the vest , the foUoiviisg evidence was given m o-mL- — CIIAItGBS OF KTMOBAlITr . j Jary Aan Baalss esamiiied by ilr . rrendergast . —I rffla-aitsr tome tiaie before I left tlie union something JOHicsiiai- hajijieaing on Christmas nijlit , 1 S 41 . Eiiza li-iUJ \ ras tlus-e at tiis time . I sent her up foi' sotao l ^ aics . i thought she was gone a long time , and went V ? i » sit ior hei -. When I got up the stairs she iva 3 spiac : { % .. > | , u aw | jty ^ il'Dougal , the master , was pul ! - i- 'y In-.- :. _ r tlie arms , and saying , " Come here ! come litre ;~ : ; c was pUjjing her toivai-ds the little

      sittinjrroum . Hi u-t her jro vehtn lie saw me , and went into tlist iviijij ) . Sereral of tiie serraats iu tlie kitchen have taiJ , -t-. ijBe hn-e ! come hero !" in the presence of the » ws-, er . Betty Farmer in particular used * o call out tho « e -n-jrJs . 5 Ir . 31 'Dougal Las done and said eometMuy to : «» . ne ] , Sqatezc j my band , and asked me toia $ sism ; heh aslass-dme at the same time . He baa ajkednu- ; t-iioTC . i hHn . ( Laughter . ) I told him , no . 1 harecrjj , j > e < j j l 5 . fate raaj ) ^ - tJme vJien 1 ] c ] ias at _ tmyu-t ;« k « s me , or has kissed me . 3 Irs . M'Boafal ^ scui vyo to church somctiniei on a Sunday evening . ttaUi-ist oc-casioas I have gone to turn down the beds aii . l to - ^ t saj . jier ready , ilr . ij'Douijal lias followed aie round lie beus , trxius ; to catch hold of me . "When I Uave jw away from him and -one down stairs , he fcas fci . ua jut-: « come uj , again . I « aid I wouldn ' t , and I did *« s uuul I was obliged to -o up to attend to my work . aifl

      , I * J ivas a ' -naughty irl" for not eoing up to Mm . * aw " 3 am not . " Jle once tiied to pull up my clothes aaiaf ravsis Indrooia . I rau away down stairs . After is i weni la live at iirs , jjoily ' s house . I renManber an tj . v \ ~ V ' s hm at Stockliridire . I think it was on - - iiwh- rja ^ , vjio M-as killed bv a waggon . It was in Ih = ? - - '" ' ' 1 ) ua ? c » 3 « e OTer there . i liEtl ~" " ^ o > l > jcctad that tlie charges must be con" » J" ^ : ! 'l : rli J e 5 : ii 5 ieii Tcith the young women and girls ' h >••« ' ' i ' ilJSl ~ " ^ 'e witness nt the time was not in the ! '" jj ; " - ; '""' sen-ice at Stockbridge . tCc , " . . ' M < ler Sast urged thai it was in confinnatiou of gont " i 't ~ t ! le m : ist ' - ' r ia the house , the girl having tat ~ .,. - " * k" % e hy hU ilirccUon , ana he following up l ' h ~ - ' - ! ^ '' * " $ ' *>* tnesa ; Katrajisnction . & ; <)} . j ?^ f ailt -Coiija assiu-ncr ruled Viat he CJ ' . iW vot toir S'i-cn- ' - " - ¦' " ' ' " ^ ^' r "" ' " created a great sensation ' ' - ' "* * a-3 it « rv .

      eii /^ '^ ' ^^ st thought the evidence ought to he retvE-: ;? ! ?? ' JlJl 01 •*"' - « J » sed following up his evil iufl . . *' " JlS 3 st sat-CoEiHiissiouer tcmill not to t- > c f" » - ? J ; ' _ f , ' j r ; ifl 1 ^ of witness rcsaccd by 2 Ir . Trcudcr . i ' :: ; . - ^ . ' , " ' ^' ~ Uis IJ ? 'J" 3 ' to cMtcli hold Oi ! : se , arid w « iX ' .- *^ ' -a < 5 « : e beds on "Whit-Sundar , lSi 2 . It ' - ¦ -h ~ j - 'V " ' - ' ^ lr ^ V « 'J 1 ? B'J cloihts . U- ~ as - c " ¦ Miautu , ] JjC 0 I 1 £ fajjtJ j . ^ g , i ayS .

      Untitled Article

      B > Mr . 3 Iissmg . _ lt wa » between six and eight o ' clock When I saw the master pnllim / Eliza Kout about . There uad been a party of gentlemen there . Mr . Hugh Mundy Stayed to tea ; the rest had gone away . I have frequently heard tho servants jofce the mastei- About "Come here . " 1 had never allowed any persou to take liberties with me . l told in the kitchen what I saw master doing to fc-liza Eout . I was much shocked and annoyed by what the inastar did to me . It quite shocks vae now to tell this before so mauv , I suppose His pulling up jour clothes was the worst of it ?—Yes . Why did not you tell your mistress ?—Mistress once tried to make an end of herself when there was a row between her and master , aud we did not like to hurt her feelings . % ifr . Prcndergast . —Mistress attempted to hang herself once , about Whitsuntide . Jlr . Missing objected , that no inquiry ought to be wade into the " "

      15 } - Mr . Premlergast . —I heard mistress threaten to hang herself . It was on a Suuday night the row took place . Did that row take place in cousecmeneo of - Mr . Missing again objected , and The Assistant-Commissioner too . Mr . Prendergast . —My friend attempts to show that this wituess is not to be believed , because she did not Ml Uie mistress of his behaviour to her , and she gives as her reason for not doing so that Mrs . M'Dougal had threatened to hang herself . If this threat was made becaucw

      the house had been robbed , it would have nothing to do with this case ; but if it arose from something of a similar kind having taken blace to excite the jealousr of 2 Irs . li'Uougai , it hns to do will the case . Mr . Parker ( to the witness ) . — "Where were you ? "W itness . —Mistress came home from church and vre were called up stairs , and I heard mistress ask for a rope . Mr . Prendergast . — "What was the subj ect of tliu row ? llr . Parker . —How do you know ? "Witness . —I was upstairs . I heard Blake say that there had been something wrong between master and Mrs . Grjce , the cook , while mistress was at church .

      Mr . Parker . —Between Mrs . Grace and the porter ? "Witness . —Hio : between Mrs . Grace and Mr . M'Dyugal . Elizabeth Crouch , aged IS , examined by Mr . Preuiiergast , —I left the workhouse on the 14 th of April last . I wa * in at fire years . I remember Mary Ann Bunks making a statement to me about Mr . M'Dougal , as to something that had passed between him and her . At one time I was Mrs . M'Dongal ' s servant . He has taken liberties with tne during myservive , which was in the last two years of my slay in the workhouse . Ho has kissed me , and put his hands into sny bosom . When he kissed me lie asked me to kiss him . lie has done so a great many times . Yfiien he has treated me so I have not allowed nitn to flo vclmt he wished . I did not kiss him . I told him I would tell the mistress of it .

