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"Wfye <£x>ttSrittott x>f <Z*»gIart& i&utgiitm" " Laws gring the poor, and ticli men rnle the law 1"
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Untitled Article
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Untitled Article
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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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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
"Wfye ≪£X≫Ttsrittott X≫F ≪Z*»Giart& I&Utgiitm" " Laws Gring The Poor, And Ticli Men Rnle The Law 1"
" Wfye < £ x > ttSrittott x > f < Z *» gIart& i&utgiitm " " Laws gring the poor , and ticli men rnle the law 1 "
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DESXIICXIoy IX THE MSIBOPOLIS . On Sunday evening , a poor half-famished and balfclau -woman , accompanied by three children , was observed tottering to the gate of the Royal Pree Hospital , in the Gray's Inn Road , where Bhe most earnestly implored to be admitted . Her case -was immediately investigated , -when it was discovered that hunger alone V 33 the- cause of her illness . Temporary relief -was immediately afforded , and the ssiserable family "were at once directed to the R-fnge . Scarcely a day passes but a f ??~ 'l * r scene occurs ai the Free Hospital , and 21-jtE&s ia EimuMe 3 lor the purpose of participating in the benefits and comforts ol this noble . institution . The diseased and jack poor , however , already fill the available "wards of this tatablishment , while tht increasing numbers of ont-dooi sick and diseased already 02 the boots , tenders "the utmost caution ueccssaiy . To the Editor of the Times .
Eix , —Ton hare in some recent articles expressed yeur strong . feeEng that the relief which is now often cr-n-Teye 3 to cviffl o ! distress through other channels , might fee more naturally and efficiently administered thrcngh £ hf . parochial clergy . A 3 the incumbent of a parish ol above 34 . souls , in one of the poorest and most crowded quarters of the metropolis { a parish not a mile in length In any part- -, I it ^ l it to be ^ € ut j both to myself and my bretheren sreurd , who are similarly circumstanced with myself , fe > make a simple statement of the distress by which 1 am at all times { but especially in the winter season ) £ Urrunnded , and of the endeavours made ^ through with most inadequate and insufficient means } to relieve that fetrtsa ,
A large portion of our population , - and I Bbouia juflge also cf this eastern quarter ofLondon generally , consists of those poor men , and their families , who have been drawn together to this part , not only from other districts of the metropolis , but even from the country and bom Ireland , in the hope of obtaining employment at She -various aock » in the neighbourhood . At the gates cf each of those docks hundreds of poor men may be seen , before daybreak in the winter , waiting for the operJng -of the gates in the hope of obtaining a day ' s
Vori ; and when the youngest and most able-bodied and Iliose best known have been taken , hundreds still may j > e seen returning to their destitute families -with thai ** sickness of the heart" which arises from " hope deterred . " In such a neighbourhood it is needless to say Jhsx distre £ 3 mu&i abound : hunger and insufficient food of themselves create disease j and the number of sick , % tbo all apply to the minister of the parish to be ¦ visited , is very large . These to the utmost cf our power- are visited . I subjoin some cases now on our ban-is as a sample of those which are continually occur
A young woman dying 01 oonKnmpuon , having just lest her" yonnj « st child , is comptlled to ijet up in a dying stslsto muse her husband , who fcas come home with inflammation of the lungs , and has held up for his trife asil children ' s sake till the disease has gained £ r * st way . She sarses him day and night for ten days , at the end of which he dies < tre trust prepared ) , 5 Hd she is left Witt two young children , without say means of snpport whatever , excepting such as her parish can afford to allow her , and she can earn by her needle .
An aged -widow , 'between Beventy and eighty years of » ge . who in consequence of having broken first her Jhigh , and afterwards her eollsr-bone , is confined hopelessly to her bed . She occupies a small , damp zoom , one-third part of which is filled up by the one bed which she and her only daughter { also a widow } and her gran * -daughter sleep in ; another third by a mangle . A Bister , who used to assist ber a lilile , is now dead , leaving her entirely dependent on what her daughter can earn- by her needle and mangle , and ai ; y little fcelp we can throw in .
A respectable poor woman , eonfiaed to her bed dangerously ill ; her husband Euffidestly recovered te leave a hospital , but not well enough yet to do anything towards tfceii support , int only able to nurse his Bick irife . To these , and snch cases as these , we are compelled to confine onr attention , both for want ol time and means j and so many are these , tfeai with what we ourselves can give , with what a few kind friends place 3 n oar farada , and -wiih the sacamental alms , which th 6 ehmchsrarciens leave at onr disposal , and which , tbongb . lie number of the csmmumcants are large , yet from pip ? y generally bumble means are but small , we are compelled to leave many cases which we know of almost unassisted , and to send many who are , we are assured , both deserving and necessitous , and whom we would gladly nelpi from our door .
So oeep , indeed , is file poverty by which w * are surjoucded that we have jest sent out a circular letter thioush the parish for the third time , to ask fer left-off apparel , to enable the poorest fhildren to attend our bcLo-jIs ; and , by means of our district visitors , wiose \ F 6 tiiy visits h&Te made them acqaainted with tbe ehsELcier and eircaiiist&nces of the people in their < iistricts , we have in one winter supplied 200 persons Vith the left-sff apparel , stnt in to us in Slower to our appeal . 1 have known nearly thirty persons apply for Bid in cce mcrniug ; and the tickets for tea and sugar , srrow-roct , sago , lice , and soup , given to the families of the sick alone , by the clergy of tie pari 3 b , and ittGEzIit in at my bouse in asy one moruini : dnriag the ¦ winter , npuly tais up the time of one person to Bapp 5 y . _ _ _ ..
I hava named these particnlsrs , because I believe that lids is but one case sat of a class of cases to whicit many other parishes in this eastern quarter of London belong . JXbe clergy have the < r dl to help , acq the machinery for proper oversight as < 3 investigation is in our hands by means of cur district visiwrs ; but the very same csosei Which isake vs here to abound in objects requiring aid leave us alse without the means to aid them . Believe me , your faithful servant , "W- Wsldok Chaxpsets . Beetsry , "Whitechapel , I « ot . 27 . " DI 5 THESS AT BISCXrET . ¦ Ta the Editor of the Morning Chronicle .
