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Sep^mb 20, 1845. ^ THE NoRTHERN STAR_ 7 ...
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THE ANDOVER -WORKHOUSE ABOMINA- I TIOXS....
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Sep^Mb 20, 1845. ^ The Northern Star_ 7 ...
Sep _^ mb 20 , 1845 . _^ THE NoRTHERN STAR __ 7 - _•^^^^^^^^^ >'>' , _^' " _^" _*^ _" _*^ _" _^^ " _^ _^ _" _^^^^''* ' _*^* ,, _*^* ll , l _* _****** r * ' ' ¦ _¦***^——*^ - _^—— ¦ _, : " * - _^ * ... . __^^^^^^ - _^—** immmmmmmmmm
The Andover -Workhouse Abomina- I Tioxs....
THE ANDOVER -WORKHOUSE ABOMINA- I _TIOXS . A fortnight ago we announced that a sort of official _fnouirv had been instituted by the Poor Law _Com-^ _sionersinto the charges of peculation and _immo-Mjitvpreferred against the " master" of the Andover _^ vrkhonse . The alleged facts first came to the So _wledge of Mr . T . C . Westiake , the medical officer of the Union , who f ound that the extra diet and stimulants which , inthe exerciseof hisprofessional _dutics , he had orderedforthesickinthe workhouse , were ruber altogether withheld , or very irregularly and Inadequate _^ supplied by the " master , * ' though they were very regularly cliarged in liis aeeounta , and a ] v paid for by the guardians . Mr . Westiake , as _^ as hb duty , apprised the Board of Guardians of the discovery he had made ; and they , after making ¦
enme little inquiry , jam tne matter before the _Somerset House " rulers . " who sent down one of their dm _Assistants to hold a sort of public inquiry into tiic allegations . When Dr . Westiake was apprised that sn was the course to bo pursued , and that _Ac should be expected to produce witnesses to support tae statemen he had made , be naturally made _inquiries amonpt the workhouse inmates as to the extent ihe withhol ding ofthe extra food he had ordered had heen practised : and the revelations that Wr then made to him , as to _ the manner of the " master ' s" conducting himself in the house towards the female residents , and as to his general conduct , induced the Doctor to make other charges of gross TO Uconduct and drunkenness against the same man Trho was charged with pilfering the food Of the sick .
The latter charges were also ordered to be included in Jfr . Assistant Commissioner Parker ' s inquiry , after Eonie little fighting-shy on the part of the Somerset House board . That inquiry has been partially proceeded with , for thirteen days . We nsc the tem partially , to _demote , firstly , that the inquiry is not yet concluded ; and , secondly , the manner in which it was conducted —the presiding official having shamelessly exhibited the strongest partizanship with the inculpated ¦ * master , " and a determination to Meat , if possible , _flic ostensible object ofthe inquiry . Of this we shall afford abundant proof before we have done . At first , the inquiry was confined to the first charges—those of withholding the " extras" ordered bv the medical officer for the sick . On this head a
vast mass of evidence waa adduced , to show that the " master" had charged the gnardians , and beenpaid , for food and liquors which had never been supplied to the sick , although ordered by the medical officer . 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 form ; that he had not obeyed the orders of the Poor Law _Commissiencn in that respect ; and therefore the evidence that he had ordered the " ex . tras" was defective , and could not be received . To tills it was answered that Dr . Westiake had kept his books in the same form as his predecessor , bnt more accurately ; that he had Itept them as the Board of Guardians had ordered Mm ; that it was no part of the medical officer ' s duty to set the Board of
Guardians right , if they went wrong , as Assistant Commissioners were appointed and paid for that purpose . Still all would not do . The " Judg 9 " (?) of this queer " Court of Inquiry" had found an informality ¦ which _, told ia favour of . the accused embezzler ; and he was constantly harping on it , every time the medical officer's orders for extras had tobe proved ; Iterating again and again that " the instructions of the Poor Law Commissioners to Union surgeons were in print ; and Mr . Westiake ought to have been acquainted with them . " This went , however , too far . dne day , Mr . Prendergast , the counsel in support of the charges , retorted npon Mr . Assistant Commissioner Parker , and plainly told him that the neglect was his own , and that Ae was blamcabfe for any informality that existed . He said : —
If the Assistant-Commissioner does not seo that the guardians do their duty , and have tho books laid before tocm , and properly inspected by them at their meetings , hi dm not do his duty , and is of no use . 3 Jr . Parker . —I am the Assistant-Commissioner for tlie district , and I don't remember having scon tlie boohs in say life . Ut . Pondergast—X am sony it tnrn 3 ont to he so , for then other parties are much mora seriously to blame than J ! r . Westiake , and tee shall have serious charges to bring cgzhisl oilier persons . Jlr . _Missing , the " master ' s" counsel . —That is said for display . It is no part of tho _Asristant-Commissioner ' s fluty lo So as yon lave slated . On this " display" the Times well remarks : —
Mr . Assistant-Commissioner Parker having oracularly pronounced on the duty of thc surgeon to be well acquainted with his instructions , which were " in print , "' a Jmits that he himself does not remember having soon the books in his life . 2 \ ow , it does happen that the Poor Law Commissioners have _promulgated other instructions , in print , besides those to their medical officers . In 1 S 41 they caused to be published " _LiftructioTis to tlie Assistant Toor Law Commissioner / " fromwMchwo select the following extracts - . — "Poor Law Commission-office . "Sib , —The number of unions under your _supcrintcafit-ncewill render it _impossihle for you to pay very frequent visits to each of them ; but the Commissioners tiiiiife that yoa should not on any account omit to visit ihe workhouse of each union once in six months , independently of your attendance at the meeting of the hoard of _giaroians .