      By Mr . Missing . —The master was tha only man that ever took such liberties with me . Ho > lid so in the kitchtn first , and than upstairs . I can't tell exactly how long ago he did eo in the kitchen . lie patted me on tlie tack tlie first thing , ant' then asked me to kiss hi ; u . I did not . That wns all he did tiiat lime . The nest attacks woro aifide in diffoi-ant places . He put Ins hand into my bosom one day in mistress's passage upstairs . I can ' t tell tha day . I was very much annoyed at this . I have told him not to do so , often . "Why did noty ' ou go and tell your mistress how you had been insulted and ill-used ?—I wa 3 afraid , or I should hGve done it . What should you be afraid of!—Because it was my master , and I thought he ought to fcnoiv better . It was , frequently repeated after that . When you found he did not know better , why did you not complain to the mistress or to the board ?—I have told you . I was afraid to do it .

      ilaiia Laisliley , swo :-n and examined by Mr . Prenderga £ t—I was sgvwy years in the workhouse , oft' and on . 1 was nurse to tlie children after I had been in the workhouse nearly two years . AVhila I was nurse , Mr . M'Dougal « iid something particalar to me . I was engaged in cleaning the work-room . Mr . M'Dougal was in the office adjoining tlie work-room . He called m « , and I Went to the door . Ho put his arm round my neck , and attempted to kiss inc . He wanted me to give up to him . I told him he was a married man , and ought to know himself better . I toldhitn I was a married woman . If I had no husband with me , lie had a wife with him and he ought not to want anj Other person . My husband had gone away from ma . The master did not say any more to me at tliattime . Several times when Iliad been cleaning the office he has come to me and hindered me from doing my work . He patted me on the back , and laid hold of my hand . He tried to put his hand up my clothss , and wished me to give ud to his wishes . That occurred

      several times ; I can t say exactly how many . After was nurse to the children I went into the kitchen as cook . He has said and done similar things to me there many times . ' He wished me to give up to him . I told him I never would to him or any other man ; I -would sooner suffer death , I hail seen too much trouble before tl ' . rouJi a man , or I never should have been in the union . I had an illegitimate child after my husband left me . lie said , " He kiienr the nature of young people , aud that I could not live so long without a man ; he could not believe that I could . Of coarse , I must have my feelings as well as others . " While I was cook he tvicd to take liberties with me , as he did befcro . I have three children—two legitimate and ono eince my husband left me , which I had seven years ago . I am now living in service with Mr . Gale , a fanner , at Littleton . One of my children is in service . The others are kept by a persou , and I pay her for them out of my own poelcst . I always refused the overtures of the master .

      E .-izabeth Harris sworn and examined by Mr . Prendergast . —I was an inmftte of the house last year . Mr . M'Poagnl insul'ed me whiie I was cleaning the young men s room . lie came and handled me , and pushed me back on the bedstead . I askert him v . hat he was doing , an- ! told Mm my partner would he up cirectly . He tooK hold of my hand and kissed mo . lie asked me who cleaned the room above ? I told him no one ; it was locked up . He said , " 2 Tcver mind that , you go up there after yon haTe done this , and pretend to dean it , raid I will eomo to you at ten o ' clock . " I said the room was not occupied , and thcrcfort ! it did not waist cleaning . The master , after asking we to meet him in the upper room , called to th « servant to letch the koy , and he unlocked it , leaving the key in tlie door . I stopped in the room which I was cleaning . -At ten o ' clock I saw the masti-r

      go up . I did not go up to hira . Ha did not say anymore to inc after that on that day , but at t-1 B begiur . ing ; of the conversation he asked me if I was in the fillliiiyway . I said , " So , sir ; and I don ' t wish to get so . " lie then said that he wanted to have connexion with me , and that if I was so , it would be supposed that it was his child . J ^ est morning , when I got to the same room to clean it , lie was there . Ho said to me , " Wei ! , Betsey , how wasityoa uidnot go to the room I told you jesttrd ; iy-: " I said , "Because I didn ' t clioose . " lie then beirnn kissing me agftin and pulling my clothes up . I j-. us ! i « u hhn away . He tlion said , " Well , Ui-tEcy , don ' t t « ll any one what I have besn talking about to you . JvH'pyour own counsel . " After that , when no one was present , ho would often take hold of uiy hand aud hit me on the shoulder . I !• ft the liosise thr 1 St of Ma v .

      Gi ' uss-csainiueil by Mr . ^ luuhug . —How soon afterwards did you gut into Winchester Hospital ?—I ntver was there in my life—neither as an indoor or an out-door paiiwit . ( The witness admitted that she became aifrcled > vitli a certain disease : ibout three montlis after ? lie left the house . ) I had no home . I left this house because the master insulted me , aud I was aiVaid thut the mistress would hsar of if . During the three months 1 lived anywhere I could . I was at Southampton , Portsmouth , Maid .-ifoue , and oiherplaces . I v .-as not living by prostitution the whole of that time : only about six weeks or two months . When I left the housi ; before April , I went to my motlicr-in-laiv ' i house . That was my only home then . I had none afterwards . ( T 2 ic witness was coarsely questioned as to her mo : 3 e of life , and admitted that four or Jive years ago she had been a prostitute . )

      I did not come here to swear that I was a virgin . ( Laughter . )—Xobodj- would have believed vou . —I don ' t "wish them . I tei ] you tho Jihiin truth . It' I am what I am , that is eo i » riton why Mr . M * Don ; riil should take iiberti « s with me against my will . I waa in the house twelve years oS ' and on , as many as ten or twelve different times I remember four years ngo going away without leavu with a union dress . I was afraid to tAl mistress . It ¦ was not oat of ccnsi-leraiiun for her . If I loldlicv , perhaps the would saf I was as bad as < 3 ie master . 1 knew what a life she would lead me and all in the house , llc-ixamined by Mr . Prsndergsst . —jlr . iL'Dougal took liberties with me a great lrwny times . I had not b--. cn in tha workhouse twelve months before he began . It was when I used to 50 upstairs the first , thing in the morning to light the fire in t ! ie sick-ward , ami Jit unlocked the

      door to let me in . lie used to take liberties with mem the sick-ward closet . I did not go in , but he used to pull me in . What did he do ? "What he didn't ought to do . Tf . 9 wanted to have connexion with me . He took liberties with me iu a way which he ought not . lie put his Jiaud upon me . Tell us what he did—what were the liberties ? The witness , after soaie hesitation , said , —You confounds me . You may guess what I mean . He wanted to have connexion with me , and I would not give up to Mia . He unbuttoned his smallclothes , awl then he pulled up my clothes . I resisted him as well as I could . I got away . * It has not been done in that way in other places slid times . Y « iicn I have been going up and down stairs with the tueket in my hand , he lias catehed

      hold of me when I could not help myself . ( The witness described how the master put his hands indecently upon her person . ) That has happened ninu times . I had not the iJUikct always . I did not mention it to -Irs . Jl ^ oagnl . I did " not like to do it . I ran away from the r .-orkhoufie because I did not like tDc usage I got from Mr . M'Dougal . It made me very uneasy in my mind . I don ' t complain of any other ill-usage . I was taken up on the charge of running n way from the work-Imuse . I was taken before the justice . Mr . Ji'JJougal was there . I did not mention iu bis presence why I ran away . He ? ave me a good character to the justice , mid asked me what I ran away for . I was impnsoncd tlirce davs and thrso months and than sent back to the

      ¦ workhouse . Elizabeth Kout sworn , and examined by Jlr . Pronacrgast—I : un ths wile of Isaac Kout . I live sit Chsirlton . I was fomu-rl . T n : arriciJ to a person named . Hutchins . He U-ft ine a v . idav . - about sis years and a half ago . Aitt-r behy htrs sosse little time- J was appointed cook . I was t ! -cii ' f < jr so : nc Httl 3 time in the lauirlry , ' and afterivarUs nurse iu the sick ward . llr . ii' « ou ~ . l ir . ade a proposal to me after I hud been in tUc liousa ainoulli , or rather

      Untitled Article

      more . II « asked me a question or two . I was tben in the sick ward whitewashing . Hu first asked mo if I would have any objection to go in with him ? I told him to go off . ue aid . After that he askad mo the sanio . a second time . Jfy children were almost starved , and I thought I would consider of it . lie said he would give mo some victuals and beer if I would . I thought , if he asked me Hgain , I would . He diduskmeassfin , ' and I gave consent . It took place up in tUC Siclv-WaVll . lie gave me some victuals and some beer . That took place more that once or twice , —several times , all the while I wa 3 in the house . It was not ou any particular night ; but sometimes on Saturday nights . I slept with him on Saturday nights for a little while . It was in the next room to mistress's room , lie did not sleep with mistress on Saturday nights when he came in at that period . I was in bed in the sick-ward the time lie came up to me . Tell us how he came to you 1— ( The witness knocked her knurkles on the table twice . ) Sir . Parker . —lie tapped at the door twice ?—Yes .