Sib—Tb . e condition of the poor has bees repeatedly laid btfore the public Tbe laboniB of the Anti-Ci / rn Istp League - ^ have done great good ia this respect . Ihey have incbntestably proved Vhat a most numerous , &s wall ts icportaEt class of our countrymen , is suffering an amount of distress tnuy horrible , and that in a land whose great boast is its knowledge , its riches , and noble icstimti-iis . It ias proved loo , thai the miseries " whack dlrgrace our land are not infiicted by Providence , jut Eprrcg from ignorance , wickedness , or folly , and of course admit of remedy . 1 am a stocking-weaver , and , though young in years , am well acquainted with sufferag . I am surprised that the condition of my fellowlibonri-rs ^^« not engaged more of the public attention , « sp ^* i 34 i 7 * 3 tbeir miseries are now so great , and they b * ve bitberty borme them with such a noble fortitude . Tiisix patience , however , is now declining , and their iGrtitnde is giving way to ieeBngs of hopeless despair . In Aliens ! 1842 . these men Urns memorialised the board of guardianB for the Hinckley Union : —
" GentlemMa—Again we approach you by a ^ eputa-Con , £ nt with a purpose very different to our last . 33 ien It was to jfetnrn * K » tA «— -now it is fox the ptnpose of prayer . IJistregs , angniRTi , and sorrow have liven onr fseJingB , wounded our sonls , and destroyed our comfort Already are we brought to the very brink of despair . O ! plunge us not into its dark and over-Tarbelming tide . Gut off from ins pleasures of lifecompelled to live on the parish late—willing to work when honourable labour is offered to us—not wlsliing to be released from toil , or forced to lead a life of degradisg leisure—we look upon onr condition as entitled to commiseration , as commanding respect ilontb after mouth have we looked for a change—only to reap Fte bitterness of disappointment , and experience the
sickness of heart wfeicb arises from hope deferred . ' Goad us not , we beseech you ; add not to cur vretcheaness ; lay no more upon usj speak to us kindly 3 protect bs from further suffering ; pity us for oui miseries ; withdraw not your rapport 5 but remember that the voice of inspiration has said * poverty will make a wis * man mad . * " A change , however , has now come ; tb = y are no longer in the stone-yard , but their EU&KEsrs are not lessened . Since last November their mages Miserable before ) have oeen reduced thirty-jive per ten :. Toey are now earning weekly , according to the Ksstexs * books , (» & this account is derittea Xrom the three principal manufacturers at Hinckley ) b ! t soimnpandfive-penc 8 at first hand . Out of this is to be deducted lg . from tbe rent of the loom , 7 d . for
sewing the stockings , id . for needles and soap for "ashing , sa . foi coals and candles , and Is . 8 d . house lent , leaving 2 s . 2 d . for food , dothivg , education , and 5 >^ isa ^—3 d . and a fraction prr day .. In September , 1842 , 1 wss eaJlea torn home . I left thsm working in - f ? t 7 aid l tl 18 isne 8 * & *¦ In September , 1 S 43 , 1 ^ isited them again , I found them all at work at their looms , ^ bouring from sixteen to eighteen hours per *¦* ^ ^ mn S the pittance named above . I shall 2 f 2 ni ° 2 » {^ S * * - ™! Teturning , when I first K « r my father and brother- they were so altered , hasii «
P ' T' i ^*^ ««« a . « rtmnupon them -with Joy , I eonM have ^ ept te bitterness ol spirit over their fcded and emaciated Iohm . When 3 ^ eaterea the Houses of former friends , I looked around on the naked » d dingy walls , and asked what had become of their famitnre . "OI" said they , "itisfww .- *• Weare Wane off np stairs than down-, we have no beds nor fcedxtothes . Xdo not know-how we shall manage this Winter : wb . ' shall be starved to ^ death . -w havenofiilng but what we stand in ; and we have never had a new p * ir of shoes in obt ho « se fcbis toar yean . What-« T 8 r -we « e to do I dont know . " In one hsue 1 found
OBS child dying of consumption , another covered with nbacerres and the father very ill , yet labouring at hit loom . As the woman pointed to the three sufferers Bhe jpri ^ -with a sigh , •¦ This has been brought on by want cf saffident fond . " And lefc it be boina in mind that fills misery was sot paraded . I should have known nothing of it had I rot entered their dwelling . Jh Ihis xog } ibour ] u > od . lbe Truck System has long pre VaUed , adding additional suffering and twoap to i&i * J > ffccr / j ( sOicJces jaeap / e . J » many instances individuals xtre paid tchdiy in goods , month after mor& and year after year . Within the last six weeks , however , great exertions have been made to stay this . evil , mssy
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casters having been fined and a society etiablighed for its suppression at Hinchley . A STOCKlNflER . ; November 23 , 1843 . >* . b . At this moment every town where stodcinga are made is fall of work , and the masters expecting , nay , daily receiving , large orders ; were the Truck System put down and the middlemen ( bagmen ) between master and framework-knitter converted into direct agents of the former , the working hands would T > e gainers of 15 , in some instances 20 per cent , and when , Sir , the loaf is marked , lest too much should be eaten of it at one ; neal , let me tell you two or three loaves a week are of no small importance to a family . " - ¦ On tbe above , the Editor of the Morning Chronicle remarks : —
" In another part of our journal will be found a letter fr-un s stoctiuger , ' describing , we have good reason to believe , with great troth and accuracy , the present condition and Bufferinjs of tbe stocking weavers at fiicckley and in its Eeighboarhood . Now thai the PEOPLE AKE IN F 0 LL WOBK HERB , the amount oj -wages tchich they can devote to purchase subsistence does not exceed 2 s . 2 d , per toeek . Their furniture ia gone , tbey have no change of clothing , and some of them have not had a new pair of shoes for four years . That is the condition , not of idle , dissolute paupers , but of industrious , frugal , skilful , and intelligent workmen ,
and it demands the attention of the Government Oar correspondent complains of the continuance of tbe truck systam , notwishslanding the existence of several stringent enactments against it If even in such a case the law cannot be , or is not enforced in favour of the working classes , is there not some real on to apprehend that they will -wholly cease to respect it ? Their sufferings most be relieved , and they ruust be convinced that the law is as powerful to redress as to punish , bsfore they can feel attachment te the institutions of ihe country which is necessary for the public peace and the general welfare . "
In the ChrxtxicZe of Saturday appeared the following letter from a well-known and warm-hearted philanthropist : — SlB—If it be not giving you too mucb trouble , I would request yon to remit the enclosed small sum for the relief of that 'Stockinger * of Hinckley , whose letter in this day ' s Chronicle does too well describe the sufferings of his family and craft . Your most obedient servant , Frederick Pigod . Brookes ' s , St . James's , Dec 1 . [ Note of the Editor—We have received two sovereigns with the above letter , and will forward them as desired by oar correspondent . 3
A TALE OF HISEBT—DESTITUTION IN SHADwELL . Ellis , the second usher of this court , made a report to Mr . Broderip , the presiding magistrate , relating to the Holloway family , whose case has been already pub-Jisbsd . It will be recoDected that a poor man named HoUoway , residing in a miserable hovel in Qray ' sbnildings , Twine-court , Shadwell , was unable to bury the corpse of Mb son , who had died from the injuries he received by falling into the bold of a ship , and that another child of the unfortunate man was lying ill of the typhus fever in the same room where th *> decaying body waa . The corpse was immedrately interred in Shadwell churchyard by order of the magistrates , and assistance was rendered to the family . Since then about £ « has been sent by Various benevolent isdividula
for the relief of . Holloway -and his children , an & a portion of this sum has already been expended in necessaries . Ellis now stated , that on visiting the Hollo ways on Sunday evening , be found the family , which consists of £ cven ] indlvi 4 uals , still huddled together in the same miserable and ill ventilated apartment , the window frame of which was filled principally with paper and wood , instead of glass , and afforded very little either of light or ventilation . He found the boy still lying on his miserable pallet , and labouring under the typhus f 6 Ver . The stench was dreadful , and be could not remain in the room long . He found tbe mother was a very industrious woman , and aflother female , named Hurley , who , fearing contagion , first brought tbe case under the notice of the magistrate , were plying their
needles as hard as they were able , and on asking them ¦ why they ¦ woxfced on the Sibbath ., they said they "Were compelled to do so , and it was the only means of supporting their children , as Uib work they were engaged upon did not produce more than sufficient to purchase bread , and they were compelled to begin early and tnd 1 st © to command a bare subsistence when ibBy were in full work , which was not often the case . Mr . Boss , the parochial surgeon of Snadwrfl , who had been assiduous in bis attentions , said there was no chance of the lad getting well , and recovering his strength until be was provided with clean linen and nutritious food , and that the smell of the decomposed body , as wtll as the fever , had aflected him . After purchasing some necessaries for *> " > family , he vras about io leave the
neighbourhood , when Sir . Boss said he could introduce him to a much worse case , and took him into the ground floor cf the adjoining bouse ; abd here certainly ft scene of miBery and destitution presented itself quite unparalleled . There was not a vestige of furniture in the room except an old chair , and by the light of few « mhera ia a place where there had once been a stove , he sa-w a poor Ir . hhman , named Daniel Noolan , mending his trowsers . By his side was an idiot boy abont nine years of age , and tbe ocly garment he had on was an old pair of trowsers . The rest of his body was fnite naked . Tbe creature , who bore none of the outward semblance oi humanity ,
jumped about and made * trange noises-when Tie enttrect the place . There was ano'Jbtr boy , about eigfct yeara of age , io the same miserable condition . On inquiring of the man what had reduced him to such a dreadful state of distress , he said he was a coal whipper , and that work had been very bad , and that when he was in employ he could not bring home more than ten shillings per weak to support himself and two bojB , who bad "been for several years deprived of their moifcer . There were only a few potatoes and part of a loaf in the place , and be expended balf-a-crown , on his own responsibility , in providing fuel and Borne meat for tbe inmates of the wretched habitation .