      By Mr . rrenuer ^ ast . —Ho waited at the door until I came out . I went down tlie sick-ward stairs and through tho kitchen with him , and then up the stairs to the lefthand room . Mistress ' s room was on the right .. This was when mistress would not let him be with she . I don't know why that was . I went about twice with him into that rcom . Ic was once in the sick-ward . Altogether four 01 ' five times . It was not nil done at one of my stays iu the workhouse , but at different times . J 3 y Mr . Missing . —Hutehins was my first liusbnnd . Brown was my maiden name . I was married to Hutchins about twenty-eight years ngo . I lived with him till we had eleven children . He was a deserter when he married me . He was taken up a fortnight afterwards . He Jintl his flogging , and was obliged to stay in his regiment fivo years . I went a little way with him , but was taken very ill , and compelled to come back . I was brought back to Abbotts Ann parish , and given into Mr . Davis's hands . I did not live with my husband during live years . I had no child , nor was likely to have , during' that time .

      Mr , rarKer . —Did you say , not that you could recollect !—Xo . I said I was not like to have them . Mr . Prsndergasi . —She did not go the way . Wituess . —The way to do that is to come into this house . I had ten children Vy my husbund , and one beside by some one else . I shan ' t tell you by whom . It was not by you , ( Laughter . ) I tlon't iuiow liow long it was ago that I was sold in Andorcr-market . There was no halter round my neck or round my waist . Thera was no halter at all . I was sold by my husband . Tlie man ¦ who bought me is deud and gone . —Well , tell us who it Was that niflda SUell ' excellent bargain ?—As good a bargain as you Hvs with at tho present time . ( Laughter , and dapping of hands . ) His name was Edward Winter .

      He was a very nice man . ( A laugh . ) My husband catiie back soon , anil took me away from h . m . He liked me better than t ' other did . I have been married to Kout since I left the house . Thera is ne'era one of my children nl ' tro but what belongs to my first husband . I was in the ward about a month before I consented . I did not know what it would eomo to , or I would have kept better account . The first time was in Mr . M'Doiigal ' s bwl ; not in the sick ward . Tin second time was in the siek ward , just going in at tho door , where I used to sleep . Tlier » was no one In the sick ward at the time , except some little children , a goad many of whom are since dead . Another time was in the other sick ward , in tha afternoon . I can't recollect particular times . I speak tho truth , and there sits the " gsmmun , " and he can ' t dwiy it .

      CHARGES OF IST 0 XICAT 10 X . Mary Ann Bunks sworn , and examined by llr . Prenflergast . —I am in service at Auduvei . I was six years in this workhouse . I left three years ago eomo December , I remember being alarmed on one particular night in tlio summer time of ISil . Is wa . 5 about ten minutes past twelve o ' clock on a Saturday night that I rras alarmed by Jane Emma and Fanny M'Dougsil , two daughters of the master . Thoy called me , Sarah Coudeiy , and JJetty ¦ farmer , to go up stairs to their lnotkar , as their father had been beating her . V , r e went up . I saw Mrs . M'Dougal sitting in a chair just inside of tho door . Ulood was streaming all down her face and bosom . Mr . M'Dougal was there , sitting against the fireplace in : i chair . He was swearing very much , Theeooli went to fetch water . Jane Emma il'Doujral told me that their

      father and mother had been quarrelling . Mr . M'Dougnl might have heard what she said , but there was a great bustle and noise . Betty Tanner fetched water , and we washed the blood from mistress's faco and ht : nd . Sluster sy . -ore at us for doing ; o— " D and 1 ) 1 your eyes , you ' re as bad as she is . " His head was cut too . He was not sober . Ho said he would shost us . He got up and fell down in the room . Miss Jauo said , " Run and get the gun . " When he fell down he appeared as if he was going out of the room in the direction of the pnssagt ) , nt the end of which a gun was kept . I went and took the gun , and asked Miss Jane where I should put it . She said she did not know . I went ami laid it under my bed , in the little boys' bedroom . Whan the master fell down he lay where he was . He was bleeding from the head . The blood stained the carpet and went through to thafloov . lie kept swenring . He was in an awful State ,

      I never saw any one look so dreadful in my lile . He kept on swearing . He said "liiood . v" something to his wife . She came out of the room , having got her dress , and said , pointing to her bosom , "Yes , hero I am , bloody Jfarv ; the old name . " Whoa I left the room , he was still in it , lying on the floor , ilvs . M'Dougal camo out and locked the door , leaving him iu tho room . Siio slept with herchildren that night . Itwas about twenty minutes past two o'clock on Sunday morning before I gut to bed . I hare not seen tho master in such a dreadful state of intoxication at any other time , lie has uot alvvtvvs beau sober when I have seen him r . t other times . I have seen him under ilie iniiueiice of drink many times , moro than a dozen I think ; but I never kept account . I knew he ¦ nas intoxicated by his way of talking , and his staggering about . I have kuown him at prayer-time to read some of the pravers over twice—the Lord ' s Prayer aud another . He went over them once , and then again directly .

      TYillinm Smart examined by Jlr . l'rendei ' gast . —I was betwixt twelve months and two years in the workhousn , and left on the IStli of June , 1 S 3 S . While I was here I have stcn Mr . M'Dougal come home on a Saturday night , and sometimes he was intoxicated . Ho was mostly in . toxicated ou Saturday nights . ^ 1 saw him so many times . I have sat up for him with Thomas iilalic , the porter . Oil Saturday nights he came home at ten , or half-past ten , or at nine , or there away , and at different times , as near as I can say . Sometimes he required help . Thomas Blalcc has helped him in the hall , but I can't say who helped him up stairs ; nor say whether he got ui > without help . Sometimes ho was more intoxicated than at others . I remember he came home ono uiglit with seiMiehcs on his nose . It was in the winter-time , when the evenings were longer . It was while I w . is in the pantry , the winter before I left tho house to go to Abbott ' s Inn . He was drunk . Ho told thu xiortev the next morning that lie had made a false step in getting over iho stile , ami fell down

      ana scratched Ills nose . The stile was just ovuv neva-, it is now taken up . It wa 3 bit-. vkt ten and half-past ten o ' clock . Thomas Dluke helped him iu the hall . I remaraud in tha hall . B ' ake went , somewhere , but I can ' t tell where . He did not tell us that night how hu had hurt himself . He wys speeaiiloss . I did not » sk him how he got hurt , I wished him " Good nitlit , " and lie could ; ut ansivtir inc . Ho had siieking-pUtster on his nose the : iflxt day . I can't say where h « slept on Saturday nights , nor whether he slept with lira . M'Dougal or not . I did not go out of tiie hall . ' Whilst the porter was out I aliviiys stayed in . I remember Jii's . M'Dougal going to fetch him sometimes on a Saturday evening , and sometimes she brought him hoi : ; e . Tlio son went after him occasionally . I don't know of any one else . I have been for him . I have not found him . I went part of the way and returned again . Mrs . M'Dougal sent mo to 3 ook for him . I can't say whether it continued up to the time I left , because I was ill ten weeks with a scalded leg . But it continued un to she time I was ill .

      Cross-examined by Mr . Curtis . —Saturday is marketday . Ic is not unusual for tradesmen and fanners te spend their evenings together ou that day , Many of ths guavoians may be formers ; I can ' t say . Jir . Prenderga&t . —If you will only prove tho publichouse I shall be obliged to you . ( Laughter . ) Jlr . Curtis . —Vou say , -using a' word put into J 'OUV mouth , that he was drunk , what do you mean by drunk ? Witness . —Intoxicated . Mr . Parker . —Wliat do you mean by intoxicated ? Mr . Preudergast . —Drunk . ( Laughter . ) Mr . Parker . —We have had : i di-iiuition of drunkenness as being bstween drnulc and tipsy . iir . Curtis . —I heard a gentleman of the bar say , that a limn was not drunk as lon ^ - as he could lie still without holding . Sir . Prendergast . —I believe that is the opinion in Kussia . ( Laughter . ) I have heard of as " Drunk as David ' s sow . " ( Laugliter . )

      15 y Mr . Curtis . —I liav * seen the master brought home drunk twice . Mr . Preudergast . —Brought home ! Witness . —Yes . Anthony Antony , sworn and examined by Mr . Prendergast . I was porter in this house about four years and a half . I left about twelve weeks ago . During the time you were porter was Mr . M'Dowgal . ia the habit of coming home sober on Saturday nights ? Witness . —Sot at sll times . lie went out every Saturday night , lie came home at ail hours , half-past eight , have

      nine , ten , eleven , sometimes twelve o ' clock . I known ; him come home at two o ' clock on Sunday , mornings , just after I got to bed . I ana others have uuen sent for hhn . This -happened on most Saturdays . I l ' -ayc gone for him sometimes at ten or half-past ten . I did not know exactly which house to go to . I have inquired for him as I went along ; at the Eight Bells , the Kew Inn , the Globe , and the George . I have never seen him at the George . I have inquired for him at the Masons' Anns also . I have found him there , at the . Eig ht Bells , ami at the Globe . I have sent in for him , aud have had to wait two or three hours before he would come away . He was

      tipsy when he did come . Mistress weut with me - tiuiis . I have sometimes returned , -without him , because ha would not come just then . I « can't tell why . ' 1 'hen mistress and I have gone down aft or him . Mistress has gone in for him and brought him . out . She used to talk toliisn . Sho would talk of kicking hhn along tha lane sometimes . ( Laughter . ) He . ivas then just able to walk along without Iwlp . I knew h's was intoxicated , becauso he could uot talk . Master never could talk when ho was tipsy . He could not walk quite straight . He wslkeu sU ' . jjgery , from ov . e side to ib a other . "When he got to the house 1 have locked tlie d ^ r , v VM \ g iven him the key . I dua ' ifcnow that he was aVu- to wnlk ' up stairs by himself . I could not sea him , l ) ee . ' . usu ho locked ilie door behind him , He wulkt-d up tV . e st ; -j > s outside by taking hold o ;

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      the rail . Mistress was' hefore , he followed , and I was behind fastening the gate . I can ' t say how often I have seen him eoine home in this way- It was most Saturday nights . Sometimes he was rafter worse than at others . I have known him fetched from thfc public-house as lato ivs twelve , half . past twelve , and ono o ' clock . Mi's . Mary Ann Tasker , sworn and . examined by Mr . prendergast . —I enrry on the business i >( n blacknnitli id Andover , Which my late husband carried ' ° » - 1 Know Mr . SP Jougal . In January , 1 S 41 , he caltcd upon mo to pay me a bill due from the guardians of the nai ° » . Ho came into my sitting-room . It was about S o ' x'lock iu the evening . Ho paid mo threw half-crowns . Ths . "e was some ale on the table , lie took up the cup ami kept drinking imtil he had finished it . Ho then rattled xho cup on the table and said , " Come , Missus , fill the enn

      a gain . " I had not asked him to drink at all . I Sold him he had had too much already . He then want , to sleep a little . tVhen ho woke up he looked into the cup and said , " Missus , fill it up again . " ( Laughter . ) I brought him no buor , I wished him to go home . He said he should stay all night . He brought the chair close over to mine and pressed my foot privately with his , saying to my daughter , "Why , Jliss , you ought to be in bed . " I went to call a young man , my servant , to come and sit in tlie room till Mr . H'Dougal should lea-re the house . He did so . Jlr , M'JJoujiil remained for an hour or more . Sometimes lie sang a little . Tlie sons ; was , " The helmc' . ott the brow . " ( Alaw . -h . ) I am quite sore that he wa 3 drunk . I begged of him to go more than once , twice , or thrice . But he still stayed after that . He looked a 3 if he would pievea any one through when he spoke to my daughter . Wo were nuito alarmed .

      Joseph Uevan , in the employment of the last , witness , Bfforn ami examined . —T remember Mr . JI'Duugal being at mistress ' s house . Sire called me into the room and told me not to leave it while he was there . He threw his feet ap on the prate , and tolrt mistress to fetch him some bscr . She said she would not , because 3 ie had hail too much already . He attempted to sing , fait lio was too tipsy to get on . Be sang a few words of " With a helmet ou his brow . " After a considerable time he went away . Mistress repeatedly told him to leave , but he would not . Ha went ont the back way . I wanted him to go out tlie right way . He said that was the way he came in . I said lie was wrong . Ifa could not get in at the back way , the shop being fast . He could not get out at back , the gurdou being -wallcd-in . At last lie w « nt out at the front door . I did not notice how he walked out . because Ishut

      the door directly . Mistress was glad to get rid of him . His conduct was that of a drunken man—very much inaeed . lit whs very tipsy . Quite drunlc . Mr . C . King , sworn and examined by Mr . PreiHiergast . —I am a master butcher in Anduver . I know Mr . Ji'Dougal . I have seen him tipsy in the streets of Andover several times . I have seen him betr . ixt two and three o ' clock on a Monday afternoon at the George bar . I have secn ' him drunk at the Globe a great many times , at different hours—six , seven , and eight o ' closk . It was generally on a Saturday . I have seen him drunk at the Masons' Arms . Tlio first timo I snw Mr . M'Dougal tipsy , and asleep in the George bar , vras about t ! n-e » years a £ 0 . Some of these times I speak of ivere « itliii > tlie last six months . I havo seen him drunk about two months aifo . I liav « Been him go out of tlie Eight Bel-Is vwy tipsy .

      Oross-examinetl . —This quite shocked you?—Oh , no , not at all . ( Laughter . )—You haves never been drunk , have you ?—A great many times . ( Renewed laughter . ) —Then you don't think it a very heinous ofleneo to get drunk ?—I think it is quito as well to keep sober ; parti , cularly for a man placed in Mr , WDougal ' s situation . I think it is worso for him to get drunk than I . I have very little to do . —Then you fill up the intervals by drinking-bouts!—Sometimes . I don't like to be idle , sir . ( Laughter . ) I was sober when I saw him drunk . —Then it was not ipst he , but tipsy he ? Mr . Prendergast . —The Latin is tipsy . ( A hush . }

      William Robinson , sworn and ixnmincd by Mr . l ' rondevgast . —I am beadle and constable of the borough of Andover . I know Mr , M'J ) ougaI . I have seen him frequently iu the streets of Andover on Saturdays . I have " timas and often" seen him intoxicated , and particularly on a Saturday . Hu was realm ;; uku , ' . I have seen him come out of the Globe so in the evening , and go towards the union-house . I have seen him as late as eleven o ' clock , and at nearly one o ' clock in the morning . " I cannot tell how many times ; forty would not be too many to say . I saw him so not nl ) ovc six weeks buck . As hu

      passed some persons remsirkod , "Ku ' s got ewmgh ot ' U again . " ( A laugh ) It was in the year 1813 Ihat I ssw him drunk in Andover at one o ' clock in the mommy , 1 had been watching Mr . Loseombe's turnips . I left th « turnip-field after twelve o ' clock . I was in the lanu ncav tiie workhouse . I heard some ono earning . I lay down by the gate , as I thought it might bo some one after Mr . Loscombe's turnips . I sar . ' it was Mr . M'Dougnl . He came up to the gate . He was drunk . It was several minutes before ho got in at the gate , lie was staggering at tlie gate . ( Tlie witness acted tho manner . ) He was all of a boggle . ' ( Laugliter . )

      Mr , William Clark , fanner , sworn nnd examined by Mr . rremlerg . 'ist . —1 live at ChoMerton .- I attend the Andover market sometimes on Saturdays . I have seen Mr . M'Dougal drunk in tlie streets on those occasions a great many times . I have seen him so within the last six months . I have also seen him in public-houses , iu a state of intoxications I hnve seen him intoxicated uioiv particularly in Mr . King ' s house , tho Eight Hulls , four ov live times within tho last six months On one occasion I saw him asleep , a person put a piece of lighted paper to his nose . ( A laugh . ) He roused up for a moment , rubbed . Ills nose , smcl \ vci \ t oi ¥ to sleep nga ' m . r i \ :: \ . i was on tho 28 th of Just December . It was generally ton-arris evening whon I saw him in this state , from about throe or four to seven or eight o ' clock , when I generally left the town . I did not stay aft ; r eight o ' clock .