Mr . Broderip—You have done quite right ; bnt has not the man applied to tbe parish officers ? £ Uu said he had sot , for he was afraid if be did so he would be passed with his children to Ireland . The place where he lived was unfit for the habitation of any human being . It was the ruins of what had once been a substantial house , and was nearly roofless . The window-frame of the first floor , and a portion of the brickwork , had long sii . ee heen removed . There was not a single pane of glass in the window-frame of tbe lowerroom , and the rain came through the ceiling . How the miserable creatures managed to live there he could nut tell—ii was not a fit place for a dog . There were a great many dilapidated houses of the same description in Shadwell , called . Irish freeholds , without legal owners , a&d no rent had betn claimed for many years . Tbe poor Irish got into some of them , and others were intabi '^ d fey tha most depraved charaetera , and by destitute creatures who had no other shelter .
2 < Ir . Broderip directed Ellis to act in concert with Mr . Hobs , the surgeon , In relieving Holloway and his family . As for the poor boy laid up with the typhus fever , and who had been compelled for many days to breathe a poisonsns atmosphere with the decomposed body of his brother by his side , he should give orders for another bed and clean linen to be provided for him , and light and nutritious diet to be purchased . It was truly appalling to hear of such misery . With regard to the manjioolan and his children , fuiiher relief must fee extended to them , and if possible admission should be obtained for the idiot boy into some asylum . He should like to know if Uoolan was an industrious man and was willing to work . -Elliasaid there was no doubt of it ; but the man , " whei Ke had -work to do , ^ was obliged to consume a great part of his earnings in drink .
Mr . Broderip said he knew that to be generally the case with the coalwhippers , and he was very happy to think that an Act of Parliament would shortly come into operation which would materially improve their condition . He had the greatest confidence in the humanity and discretion of Ellis , and Bhonld leave the cases in his h ""^ " - He had just received a letter from a benevolent individual , who gave the initials " M . C , " enclosing £ 1 for Hollowsy and bis family , which , with other sums forwarded to him , would be liid out for their benefit . Ellis said he was afraid the boy would not get better until he was removed from the confined apartment where so many perssns were huddled together . The honse was tmnbling to p ieces , and was one of the numerous unclaimed houses called " Irish freeholds . "
Mr . Broderip said , if the family could be persuaded to leave the premises for a cleaner and more wholesome apartment , it would gready facilitate the boy ' s recovery , and prevent the contagion from spreading , but he had no power to cempel them to leave , and it was not likely they would do so whOe tbey were living rant free . Mr . Boss has called the attention o ! the Board of Gnardians of the Stepney Union to the filthy and delapidated condition of the numerous houses without legal owners in Shadwell , and measures will 6 s immediately taken to enforce the provisions of tbe Police Act , by cleansing , f Bmigating , and whitewashing some of them , and pulling down others which are in a dangerous Btate . The typhus fever is raging in many of these tenements .
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE PB 0 JI "WXHT . A youth , named Thomas Gale , who Btated that he ¦ was only fifteen years of age i was brought up charged with attempting to commit -suielde , by throwing him . self from Waterlooibridge last night The officer ob duty at the bridge stated that he saw tbe pr isoner mount one of the recesses of the tridge , and suspecting that he was going to jump off , he « eisad him and conveyed him to the stationhonse . T&x . Jardine aiked the prisoner what he had to say for himself ? The prisoner said h % was in distress , and had no place to go to . Mr . j » dine asked him if he had teen hroughiybp to any business ? He B * id he had been apprenticed to an artist ** Mr . Jardine—Whe » So yon come from ? The piisonez said he sfcoald decline answering that question .
Mr . Jardine asked the ofllcer if he theught the prisoner saw him coming up , -when be got on the parapet of the bridge ? The officer said he thought he did . ---
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The prisoner waa reuianded . ^ in order thifc inquiries might be made respecting him . .. - >*
DEATHS FROM STARVATION . Death raoM want op food in Bethnal Green . —Last Saturday evening , on the occasion of an inquest being holden at the Admiral Vernon , Bethnal Green . Mr . Baker , the Coroner , animadverted severely upon the conduct of Mr . Murray , the ngiettat of the district , for neglect of duly by not having sent to him ( the Coroner ) an-account of the death of a person named John Thomas ( formerly , during a period of tweutythree years , » clerk in Doctors ' Commons ) , who waa alleged to have died from the want of the common necessaries of life . Mr . Muiray read the register of the
death , which was r % follows : "Died from general decay , aggravated , by extreme pri-ration . " Coroner—Extreme privation . And should it have turned oat on an investigation that from the neglect of any one tbe deceased had not preper sustentation , that person was charged with manslaughter . A juror referred to cases of destitution in Whitecbapel , having observed that it was a highly proper case for inquiry , asked if there had been an inquest ? Coroner—No ; it is a very bad case , and ongbt to be seen into , more particularly now , when the public journals are daily noticing cases of extreme destitution . Mr . Murray—Who gave you notice of the case ?