      Cross-examined . — Gholdcrton is five miles from Andover . My businrss has generally brought me here ou Saturdays . I have not soon him delink moret ! i : ' m four or live times within the last six months . Tlie person who put the lighted paper to his nose was Mr . Isaac t ' olliecary , of Clatford . ( A Guardian ;) Mr . John King examined . —I am landlord of tho Eight Bells Inn . I have suec . Mr . M'Dougal at inyhnusc fctquently on Saturday evenings tiie worse for ilrini . 'iiigi I have neon the porter of the workhouse eo'ne for him , generally from nine to ten o'clock . Ho has boon told the porter has come for him every time . He ilitl no ! go when

      so told , sometimes the porter has waited for him . ms son also has been for him . I have seen Mrs . M'Dougal come after him . He lias left my house intoxicated at v « - rious times , sometimes as lato as eleven o ' clock . It would 1 ) 4 impossible for me to Kay liow m-. inj Uraus . I : has happened more than once or twice , and as many or more than four or five times during the last six months . I didn't say he was incapable of going homo . By his manner of goinjc home , hu showed that he was intoxicated . The conversation between Mr . and llws . M'ftougul was similuv to what UiUos place between man wu \ wiw when one is in fault . She saiil he ought to be ashamed of himself , and should come home .

      Sarah Cowdery examined . —I have been an inmate of the And'iver Union workhonse . I have left it about four yeavs . I : un now in s « rvjco at Andover . J lived with Mrs . M'DuUgnl ftS Servant for Somu time , and s ; nv Mr . M'Dougal coins home very tipsy on Saturday evenings . He was all of a stagger upstairs ; sometimes mistress would help him , sometimes uot . He esimu home at all hours—nine , ten , and eleven o ' clock . I remember on ono particular night we were alavmed ahuul twenty minutes past twelve o ' clock . Mary Ann ] 3 aiiks , Betty Parnier , .-. ml nie , were all called up by Junu Fiinnm M'Dougal . When I went up into the room J found Jlrs . M'Dougal with the Mood running down her faee . Mr .

      M'Dougal also was bleeding ; lie had been struck with a tin can , which was all over blood . Ho was swuaviug . He swore at all of us . When I went up he was silting in . a ehnir . He got up , ami said he would go and get ths ; gun and shoot us , . He went about two steps and fell down . Mary Ann Hanks ran and got the gun , and hid it under ono of the beds . When he fell down , there he lay swearing all the time . We left him in . Ui * vow , ) , Mrs . M'bougnl went to bed with the children . We went to betl . it vras twenty minutes past two o ' eloeic when we went to bed , We noticed this limu particularly by Mr . Sl'Doiujal's clock , when we went down stairs to bud . I have seen him intoxicated at pension times , and Saturday nights often .

      MANNER OF CONDUCTING THE INQUIRY . 'We have before aliu ' . vd to t ! io ih-ooIs of partiality evinced by tiie Pivfi'ling AssisiJintrConiniissionor , and given ono remarkable instance of it , w ! ii « h was raado to recoil upon liimsolt '; that , where lie so cfton complained that the medical oiliesr ' s books were ! afbrnml—for which jnfonnniity . he ( the Assistant-Cominissioner ) was answerable . Wu shall now : ; ivo one or two other specimens , leaving them to toll ihciv own tale on the public mind , both as tho pavtieular partisanship of Air . Parker , anil of the system which , elevates those who arc criminated by tiiesu revelations into thu position of " Judges . " Dunns the examination of one of the witnesses on the " charges of immorality" the following occurred : — Mr . Missing ami tuo &B 6 i 5 tnni-Cc-miiM 5 ? ior , i ; r objected that a question should not be put , " Were you engaged in cleaning tho work-room ? " It was leading the witness .

      3 Ir . rrentlorgast . —It might as well ba objected that if I were to .. ask a person if she was going from Anduver to Southampton wlis-n she was indecently assaulted , that that would ho a leading question . I never heard of such art objection ' in my life . Mr . Missing . —Then I . will teach you what is evidence . Mr . Prendergast . — I am much obliged , to you . ( Laughter . ) Jlr . Parker . —I think it is an improper question . }! r . l ' roiidcrgasi , —I am . satisfied that is vonr opinion ; and Iain equally saiaficd thai it is a proper question to pulavywhere and in any place . But now I must not press it . ( To the witness . )—Where were you ? Witness . —In the work-room .

      I ill ' . Jiksing . —Of course she has got it now . It is an ; old irick . i Mr . 1 'rendergast . —Is yours c new tviek , then ? ( Laughi ter . ) ! ; , Ir . Missing . —It is an old trick to put a question fuv a ; purpose , and wlieu you have got j t to ( jive up a question : a show . ! Mr .-PrcnclciBa 3 t .--. Vliy , you arc not . satbfleil : now . . Yuii are like the cdeliva ^ a so iui . wiw was jW oa . ; ( Laughter . ) , I During tho proceedings , cue dnv Mr . Lamb , ( cleric u , thi ? , ' , „ ;„„> t . J ) tcre ( 1 Ulc ]! an an , i caik-d out Air . lavkcr , who asJtcd Jlrvl'reiiicrKast to

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      accompany them . They proceeded to tlio board-room , where the guardian , wero assembled , ivt their weekly meeting , Duriug their absenco , Mr . Etwall , AT . P ., entered tlie hall , and said he and other ratepayers were about to maksan application to the board of guardians to suspend the master until the conclusion of the inquiry , on the ground of the statements made by the witnesses , and particularl y tiioso made tliatniorning . Mr . Missing observed that he did not know he had nnytliing to do with it . It . was a case for tho guardians . Shortly afterwards , Mr . Etwall returned and said that the guardians had refused tho application . Thay would not asree to any such -thing until they knew Whether the raastur was innocent or guilty . The attorney for the defendant thought it was a pity that tho application should be made behind thu master's back . Mr . Etwall . —I am not going into any argument upon tlie subject .

      The attorney tlicugM -Vr . IVcillalte OU ' jM to h < i yi ( Sj > cil ( Fctf . > Ir . Prendergast . —Suspend the prosecutor ! that would be qiuteconsistent with tho whole proceedings . To complete ihem you should suspend the witnesses by the neck . ( Latsghtei . ) Take another instance : — Mr . II , Mtindy , a magistrate . ind a guardian , nddrtsscd the commissioner , and snid , that l ) eii \ g n guavdiim . he wished to explain tlie circumstance of his stopping to tea upon the occasion aJkuled to by one of the witnesses . Mr . Parker thought it was quite unnecessary . ilr , Jlumi . v—I might have slajed to ton ; bat I should not like it to be understood that I took tea at the expense of the . union . 3 Ir . Prendergast—Mr . Mundy has a great suspicion that all the tea drunk there was union tea . ( Laughter . ) iiV . ilum ' ly—I can only ssy I spent as pleasant a day as cvsr I did in m j life . ( Lanvhter . )