Coroner—Colonel Rowan Bent an inspector of police to see me , with the whole particulars of the death . iso that the duties were performed by the Commissioners of police instead of the coroner . You had better send information to me or the parish officer , whose duty it is to attend to inquests . I have written a long letter to the regiitrar-generaL I have no doubt you will hear from him . The unfortunate deceased it appeared had two daughters living with him , one aged twelve , and the other twenty-six years . He was obliged to givt * up his employment some weeks ago , in consequence of ill-health , aud has not been able for some time to do anything for his livelihood . His eldest daughter Bays that she , her brother and father applied for relief , when thoy were told that their father would be taken into the house . He and the family were unwilling that be should go there . Death feoji the Alleged Neglect of a Relieving Officer .
On Friday , December the 1 st , an , inquest was held at the Black Horse Inn , Sidcup , Footcray , Kent , upon the body of Maria Piummer , aged 40 , the wife of a labouring man in the employment of the Right Hon . Lord Bexley , who came to ber death under circumstances which implicate both the husband of the deceased and tbe relieving officer of the Bromley Union . From the evidence , whisk -was -vexy voluminous , it appeared that about six years since the deceased summoned her husband before tbe magistrates at Footscray for ill treatment , on which occasion be agreed to give her half-a-crown a week , which he continued to do with great irregularity , tbe result of which was , that she was reduced to considerable distress , wandering about from one relation to another , till each in tarn
( being poor persons ) were unable to support her any longer . On Wednesday night she slept in a watercloset in Footscray . On tbe morning of Thursday she went to Mr . Pritcbard , a snrgeon , of Footscray , who , finding her in a wretched and deplorable condition gave ber a letter to Mr . Backs , the relieving- officer , who lives at Chisellnirst . She immediately went over to Mr . Bankes , whom she saw , and told him that sbe had slept in a water-closet all night , and wished him to compel her husband to find her a lodging . He promised to do bo , and called to see her husband , bat was unable to meet with him " . He , however , took no steps to relieve her , and when , after having been spoken to on the subject by Mr . Rogers , a respectable draper of Footscray , he
replied that if he relieved her without bringing her case before tbe Board of Guardians , they would immediately reprimand him . The poor woman wandered over to Sidcup , aud called at the Black Horse , where ahe asked fer a bed ; this was at first refused , but afterwards granted to her . Her husband was drinking in the house at the time , and exhibited the utmost indifference to her miserable condition . She retired to bed about half-past nine , being so weak and feeble that she -svas about half an hour getting up Stain , and fell down in the bedroom . Iu tbe night Bhe Was attacked with diarrhea , and in the morning when , the landlady sent up she was found In tke agonies of death . Dr . Pritchard stated , that he bad made ^ postmortem examination and found the stomach entirely empty , without one particle of food ; tbe longs -were healthy , but there was a slight effusion on the pericardium ; there was a Bchirrous indurated tumour on the right lobe of the
liver ; the gall-bladder was much distended with biliary calculi , which entirely obstructed tbe passage of the bile , producing diarrlcoi . Het whole condition was one of the most wretched imaginable , her clothe * In the most filthy state , and sbe suffered dreadfully from want of proper care and attention , which in ber condition must have hastened her death . The relieving officer was called in , and stated be never received Mr . Pritchard's note to him . The Jury expressed their opinion that he ought to exercise his own judgment and not wait for the opinions of the Board of Guardians . The Coroner told him that if a verdict of manslaughter was returned , it would not bo against the Board of Guardians , but against himself ; and therefore he ought to have acted ou his own responsibility . The inquest , afternearly four honrs' duration , was adjourned , to enable the Jury to discover what had become of Mr . Pritchard's lttier .
Tbe above account we have extracted from the Morning Chronicle of Saturday . The Times of tbe same day had a more extended narrative of the horrible atrocity ; and on Monday the E'iitor drew publio attention to it in the following justly indignant observations : — It would be needless to add another stroke to the speaking horrors of the case of starvation to death ¦ which -we xeooTded on Saturday , or to s : vy a single word more in indication of tbe strong plain lesson which it bears graven on its every circumstancesupon and about and within and around it—were it not that its details are so intensely excruciating that we fear very few persons could even endure to read them thrbngh . We are induced , therefore , now briefly to state the pith of the matter , in the hope that its instructive moral may be still more widely spread .
Maria Piummer , the wife of a gardener in the employ of Lord Uc-xley , at Footscray , in Kent , was , some weeks since , driven from ber home by her husband , who , although earning 14 s . a week , refused to receive or support or in any way assist her . Evidence was given that the woman had been treated by her husband moBt cruelly , and had been , before she was formally abandoned , " deprived by him even of the common necessaries of life . " In this condition the poor creature " wandered abont the neighbouring fields and villages , utterly destitute , for weeks , " as it ia now , after she has been allowed to starve to death , remembered by
those who saw her ; and this in a country which professes to have laws for the " relief" of the poor . During this length of time , all that she had to saVe her from Btarving was the precarious bounty of her step-father , a poor man himself , and not well able to do more than supply his own necessities . On Wednesday week last , a policeman at Footscray sent her to the " relieving " officer ( so called ) of the Bromley Union . Whether she ffien mude any application is not clear ; but " about halfpast eleven o'clock on that night" the same policeman found her "knocking from door to door in the village , " praying to be admitted , and allowed a bed . " Tbe policeman
continues" I told her she must not do that , but go to her husband's lodging . She did so , and I followed her . I knocked Plummer ( her husband ) up , and be came and put hiB head out of the window . I told him the dreadful state his wife was in , and that he ought to see that she had a place to go to . He said he could not live with her , and had no place for her to go to . I said , What , then , am I to do with her ? I can take her nowhere but to the station . He made no reply to this , but shut down the window . I then took deceased with me up to her husband ' s father , to Bee if I could get her in there . I told him that if he would take her in for the ; night , she -would go before the
relievingofficer in the morning ; but ha abased me , and refueed . I said , Well , you had better go with me to the station , addressing deceased ; but . she begged very hard for me not to take her there , and said she would try to get in at some friend ' s house . I then left her . About half-past three o ' clock on the following morning I fonnd her BittiDg in an open privy near the chorea , and not far from her father-in-law ' s house . Sbe Was not asleep , and I asked her how she was , to which she replied , Oh pretty we \ l . She at that time certainly was in a most distressed state , and appeared in want , but did not appear sufficiently ill for me to remove her . The night in question was a very wet and stormy night . " . f
On the Thursday morning the poor woman again went to her stepfather ' s house at Chiselhurat She was then quite exhausted from want of food . After being supplied by her stepfather with something to satisfy her immediate wants , she applied , at his suggestion , to the " relieving" officer of the Bromley Union , a Mr . Bankes . This worthy ascertained frem her that Bhe had had no place te Bleep in but a privy , and he saw , or might have seen , that she was labouring under the tortures of gaunt , hollow Btaivation , with its attendant ; complication of diseases . But , as it seemB , he did not conceive it hia duty to " Inquire" - whether the
woman was is distress or not 1 Whether she had a husband , however , he did inquire , and on finding it to be tbe case , he took upon him to decide that the Board of Guardians would " reprimand him , " { If he interfered to save a woman who was suffering death by inches , an ! would insist that the wife ought not to Ibe cared for , because her misery was the consequence of the husband ' s hideous and unfeeling brutality . The relieving ofAoersent the woman away , bidding ber apply the next day to tbe Board of Guardians at St Mary '» Cray , a place three miles distant from Chiaelhunt Before that " next day" came round , the woman was a
CORPSE I To show in what condition the woman applied to the relieving officer , and in what condition she was referred to the next day , and a six miles' walk , we subjoin the evidence— -first , of her stepfather , from whose house she proceeded to make tha application ; and , secondly , of the surgeon , Mr . Pritchard , who made the post mortem examination cf the body . The step-father , Thomas Hisman , deposes" She came to me on Thursday week , and said she had been turnel out of the lodging , and that she had
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slept in a privy , having no other place to go to but that . She had come to sea '; Mr . Bankes to get her into the house . Deceased left me to go to Mr . Bankes . She was at this time in the most deplorable condition and io great want I do not think Bhe waa in a fit state to walk about from place to place to obtain relief , the impression of any one seeing her must have been that she was ill ' and starving ; she looked bo thin . I gave her food . Had sbe been a stranger to me , herconditlon was such , that I should at least have given ber a piece of bread . Her eyes were full of water , and ready to start out of her head . ' * Mr . Pritchard
said"I was called to this house to see her on Friday morning last , and found her dead . I never saw a human being in s © deplorable a condition in my life . I have since made a post mortem examination of her body . The chest was generally healthy . There was a large tumour in the right lobe of the liver -, the stomach and intestines exhibited a great deal of inflammation ; no doubt produced by the severe diarrbosi to which she bad been subjected from want of sufficient bile . The stomach and bowels were perfectly empty . There was not ihe elightest particle of food or nourishment of any kind to be found therein . The uterus waa much ulcerated , and ber entire body showed that she had been a victim to neglect , dirt , and improper attention . SUe was the most wasted and miserably emaciated being I ever beheld . "
If thiB w&a not a case » f plain , sheer , and direct starvation to death—of death from starvation , and from that alone—it is impossible to say what 1 b . We do . iot hesitate to say , for our own part i that a more signal , a more flagrant , or a more appalling case of that most horrible form of death—the slow , creeping , wasting torture of starvation—a case in all its circumstances so horribly painful , so unredeemed by a single striking feature of humanity or kindness , Or even common decency , in any one of the persons principally concerned , it has n « ve * been our lot to hear of .
Tae cold , savage brutality of the husband ; the | quiet indifference with which the poor creature waa allowed by the whole neighbourhood to knock from door to door in a state of starvation and disease , in a " cold , wet , and stormy" night in November , without one siogle person offering her shelter or food ; and , finally , tbe Official reply Of the Poor Law menial , referring the " ease" to "the board , " present altogether a picture which we would hope , for the sake of decency , for the sake of human nature , for the sake of our common religion , does not often meet with its parallel in this 01 any other civilised and Christian country .
Bnt , we ask , could such a case by any possibility occur under a sound and well-principled system of Poor Laws ? By what law is it that the important discretionary trust involved in the administration of " relief " ia vested in hireling officiate—in a class ef persons whose station and character are scarcely above those of tbe paupers" whom tbey oppress ? By what law is it that that relief which , according to the spirit and letter of tbe old common law of the realm , it was once the right of every poor man to have at his door and in hiB chamber , so far at least as to prevent the public scandal of his starving in the streets—by what law has this
bounty been not only completely changed in its character , but removed to a distance—to distances of three , and four , and five , and in nonie cases even , of ten and twenty miles , from the home of the faint and starving applicant ? By what law , we ask ? By the law of might , but not of right—of expediency , but not Of justice—of cruelty , but not of caution—of selfishness , but not of foresight . The changes are those Which have been made by the Naw Poor Law , and thia is the consequence . Could there be conceived a more convincing condemnation of any law or system whatsoever ?
THE MURDEROUS FGOtt LAW . THE Dorsetshikk PoOfi . —The following extracts from a letter from Mr . A- J . Daniell , published in the Dorset County Chronicle , exhibits the devotednesa with which the poor cling to the ?' homes of their fathers , " wretched though those homes have become ; and tbe sort of feeling entertained by them towards the accursed baatiles : — i " To whom , then , do the delapidated cottages ( for Bucb vndoubtedly they art ) belong ? I have said it before ; to the leaseholders , or ( as I now add ) to the
poor themselves . Some of the very worst of these tenements are of the latter class ; little ( so called ) freeholds—encroachments on the manor in ancient days . The poorer leassholders might indeed be presented in court ; but to compel aorue of them to put their tenenieDtB in repair wonld be a project as hopeless as the scheme of extracting Bun-beams from cucumbers . Some of the little freeholds are in a condition equally bad ; but all thia , Sir , ia no argument as addressed to yourself , who disregard causes , and only concern yourself with effects .
" And yet the poor cleave to these joyless tenements , because they are their own ; they prefer—deeply and decidedly prefer—the shelter of a roof which some of them can scarcely keep in tolerable repair , to the stern though Sordid protection of the walls ef ' the union . ' Their associations cling like ivy to these rugged walls ; it was around these they played in their infanoy—it was among these banks they strolled as children—it was in the adjacent fields they toiled or played , while life was froah to them , and health unimpaired . Even ia old age , therefore , they prefer to be here ; and it must be borne In mind , by any visi . ant who muy pass a remark upon the dreariness of the
tenement and the age of the inmate—on the decrepitude of botn alike—that ( after all ) it is their choice , laoy prefer UmjIj own cottage to the unaccustomed walls and biank security of the union . Besides , the tenement is their own ; it ia something to retain , and to bequeath ; even this , in their sphere , confers a place and position ; and rotaia it they do with an uureiaxing graip , and bequeath more carefully than ( sometimes ; a- millionaiie asaigps his thousands . All these little freeholds have likewise a garden attached to - them , which is the larger because ( when tbe common waa enclosed ) considerable allotments were made to each in lieu of turbary , or the right oi cutting fuel on the waste . -
" For all these reasons it may be fairly asserted that the poor prefer tfceir little leasehold or freehold tenements to ( that alternative whieh the poor can always command ) the Union-house .
THE WORKHOUSE SYSTEM . We understand that last week there were in the UDion Workhouse , Leighton Buzzird , no less than 82 individuals belonging to the parish of Wing . As , however , tbe expense of supporting families , some of which coat from 20 s . to 30 s . weekly , pressed heavily on the ratepayers , upwards of 50 have since been taken home to their own parish , and the farmers have agreed to employ the labourers at weekly wages of 8 a ., with an extra shilling for those who are employed on Sundays . There must surely ba something wrong in the management of a parish containing between 5 000 and 6 , 000 acres of land , to have any able-bodied labourers in an union workhouse , where no benefit is derived from their labour ; indeed , we strongly apprehend that many of the offences which occur in tte rural districts may be traced to the -poor not being properly employed , and the inadequate manner in which they are paid for their labour . —Aylesbury Journal .