      Jlr . L ' ai'Jwi '—It you interrupt the business , Jlr . JIuni ; v you vnvwt waVic into tl « o yard . ( Sensation . ) Mr . iluiidy—Yfhuivjou order w to go out , sir , I will go . Mi ' . Mijiing—lie diilnot take ten only . Mv . l'rcuc'usrgast—Ifaras a subscription feast , I hclicrc . Mr . Jluciy—Yes , it was . Thai'i was no business .- > , t this nio : nenSbefore the court , 3 messenger having been despatched for the next witness . The niaunur of the Assistant Commissioner towards Jlr . Mundy formed a striking contrast to his never interfering with Air . II . Lc-scombe , who " a not a guardian , but wlm real :- ) - intc-mipt « i ihc proceedings scrurul times , But Jtfr , iUundy is the man that brought the bsne-gnautiRii afuiirbd ' ore t ! ie public . Hero is another instance . It occurred w ' aiic Ami Knight was bcini , ' cross-examined , after sho had deposed to improper conduct on tlio part of the " waste ? " to vi'ftrcld- Jior . In answer to questions by Mr . Misstnff sho slated : —

      One tuna when he tned to kiss me in the sielc ward there was only an old woman there , r . nd she was out and about . I can ' t recnllcct when that was . Vi ' as it in the summer ar the whiter?—III the summer —at least iu Hie spring . Oil ! in the spring was it' ? . Then it was not in tho summer . llr . 1 'rendergast objected 1 that tho observation was unfair to the witness . Tiie two great divisions of thu year were put to the witness , and- sho said summer . After that she said sprintr , making t ! iG time more precise . Jlr . barker said it was quite regular , ami that was his decision , Mr . I'raidcvgast . —h' 7 ( 0 ( is yew decision , si :-1 ?—that an observation- is a question f Mr . l ' arUer . —That it was righi to ask whether it was winter or summer .

      Mr . l ' rcndcrgast . —I should not object to ihat ; but I objiiOt Unit when tho witness has fairl y imswcYcri lilc ijuestion she should lie charged with milking a false answer . Mr . Missing . —I said no * such thing . You arc-objecting to air-bubbles , and nothing else . 3 Ir . Piendergast . —I think I am . ( Laughtar . ) Still another instance . A witness is under cra . sscxauiiiifition , after having deposed to what tho Poor Law CoiurnissioKCTs call '' an assault wit ' i an improper intention . " She states , iu answer to the question : —

      You did not like this behaviour of Mr , M' 3 > ougftl ?—Ifo , of course 1 did not . 1 thought lie was put hero to take care of us , and not to take liberties with us . I did not tell Mrs . M'Dougal , because there would havo been a disturbance , and perhaps I should have got murdered . There was such a row about wastsr bMnggreutwith Mrs . Grace that I did not like—I was afraid . 1 did not complain to the guardians , because they would not listen to my story against his . Ife ought not to havo taken liberties , lie otijjfht to be ashamed of himself . If liu had not done so I should not have been brought forward in this manner , which I Uon ' t wish . IU is grinning al me now . Mr . l'iirlier—Who is grinning at you ? Witness—Mr . M'Dougal . llr . l'rendurgast said , ha had been informed that the master hail conducted himself improperly towards the witnesses throughout ; although he had not taken particulai notice of it himself .

      Mr . l'avkcv said ho had observed Hr . SFltoufial ' s countenance coxstaktly , and it was as staid arid giiiet as that of ant ; otter person . Mr . 1 'reudergast—Every -witness who has been examined has more or less complained of l \ is conduct , ami many persons have informed me that his conduct was such as to terrify and alarm the witnesses , I do not spcal ( of what I have seen . Mr . Missing—Good God ! I think you ought to br : n £ those persons forward . Mr . 1 'i-ondei'fjust—I can bring them forward ; theysiro not far oil ' . J 7 ie witness is on Itsr oa'lij You abe . not , xon is tub Co . whssiu . vjh ; , Mr . l ' nrker—What do you mean to soy ? Mr . l ' ri .-nu ' crgnst—That the accused conducts himsoJf iu such : i manner as to intimidate the witnesses . Mr , ? , iissiug—I uiiiiy it , My word is as worthy lo he htlliveCt as her oath . ill . 1 ' l ' elldisrgast—Tin ' s irregulavitv Ss not mine .

      Mr . Missing—It is your witness ' s irregularity . If die ma ' ices i ' aise assertions , 1 shall not stand litre without correcting them . Mr . Parker—It is one of the inconveniences of this inquiry that the persons who have to judge of it onlyseu thu evidence in writing . J f a jury lutd heard l ! u statement jtssi made l » j Un witness , TiiJvV YfOUJ , ]) K . \ W HOW TO TJiEAT lliitt TESTIMONY . ( Greitt sensation . ) Mr . Preiidi-rgast—That was just my remark . I with thi ; matter was before a jury . Mr . Missing—So do I— . in independent jury . : > Ii-. Vrendergast—Of couise . I do not know of any other , ( I / aiufiiter , )

      ( i he woman whom the Assisiant-Coinmissionev refuse u to hear examined because she was not a " young perstoii , " has complained that while she was bciug sworn the muster winked at her . ) Mr . Missing ( to the witness)—Vi iiy didjou complain ? Mr . rrci ; dci'gasi—I do now say , sir , that Sir , M'jloupi is lmiiiins at tho witness in a style , and in such a way , us to terrify and aJiii'm her . 1 tuui it myself lltte time . ( Cries of " Haul , hear , " from some of Uio siwlUovy . ) iir . Parker—I had my eyes vp-M Mr . M ' J ) ougal ; I dii > NOT Bin-: AXYTJI 1 KG OF THE SOiiT . Mr . IVendevgiist—I mis say not . Hut what I sa ' . v that very moment I never witnessed before ; I havo been told of it , however , freqiiwitly . Mr . Etwal : —I witnessed it . Am I jiiatiSeuinstatingit t Mr . l'ni'Uev—Jo ' on'l iiiiitfcyou are . Mr . Prendergast—You \\ tiv > : one who mentioned it to me ? Jlr . Etwall—I was .

      Still another instance . It occurred wlien . Mrs . Mnvy Ann Tasker was being cross-examined ,, after having sworn to the " master ' s" druaken visit to her hoiisu , and the alarm which that visit caused her . In answer to the del ' eiHianL ' s . attorney , sSso stated : — 1 huvu nut been in tfint state of alarm ever sint-e , It did not ijo off itfl !!! edi : > ti . ly , for I said . I should never like to sob that man Kjrain in tiie house , Then it did iwt go of ? ?—It did so- far as thai . 'j'iaii it did go off i—No , it did not altogether . Then , which , was it ? which v ; ay will you have it ?—That is not a , fair ( iuestion . Mr . Prumlesgast . —So , it is an impertinent one , III ' . Olli'tk . —Whon Ml ' . I ' lViidevgastis asked his ojiUucn upon a ijnestion , he may give i !; when no 5 , 1 think it is inijisrliueuce . Mr . Fi-eiidergast . — 'I talio that whence it eomes Go on .

      "Witness . —I tola him that night and tlie next morning , wV . cn . lie c :-. sno to apologise , that I JW » ev wished Xttste llis face again in my house . j Mr . l ' l'smlargnst repeated part of tho witness " * answer , ' to have it taken down . itr . Parker said that Mr . Trendergast was constantly interrupting him , and . that lie acted very irregularl y . Mi . L'l'emUvjjast . —1 have hail the honour to appear before many learned judges , but I iwat found euno / nr / them such a sdioolmasUr ai my learned Anistcmt-cotnuiissionCT ^ ( Laughter . ) Mr . l ' arlier . —I have seeii judges stop you when examining witnesses . I bclieva it is notorious that your , mode of examination is to keep -a \> a running commentary on the evidence . It does pou ni : eh ttiju .-jr , and has d < jas alt vour Vfc .