ATROCITIES AT THE BIRMINGHAM WORKHOUSE . An inquiry of a most important nature , involving charges of a grave character against the parties immediately entrusted with the management of the Birmingham Workhouse , and more particularly with that department of it connected' with the relief of vagrants , or "tramps , " and the casual poor , commenced ia the Board Room on Friday laBt , before J . Weale , Esq ., one of the ABBiatant Poor Law Commissioners . Mr . Weale arrived in Birmingham on Thursday last , and informed the Vestry Clerk that the Commissioners had received an anonymous letter , containing a series of charges of cruelty , &c , practised towards " tramps , " and in-door paupers in : the workhouse ; that it was necessary those charges should be investigated ; and he therefore requested that the members of the House Committee Bhould be summoned to attend the inquiry on the following morning . Circulars were accordingly issued and the Committee and a number of Guardians were in attendance at tea o ' clock , the hour appointed .
Previous to the inquiry commencing , Mr . Weale , being apprised that reporters wete present , informed them that he bad a communication of a private nature to make to the Gtnrdians , which related merely to the internal management of the establishment ; and that after he had made it , if the Guardians expressed a wish thai the inquiry about to be instituted should be public , he should be the laBt to object to the representatives of the press being present . . The rtpoiters then withdrew , and after the lapae of about an hour wete te . adnvitte « l into the room , where they found Mr . tucua in the chair , Mr . Weale occupying a seat on his left .
Mr . Weale , addressing the reporters , said that the gnardians had expressed a wish that they should be present He would , therefore , state to them that the Poor law Commissioners had received an anonymous communication , which he had laid before the Guardians , who themstlyes concurred in the absolute necessity of an finquity being instituted into the charges contained in it . The points of the enquiry would therefore be these : — 1 st . —Aa to four boys being confined eight dayB and nights in a place cajled " the black hole , " and kept on water gruel all the time , in a complete state of nudity , Without a shirt to cover their naked-I ness , or shelter them' from the inclemency of the weather . 2 nd—That a little boy , ( name unknown , ) was put iinto the tramp room by the governor , and when taken out that be ma obliged to be placed ia a warm bath . . .. «• . .
Sti . —Tbatajomig woman named Rhoda had been iSu&flt ' - tramp ¦ " * - the « " <""* *' 4 tL-That the insane ward had been conceited into a place of punishment by the governor , and that a woman named B ^ - had been taken fr om another ^ sasi ?* * - pat tato tte ta 8 ane ™* * nfli ^ Z'F T ^ * ' ^ served , that ho could not at all say , for he knew not , via was to be blamed m this inquiry ; but as the master of the woSuSSeiJ named in the charges , it was but fair on the old English principle ofjustice , that ev ^ ryboSy w £ o was considered as accused , Bhould have an opportunity of heano « the testimony ; and he therefore thought the governor should be present """ ukus uio
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The Governor was then catf 6 d in , and informed by Mr . Weale of tbe nature of the charges made agalnBt him ; and asked whether he had any record or books to show whether four boys had been at any time put into thiB " black hole . " Fiwt , he would ask whether he kept a punishment book ? - . ' ., * * The Governor replied in the negative ; he did not admit that any person had been punched . The charge had reference ! to four tramps , who , having torn their clothes , had jbeen put into tbe tramp ward , ( if they chose to call it confinement ) , but he had had no orders to punish tham . Mr . Weale—It was necessary to take other evidence on this point < bat he wished to know whether he had any books or documents to show that four persons had been kept for ) eight days ia a tramp worn or black hole , or whether any persons had been confined there during the period referred to—from the 26 th of September last to the 3 rd of October following .
The Governor denied that they had any . black hole , or at all events that it bad ever been used for such a purpose since j he had been appointed to the management of the workhouse . Mr . Weale-i-A * you have stated that on one occasion four persons Iwere confined a certain number of days io the tramp ! room without clothing , we will begin with the evidence of the person who had the men in charge . j Mr . Kuight here begged to read , from the books of the housa committee , a minute in . reference to two men who had destroyed tbeir clothing during the night , and who bad been ordered fresh clothing by the committee . He mentioned ; this to show tnat tbe practice was one of frequent occurrence . ¦ ¦
_ . ; . __ . _„_ The Governor stated , in answer to questions by Mr . Weale . that the four men to whom he referred were admitted on the 26 th of September last . Their names were WilliamjJoneF , 115 ;> Daniel Blyth , ( 27 ); Htnry Garter , ( 18 ) ; Waiter Young , U 8 i , th * y were discharged on the 3 rd of bctober-William Harris , the keeper of the tramp room , in which these men had been placed , Was then sworn and examined by / Mr . Weale . He said he was twenty-four years of age . j He recollected the four men above referred to coining into the house in September last . They were placed in the regular tramp room , acd during the night they ripped up their clothes , and were found in the morning quite naked , with the exception of one , who bad his shirt and trousers left . On telling the
governor of the circumstance , be ordered him to remove them into the other tramp room , which he accordingly did , giving each man a rug to cover him . They remained in thti second room about ten days , during which time they bad no other clothing given them by Bight or day . t There was no Sre in the room , nor was it warmed as jthe other tramp room , with heated air . They complained very mucb of the cold , and said that they were starved . The governor visited them three or four times while they were there . Witness asked the governor for clothing , and he said that be was to give them some the last day they went out . They had no bed or straw to sleep on ; nothing bat the bare boards . There was no ] water closet in the room , only a tub , which was removed by witness and another keeper
everj morning ! for the men never left their room from tbe d 3 y they went in until they left They had no soap or water to wash themselves , until the morning that they left , when witness assisted in cleaning . them . They were very filthy ; the room waB covered with tllta , and It had a very offensive smell . One of the men complained of illness the day before he left , and the doctor was sent for , who ordered him some medicine . They had nothing but bread and gruel during the time tbey were under his charge ; he supplied it to them three times a day . It waa not usual to keep tramps in the house more than one night , but he had orders from tbe governor to detain these four men . They did not ask for their discbarge ; be had told them that be had orders from the governor to lock them up . The weather waa rather cold at the time . There were
about thirteen tramps who had destroyed their clothes before . About two days after tbey cams in witness applied to the governor for more clothing , and told him that the men were starving , and he replied " Let them stop there a day or two . " In three or four days after be applied again , and he told him to let them Stop till tha next morning , and he would rind them some clothes . He did give them some , and they left the bouse . Tbe governor gave witness the clothes , and he gave them to the men . The reason tbe governor assigned for removing the men into a separate room was , that if other tramps came in , they would also be likely to destroy their clothes . Witness had the care of the rugs , but had none to spare for the men when he applied to the governor : the rugs are six feet by four and a half feet ;
The Governor denied that the witness bad ever asked him for more clothing , and said the man was next to an idiot , and that the whole of his statement was much at variance with the facts of the case . Mr . Weale— -I think 8 uchartmaik quite uncalled for . The man has given bis evidence in a very straightforward collected [ manner . Mr . Kodway—( to witness )—What ia the name of the gentleman who asked you questions on this subject before ? j Mr . Weale—With great deference , Sir , this is a question which I cannot allow you to put We are here to inquire into the truth of curtain charges which have been stated . Mr . Bod way- —My object is to know the person who sent thia anonymous letter , and who had not the manliness to pat his ' name to it .