      Iir . Prcndcrgast . —I am exceedingly obliged to you , Sir . I have had tho opinion of several eminent judges upon my professional conduct , hut I havo not ' paid much attention to thorn , they have been so Mattering to myself . But I nuvor liava lieavd tho ( minion you expittss . 1 have received many commendations from the judges , but never anything in tiie shape of reproof . I shall , be very happy privately , and in another place , to tell you w 5 io those judstes are who have been pleased to express that high approbation . It certainty did vot come from an Asaistont roorlaw Commissioner , ( JiiiugSiter nnd airplausu . ) Dnvins the course of his daily labours , the reporter "for Uie Times felt himself constrained to sny : —

      I cannot let pass tho opportunity of noticing one circumstance , namely , the pveieuce of the son of the accused , a youlii of a \ wut twenty years of sf r e , dvriwj IU U'JioTo or" the fi lthy details with which his father's name is mixed v . p . 1 l"s young man , too , is the ' schoolmaster , and receives a sa . ary for his services : but from the commencement of the mquirv throu . aio-. it lie has been present r . t the proceedings . This is the " ¦ „ , „ , " remarkable , as the ¦ assist-. iut-iiommissionsr told , tliu medical oincer / that noticWislandinri tne jhquiru ana Irs nce > ssary attendance upon it , lit : Jiusr still i'ilUSO ^ ALLY Loyic irixa tiie sics as dscAi ,, ; _

      Untitled Article

      It was currently reporto . l in tliu to-v . i one day thv . t : J : o mistress had seized a . kiiiiu mul "v . ii-o she would GtrS Mr . rreiidoi'gast as hu ennii ! out of ilu Iisi . ll . It is Mid , however , that she was restrained mi-I ki'pt within her apartments . The cause of h * r wrath appears to have been the questions put by the k-ai'iied gentleman tyfth respect to dinners behi }; sent Iron ; tlie workhouse to a ( laughter who resided in tlio town at tlie timo , aud who afterwards died in France . On the same day the mistress , watching her opportunity , pounced upon a woman , one of thu witnesses , s > wl abused and assaulted her , shaking her violently by the sliouldors and pushing her down thu steps , telling her to he oil ' , sho hail becu there- once tuo often , Mr . E ' . ieM called lit ! attention of the aesiglanUommissioner to the eiraimstaive < I 3 he wasmsshw by , hut he iiui-us » i > to stav to notice it .

      1 cannot close without expressing my regret at seeing persons in the gavb of geiillwiien , "iio no doubt make pretensions to higli . moral bearing , persons in ollice , too , laii-fliing at thu eviitoneti ivcm-ded above , while it was delivered by the witnesses , as though ih .- , v t-iHiglititii mere juke or a very light matter ; whereas , the nature of the statements rcilceis the hi-flu-st discredit on the manner in which they or their frivsnis hav « managed the establishment where these women were imlgciU aud some of them trained from childhood , If | h . py Jo !) k COHttlHIJ * tuoiisi y on thae poor creatures hceiiiisoof the charade * so / nu of them suusequemly iierjuireil , let the guav . iians ami their admirers recollect the sort of education those unfortunate perssns rccciritii in tiie union-house , and seo how well it corresponds with their m * . i « of iiie after iliey leftit . Of the system , so l&iijf blindly tukii'ittud Iuiim it may Uo well said , Fntelu notcUar .

      SUSPENSION OP T 1 IK rnOCESDI . NGS . When evidence of the above character hail been adduced , anil it was ViinniJest that public attention would be diiveted to the whole A ' , ii-l'eor Law system , which linil permitted ?« cli ii stfitc of tiiiiurs to continue for ywu-s witiimis cither duteetimi <> " [• huuUUlncnt , tho Poor Law Commissioners tried lotjivca UviH to tiie pi'occedinjrs , asid present tl ;« m in such a shape as th \ t-shcy sliould Ijcscivened from ¦ observa tic n , while ti . e " laaster" wquii ! havo every chance o ! sictting scot-free ; attention ifl the incnntimo being exclusively ccifincd to him , iiiid to Mr . AVcj'tlalcc , who it was adraitl . v sought ti > ni : ifce "I ' liblie Prosocutor . " To acTOiiipiisii all this , the commissioners addressed to Mr . Wcsliake , llis ii >! luxvins ? letter . It is an extracriliaary document , and worthy of its

      COilCOCtOi'S : — " Tool- Law Commission Oftice , Scnierset-hous :-. U-lh Septembur , 1 S-15 . " Sir , —The Poor Law CoinniisKionei-s have ! : ad under considcraiiou the lenijih to which the inquiry at Andover has already extciidet ! i ,-and the suspKusj ; as wAl as theoutlay to which both'j-avtios i :: teii'sr

      " 1 . 'l'l ' . ii eoiiiinissioiiti-s will cause an imlicimeiit to Ue preferred .-. gainst the master in resju-st of enw one cme of an assault , with an- , improper intuntion , .-ilieged to have boon committed on i :- smuptr whilst , an inmate of the workhouse . TheeoinmistioriernvMhilviiaycnse which you , as tub ACCfSEit of tub . ins'mt , iH . ti / sun / at , and will causo the bill to be preferred at tlio next ijuurtcr sessions , whiclnvill talso piacain the month ol'OrUiber . " i . The etmiinissioners v . ill , in ii . ' if niuimo !' . cause ait inforniatioii before justices to ¦ be laid against the n-asti-r or inalron . under section !) T of the Poor Jiinv Amendment Act , for any owe act o / cmbK'icKiinl or r . tisdpflicaiion of food , clothing , cr goods below / ing to- tte union whieli vou nuiy select . " It will on thia cluu ^ 'e i > n o ;> i-j > . to any one to allow that tliu inmates hare not received tlitsir full and proper nlioiriiucc of food . It is needless to say that it ilio master is convicted by a jury on the iirst of these chavjets ,. the couimissioucrs would at once disiais . s him from oiiico .

      " If lie ia convicted on thv ; see-v . -jci charge he l .-eeorucs disaiialt / iod , by the operation ot' the act , tVom holding oiiiuu licrsal ' ter . If an imiietiucnfr for er . ibe / . v . icvnent or theft be thought more ofroutivc , tho (¦ nminissioiiL-rs have no objection to that form of prncei'tling , instead of the infotmation nuclei- the U 7 th section , .: il ) ovt svloryet ! to . " The fiwiimissionei'fl nre couriiwud that this eou «» IViJI at OUCU liu t ! lG most Stlli&intttorv-ari \\ \ hei ! iost e : ; i ) editious in In-vuging ihu mattvr to an issue . " In order to remove mignpi .-ri-hciision , the commiss'oners wish it to It understood I ' ml ihey will cause tin indbi ' MCnl lobe prepared , and the bill to !> spreferred , and tho information to be laid al lha cost of th eoinmUilm . l ) c-r TLEY WILL JJOT UKDKaTAKB TO BKFKAY OUT BF THE 1 / UXDS AT ailEIlt DISPOSAL ASY S ' . 'ViXQUZST 2 XVZSSHS , cither for the prosceutien . < »¦ tin ilrU'Mc . ' i'l : c iiaviies makiii ); ilie charge win in this .-is in every o : h « r cjiso take their own measures to obtain comictiou ; and t ! ic master must of course provide I ' m liis mvn tlcttiiiv .

      " Ihu cominissioiicra wiil also rueemmend li . e hoard of guardians that tliey auspeml the iv . abk-r av . d matron uiilil the result of the indictment ar . ri infiirinatiDii are known ; and pliicu some othar ] iei-Si , ns in charge of tho workhouse . The iVisvrution of doin . ! , ' tiiis is by ilie regulations of the cumiui ? swi )\ . T . -i vwimV in Um hoitnl of guardians , T 3 * e cuiiiini ? jiuiier . s can dismiss , but liiiK of cunrst ! is a step implying a final dccUics on' t !; c i-. ' . orhs of the case , on which no evidence as regwds the niastar is yet before the eominissiuucrs , nnd ou v . hieh -thpy must bo understood as expressing no opinion wliMuvki .

      * ' ill . . Vavker , asyistuHt-e ;» nnnJssionev , " iviil be Oin- ' .-toct on the rceeijit of a-eopv uf tiii . s letter to jtwjicnd all i ' ui > - tlicr inquiry until fli'j lvsult of the indictment ami infur-Ktutioii slii-. H be known- ) since the coiitintiiiiice of each piocceiii : i ^ s in the intei'val ini ^ ht be heid to prejudice the case one way or tiie other . Tho cQiii : >) issionci ' s request tliat you will notifV toiliem , as Suo-. i as possibh-, tlio OXliet Ollges U'hieh yoiviirslru toscltct , ; n sueii a 1 ' nrr . i as to oiiable th-j intiicimtiu am ! tho iiifomiatiiiu to ! . « ji ' .-opei'ly prepared fortlnvith . The conijoissioii ^ i-s have noobjection to both of them beiinr s ;; en by your solicitor boibrc ihey arc Anally s-.-ttlc-d .