Mr . Weale—i-Did the men complain more of the cold at night than during the day ?—Witness—They did , Sir . ; Mr . Wealfc ^ -The tramps have no straw allowed them to lie upon in the ether room ?—Witness—No , Sir- i Mr . Weale—I took the liberty of inquiring into that fact the other day . Mr . Hunt—It was decided some time since that it was more conducive to tbeir health to be kept without straw . I
Mr . Smith , the house surgeon , was next examined . He deposed to having been called in to see a person in the tramp ward , in tbe Infirmary Passage . He found him Buffering from pains in his stomach and bowels , and ordered him some medicine . The room was so dark that he could not see into it ; the man came to him at the door j ; he was naked , or apparently ao ;_ he believed he had a rug round him . Ha did not know what state the place was in , but it must bave been very filthy , for the smell was most oflfonaive . He made no ' report of the case to the governor , nor did he order j the man change of diet . He asked after him ne&t day , ' and found he had left the house . Tbe men complained i ef being kept there for eight or ten days . They appeared to be young men , or boys . They said they had destroyed their clothing , they were so full of vermin , j He did not think the patient in a atate that called for ' bis removal to the infimary .
William Pdreiva ! was next sworn and examined . He ' was a pauper employed in the house as wardsman , and ! to assist the governor in looking after the clothes . He ' never gave Harris clothes to give t » the four men con- ' fined in the tramp room ; witness took the clothe " s him- ' self . Harris did , not accompany him . He found the ' men in a state of great wretchedness , and very dirty . He believed they bad nothing to cover them but rugs '• during the time Jhey were confined in the toom . There was soap and water allowed them , but he did not know Whether they had any . He should say that the room ! was clean , although it had an offensive smell . The men never complained a bit of the treatment they had ! received : they were vary glad te get out . Tbey said i they were treated very kindly in every shape . Mr . Weale—Will you venture on your oath to state ' that these men stated that they were treated very kindly ' and that thjiy made no complaint of the treatment which j they received while in the bouse ? i
Witness—They did not , sir . They made no complaint of the cold ; and when he brought them the clothes , they said , " That ' s right ; we are anxibua to get out . " When they were going oat , the matron gave them some bread and meat , and they said they were much obliged . The matron said , ^ You are all Well clothed , and youjougut to very thankful that no measures bave been taken against you . " With that , they touched their hats , and bade her good morning . Mr . Weale—And that is what yeu call expressing iheir gratitude for the treatment they received !
William Harru ) , tbe former witness , waa recalled and examined . He aaM that he went for the clothes tbe morning the men ] left the bouse , and the governor sent them to P * rcivali who gave them to witness , and be then toofe them to the tramps . He believed Percival accompanied him to the tramp room . [ This witness was cross-examined at considerable length respecting the orders he had to supply the men with soap and towels , but nothing material bearing on the main facts of tbe cose waa elicited . ] The enquiry was adjourned till nine o ' clock the following morning , afld the governor was desired , if he preferred tbat conrse , to prepare in the meantime a plain , Btraightforward history of the whole of tbe transaction , as his ] explanation of the circumstances which led to the confinement of the men for so long a period . ] Satueday—On the re-assembling of the Board this morning , the inquiry waa resumed .
Mr . Bynner , the Vestry Clerk , was the first witness called and examined . He stated that on Monday morning , the 25 th of September , the Governor of the workhouse called upoij him at his ofBce , and told him that four tramps , who had been admitted the previous Saturday night , had torn their clothes , and reduced themsblves to & state of nudity . Witness advised that they should betaken before a magistrate , and he drew up an information for that purpose . The Governor stated that he had been recently before tbe magistrates with a similar charge , and that they were disinclined to commit , and tbat be would first sea the Honse
Committee . Several days after , the Governor told him tbat he had been ordered by tbe Committee to consult tbe Messrs . Whateley upon tbe subject ; tbat he had done so , and , found that the information drawn up by wit-, ness would not de , as it should bave been laid under a late Act , the 6 th and 6 th Victoria , c . 57 , sec . 5 , In which there was I a special clause for offences of this nature . Witness had before taken men before the magistrates for the same offence , and succeeded with some difficulty in getting a conviction in two cases , when the men were sentenced to twenty-one days' hard labour . f
Mr . Weale here said tbat be should be ready to receive the evidence of the Governor himself , either on oath or otherwise ; or , if he preferred it , he would take
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his statement in writing . It rested with himself t » make his choice . It was for tbe G 9 Vernor to shew thai be reported the case to the Committee , and to state what decision they came to . Mr . Knight suggested that they could get at the facts as to the diet from Mrs . Hurst , the matron . Mrs . Hurst was called , and after in the first instance objecting to take tbe oath , she subsequently allowed herself to be a worn . She said she recollected four l&gg being kept several days in the tramp room , in the ia , firmary passage . She visited them the first evening they went in with Harris , and ttofc them four rug ? , three of which she gave to the lads , and the toutih to a boyr about ten or eleven years of age , who had been sent into the bonae as punishment by the relieving officer , at the request of . bis mother .
[ Mr Weale—I would take this opportunity of pro . testing strongly against the workhouse being used as a place of puriiahment . I have oil one or two occasion ! noticed that fact ; and you , as Guardians , have nothing whatever to do with punishing the children of tbe pom . It is an act of great illegality and cruelty , and r ender ? you liable to be punished yourselves . As the case of this boy has eotne out , I shall feel it to be my dot ; to hunt out every fact connected with it Mr . Boucher « aid that the Relief Committee had told tbe poor over and over again tbat they should tain their children to the magistrates , t
Mr . Knight also stated that he had always disconn . tenanced such practices ; and if he recollected rightly , in tbia very case he yielded very reluctantly to tbe urgent ] request of the mother to have the boy admitted into tbe house as punishment , for sne could not get him to work . A note of admission was given in the case , but whether any further instructions were issued as to the boy's treatment , he was net prepared to say . ] Witness gave each of the men , with one exception , and tbe boy , a rug a-piece ; they were famished at the time with a rug , sa that this made two for each . The men complained of the heat of the place , and She desired Harris to keep the door open . This was on a Wednesday . Daring the time the men were there , Harris applied to her for a shirt for one of the men .