      " They , uiso request , with l-ufeveiu-e to tho fonnc " ,. that you will supply UliDl with H iist t'i " lvirins « CS . iRCCS-. sary in your opinion to support the bill before tlio gi ' . ind . jui'jV " I am ,. S'r , your most ohcdisiit servant , " ¦ GKoacE Cwiii ^ E , A .-Misititit- ^ ceretary . " T . 0 . WcsUalse , Esq ., Aiuioivr . " Mr . Yfcstlake replied to this cxtraordiiiaiy demandas follows ;—" Gcnllcincr ., —L liave received your letter of tho OeU of Si'pifcijibsi , and I bog reipectjully to s ' . aio-Uu-. t the purport of that letter very , greatly surprised . i : ' . e . 'I will venture to hojio tlisf , ujion rc-i . ' tiiifiut'ralion , you will see the i : ;; iini 3 riuiy ami iiiiusiiec oi " sioi >» r . ! j ; Urn iug . uii 1 ? , now so-iieai-it * clor-e . " The only charscs : i { r : r .: i . st Mr . M'Dougal v . ; i .-h your ussistuiU-foKmissioiifcv luis :, iuc ^ i-tJitv .: to Ws own siatunicnt , power to inquire into , ami to ivhich he has < : eeol'diuu'lv iimitcii the imiiiiiy , mv :. Ue fulLowi-. i ^ : —

      " 1 , The acijleeti ' iig to : ; ivu to thu bide ami infirm , pnuiicrs tile extra iood dii'iwinl to ba ^ iv-yii i \; , - ihii-. ' . wl ' w . ' . i . oiiici / r , and stilted by tiie muster , io have been givi-u iicc « vdi « g \ j . " 2 . The . scndisig of various i ' . rii'jk-s , the jirepi-viy of the union , to the house of Air . Holly . VDoujjai's : (> n-i ! ilaw , v . i Stcokbritiye , a : ; d iliu wahhin ^ of tlm ftoiiics uf Mr . Hoily'S i ' umily at fna -. tuiun-licuse . : . - " " . Taking liWnies -with ihe yonr ^ i'i wciiir : ; , < Kid attempling ; to j > i-t ! r : sil tiiioii iJuhh by force inid- olliU-v . iso to coivscut to- gvutifj his wishes , ( k-uc my K-ucr of Aug . 10 . ) , "i . Havivjhad sexual iiiieivcurso with at k-ast cue of the paupers . " y . doss drunkenness on various oe' ; awoi : s , anil inebdiHv at prayers ,

      "T . iiu evidenc-j for the prosseutiun and ( he ilefenco Ujwii . tht two fnViiiur of these viirtigt's is already ijireli . Two or three days ; : ; , 'o the a 3 . sisl : i : ii-cou ! imi ! .-io !; i . T < Uvsuteil tliat tliu iie : e :: ee 'jpon the ii . iiiaininy rli .-irjji-s siiould !) t jiosljiout-d until 'l ' -. ui >< l :-. v , wlii-ii it « : s . s [ . ro-Uible that ihe tate fur tin' jij-osc-ciiiic ; : ) upun all i '; o cliai'ges would bo closed . Tiiis i : as nuiv taken ] : h : w , and a mass of sworn testimony ;; Iven which , u ; a-riin ; : ( : ii :: ii ) , esfciblishcs that the master of thu Amiovtr union workhouse has taken indecent liberties will ; ii ! : u : ! lie : ' . !] i : uil lo seduce Jiic young v .-onien ami jjirls in that csrul . 'iielnutnt , 'Hid Unit lie is il I'Oniil'Uleii n » d i «> lo : S « ViS lirilisIiKvd . it '

      these two charges , or diiiir uf tSiem , uc titit , Jlr . M'Dougal ought no loiigt'i ' . to reuitiai live niustoi of tiio workhouso . I therefore rtspuutfuily u .-k y . uu , gentlemen , if it would not be snonstrou" , when tline charges hava been establislicd afU'i ( jivat exnsnse ui ' , 0 . vrcutii * on ir . y part , svuMcnly to clos' . - il-. e iwiulry , kav : uj ; IV . a master in full possession of l : is prussnt > : owt-r to do uvil , a « sl refv-n-inv ; v / . t to a tvimmal w ' lie ' . i cannot l > v any possibility investigate the most iin ; mriaui of ti . ' - i-i :: irj ; es ? Such a proceeding wrtnli . be nunitVsily iiijnricws to tho public morals , if Mr . il'Doiiija ! lut jjuilsy ; « " , on tlio contrary , it" hu beiuuoeem , it wuiilfi liu m . . r .-. M : ¦> !; : iii , as it would deprive him of the only oppi > rtuiii ' . . v be hus or van . have of rcfutinj ; and co : iiiitdictinjj l ! i » UslimKisy wVma is so injurious to his official uiui personal ehjinicter . As to the course which you jioint out to me o ! " indii'lii . ^ 31 r . Jl'Dougal far ' assault withi ! iipr > . ' pti'iaUiit : > n , ' by - . vhich ,

      I iiresurac , you mean with intent tu conunit : i r : ij « , I shall cei'tairjy kave to others the tiisic nf iivosecuti ' . ij ; ti : iit ncrswi for au olVcnce vrith wliivh he has r . vver Ikcii chavged . Tou wiil , I am mrc , upon iurtlivr considi-ration , " i > eveeive that if indicted fov assKiilt Mr . M ' i ) iro £ al would , in all probability , end a safe deiVnei i " : the silence or little resistance ot the women . >!>• . Sl'l ^ oagal ' s ciiuiice is , tliiiUi * , ticins tlie master uf auu . uu wiivfcliuusc .. i-uiu ducted himself iudi-ccntiy towards tl : e }; ii'ls be ay : is br . nttd to protect , a very serious uiiVnue iii lnwals , but not l .-gaily punishable ; au ofieiicc which the law of the iH ' . id wvlhiot reach ; bul the repetition of which ongjii to be pvovinted l > v the exi-rc : 3 e uf the iliscreiionary ] ioivi ; i' with which vou ;¦ • - ¦ * invested , U was in tl >< = vsewiSIS of lfcis r " that you oi ' igii ' . slly tiii \ cteu t-ic presviit itnn ; : i ; - " . nsid . I lvsiicutfully siuiiiiiv that justice aii ' . i your ov . i : consifi'iviicy demand ihat that imiuii-y shouUl i >» iceeu td its li-ri ' niir . ato

      term mation . " The observations already my da uiH »! y fo almoit cvsry elmrsis imulu Kgaiust Mr . M 1 >< , uj ; al ; is , fur inMs'Sieo , Iio lias had bis son-in-law ' s clothes u-giiiav'y wr . sV . i 'd at tl' . o cspeiitic oi' she union , he h ; v . i ciuuuiillnl a frau : ! tipnu Ihc guardians , but 1 doubt H V . iu :: i-nUii iawver cu-. ' . M iVai . o un imlietnii'ii . t adapic !! tc the case . A ; : ai ::, w ! ili r .-gaid to the { iross an ' i r . otoi-lr , i : r . uiunUvir . iv ^ s ehtivjivil : > j-jr . i *< ft Ms . ril'Doi' ^ al , and ic-saiicd b'i such ample tviO-. liVv ' j j : ( C ' ondwU ' . ii n ov . r eighth page . )

      Untitled Article

      j temwEn M . 1 M . . _ _ ' THE WOgTHEM ; STAB . . " __ ,

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 20, 1845, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1333/page/7/