which she gave him , and on his taking it to the room * the man tore it in pieces before his face . Harris then said that there was no use in giving them any more clothing . Witness directed Harris to give them the bread and broth , as well as the other tramps . To tha beat of ber belief , there was meat sent to them on the Sunday after they were put into the room * She did not eive it out herself . She ordered Harris to do so . They had meat also given the morning that they started . Tbe boy was sent into the workhouse as a punishment , not to be punished when he was there ; they never punished . It was witness who ordered him to be put iu the tramp room , to the best of ber belief . All the
paupers were sent to tbe tramp room in the first instance , after being admitted , as a probationary ward . The boy was taken out the morning after be had been put there , and had a bath . She did not know his name , nor bow long he remained in the house after this . The men had bread and broth for breakfast and dinner , and . thick gruel for supper . She told Harris not to spare the meal , but to make it good ; it was as thick aa porridge , although it was called grnel . She gave him particular instructions with regard to these very men . Mr . Hurst , the governor , here put in bis own statement ; bat , on the suggestion of Mr . Weale , he withdrew it to correct discrepancies and omissions , which appeared upon tbe face of it
William Harris was again recalled , and examined on the evidence given by Mrs , Hurst He Bald that he had no recollection of the matron bringing fotrr ruga to the tramp ward where the men were confined ^ During the time the men were there , be recollected a boy , about thirteen years of age , being brought in for punisfr . ment , and placed along with them . He could swear positively that he never saw Mrs . Hurst at the pfcee during all the time the men were there . The men had only a rug each . He did not know that the boy had 4 rug at night to cover him . He did not give him ene . Never heard the men complain of the heat of tbe room , aud never waa desired to leave the door open . Never took the men bread and broth , or a meat dinner
on a Sunday while they were there , nor was he ordered to do so by Mrs . Hurst . Never asked her to give one of the men a sbirt ; but on another occasion , some time before , got a shirt for a tramp , which he fore np and trampled upon . It was the practice to give tbe regular tramps bread and broth for dinner on Sundays ; never gave them meat , and never gave the four men anything bat bread and gruel . He acted by tke governor ' s directions . The boy was in tae room with them three or four days ; be was taken out before the men left The boy had bread and milk for breakfast and supper , and bread and broth for dinner . The governor bad told him tbat the boy was sent into the tramp room for punishment .
Joseph Bliok , an aged pauper of weak intellect , was next examined ; but his evidence merely went to show that four men had been confined in the room , and that tbe place was in a very filthy condition . Mr . Weale suggested that wnila they bad sufficient light they should go at once , and inspect tbe room ia which the boy and the men were confined . The whole of the persons present accordingly adjourned to the infirmary passage , on the left of which , at the entrance , ia a little nook or b » x , called the keepera ' s lodge , nearly opposite and a little further on , they came to the 3 oor of the apartment spoken of throughout tha evidence as the tramp room ; bat on opening it nelhwg could be seen , although a sickly light was discernible in a grating at the furtker end . On lights being obtained ,
all present had an opportunity ef judging of the siza and condition of this dianml dungeon . It was a low vaulted cell , below the level of the infirmary passage , about six feet by tea feet in siza Elevated from the ground about twelve or eighteen inches , was a boarded platform , which sloped from the open grating at tbe extreme end of the vault towards the door ; thiawaa explained to be the guard bed provided for tramps . Near tbe door was a space of about tiro feet , whieh waa left for the open tub spoken of by Harris ; and the floor near this spot was saturated with water , and covered with filth . A more loathsome prison could not well be imagined even by the fertile brain of a grand inquisitor , Versed in all the arts and mystery of torturing yet prolonging human life ; and to crown all , the tffluvia was so overpowering that it was impossible to remain more than a minute within the precincts of this noisome den . This was indeed the veritable " black hole , " the dread o refractory paupers , and the terror and test of
unfortunate tramps , whose evil stars might lead them to seek a night ' a shelter in this dismal place . The governor , the matron , the house surgeon , the keepers , and others , who had been examined , were summoned to the spot by Mr . Weale , and one and all acknowledged that it was here the four unfortunate men had been confined in a state of nudity for ten days and nights , and where the little boy had been sent to acquire his first lessons in morality , and his early experience of the miseries of human life . The Guardians present expressed their indignation and horror at the picture presented , to them , and disavowed all knowledge of the existence of such a place as a tramp room ; and Mr . Weale himself , mare familiar to scenes of this description , declared tbat in no prisoa or workhouse is England had he ever witnessed such den for tbe accommodation er punishment of human beings . Indeed , be questioned whether Howard , when he commenced his benevolent mission ever found anything to equal it in the course of his experience .
The Governor being questioned upon the subject , said be found the place fitted up in its present state , for the reception of vagrants , when he came into the workhouse . He had put persons frequently into it It was not unlikely that some of their own poor had been placed there , but he could not recollect it . They were obliged to use the place when they were crowded with tramps , which was often the case ; and they would probably be obliged to use it that very night Mr . Kuigbt—I am sorry td hear it ; but if I am compelled to stop here all night , I will never suffer this to occur again . If you want room , put the poor into the chapel . Mr . Hollingsworth—You could not appropriate it to a better or more humane purpose .
Mr . Knight—We are bound to admit tbat these men were confined in this place for eight or ten days ; and upon that point , whoever may be chargeable with tbe offence or consequences of illegally confining them , we must plead guilty . We shall now set about collecting all the evidence we can , leaving the Commissioner to deal with it as he pleases . If you are satisfied , Sir , with that , we shall undertake to supply you With admissions as full as any evidence yon can obtain in this establishment . Mr . Weale—I cannot pledge myself to anything . I will , if you wish , take the statement of this commit ' , tee . I dhall also be glad to see any explanation boa
Mr . Hurst ; but there are other points in the ' enqairj to be gone into ; and if , in their progress , any fr&b matter should come out , I shall feel bound to en 5 uir 8 into it , and any abuses which may be brought undo my notice in the ceurse of the investigation . At p * sent , my wish is to be furnished with some information respecting this boy ; for to be kept in such a place fo « daya or four hours was a grosB abuse , and one that caw for explanation . The whole object of my enquiry ii t 0 prevent vhe recurrence of abuses more than anytoto ! else . I came here not to criminate yon , gentlemen , b <« to enquire into certain allegations which were nu v ? order tbat semo authority or another should corrtw whatever evils be found to exist
may . . Mr . Herbert thought , after tte enqu iry thatJ » taken place , the town must feel deeply indebted » Mr . Weale for bringing to light snob a borriDW state of things , and which , had it been kn 0 *?^ the GuardianBj would never have been suffered w exist . \ .., The inquiry was then adjourned to Thursday .- * " ' land Counties Herald . thi £ We trust some of onr friends will forward ! W l « teniBinder of thia "inquiry . " The * psW w" " ° looked frrj RESULT IN "CRIME " . '
INCENDIARY FIRES . fiat « en Fritchlet . —On Sunday morning last , 5 »" four and five o'clock * the stackyard <>* M * -JiI 7 y Fritchley , of Fritchley , near Crich , wan ftw ^ JS ot be ouare . Fortunately , there was a Zooi . H \ na water within , a short distance of the stscKy r "! aJJd the fire was got under , but not before the v r ^ ii sS straw 8 tac !? 8 were entirely consumed . There is ^ least doubt but tbat it was wilfully set on I * 18 , * , could commit such a diabolical act on so inoneu " character is hard to say . —Derby Reporter . ( Continued in our Seventh pageJ
Untitled Article
6 ~~ TBE NORTHERN STAR . ¦ _ - ^ ======== ^^
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 9, 1843, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct511/page/6/
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