" The points to which your attention should he pnncirahy directed at such visits arc the following : — ¦ "Saving inspected the workhouse , and inquired into tc * condition ef its _ininaUs , your next duty is to examine Ik ' oak of tte union . This examination is notso important in reference to the technical and arithmetical accuracy with which the hooks are kept ( and for which the clerk and tlie auditor must mainly be depended on ) , as ia reference to the substance of the proceedings and facts ¦ _ci ich xhey profess to record . " From the minutes of the board of guardians , the admission and discharge book , the application and report hock , tie medical _oSicer ' shooks , and the relief lists , you mil he able , in a great degree , to judge whether the rules O-the Commissioaeisas toxelief have been duly observed ; aad yon will not fell to bring under the notice of the guardians , and also ofthe Commissioners , in the absence of explanation , any deviations in this respect . "
Thus , amongst "the pointsto which the attention Of an Assistant-Commissioner sliould be principally directed , " is a careful examination of " the books of the -. uiion . " And this examination is specially directed to include" tlie medical officer ' s look . " Sow , here we have Mr . Assistant-Commissioner Parker lecturing the medical ollieer on the duty of being acqnaiiited with instructions which are in print , while lie admits that he does not remember having ever seen "/ lie tools" in his life , although their periodical inspection is laid down , in his printed instructions , _CSa point to which his " attention should he principally directed ! " And this is a r » ew Poor Law functionary , eating the bread of the people , and specially delegated to inquire into certain allegations of embezzlement and fraud having been committed , under the operation of which , and a generally stinted dietary , it is alleged that human nature has sunk _hiio something too loathsome and degraded to be contemplated in detail .
The evidence having been gone through in relation to the inhering tbe food from the sick , and toscmlins tiie property of ihe Union to his sou-in-law ' s at _Sioekbridge , tic " other charges" were gone into , _to-3 , among the rest , the following evidence was given too-Hit : — _OURGCS OF IMJKHtALTCV . _^ _ary Arm Banks examined hy Mr . Prendergast . —I _raacuihsr some time before J left the union something _tenicsJar _happeaing on Christmas night , 1311 . Eliza _2 ' _jk was there at the time . I sent her up for some i _' _-Mej . I thought she was gone a long time , and -went _* 5 ' io £ « _-c for her . When I got up the stairs she was _SMist Hie _hsll , and Mr . _STDougal , tlic master , was pullj ** ? her b y tiie anus , and saying , " Coma here ! _come"wsr lie was nailing her towards the little sitting-j
_**< a . Ik-let her go when he saw me , and went into t ~« room . _Ssvcral of the servants in the Mtchen hare f 2 ' _- ' . _"Cwne hsre * come liere * ' in the presence of the - _^ tt _" . Betty I ' _anasr in particular used to call out * ~ _pse nerds . Ur . M'Dougal has done and said _sonic-« m » 3 to me . lie has _saue _<~ ed my band , and asked me , _* s h'lJa * he has hissed me at tlie same time . He has I , 5 n _* " ' * loved him . ( Laughter . ) I told him , no . uaT =- "' l'lic « l _lws face many a time mien ha has atu * rd ' n ™ f * 1 m * ' _^ ws _hifseil mc . Mrs . 31 _'Dougal < i ,, i _d _' _I _^ _, _T _^ _, scms & stes on a San Jay evening . _^ J ttose occasions I have g 3 ne to turn down the beds -u _. ( . _jx-t supper read y . 3 ir . M'Dougal has followed me _k _~! t . W _% _^' S to catch hold of me . When I „ .. ' f awa . _folil hull and gone down stairs , lie luis _^ rr .. _^ - ; V C , PJ 3 C n ? "¦ Sain . T said I ivsuldn ' r , and I did
_^ ' - aSW , rsS _^ _S _* - '* _« ° <» alt _^ d to my work . l _* _£ a"i > aSa " nan J _'" 1 r 1 " for not going up to him . 5 a laic- . lnnot _- " He uoce tried to puU up my clothes _^ _^" _ftS's _bt-dronm . I ran awiy < 7 own stairs . After _W- _^ _'T - U ' " _" ' aI 3 Irs " ° i ' bouse . I remember an _Xry \ _, sLeM at _storfcbria-e . I think it was on _^ arci , - 1 , llaii ' ° ' raS _Umc ' _* a _waST ° n' II ATaS in M _« - ? " ' - Mr - lH > _ougal carae over there . _i-M- _{^ ° 'J ' iCtea aat _*!* _= charges must he con" L' _& j / _° ! f 5 t ! to , * ' hl' the young women and girls _ij-sT * _. ' _^ f _^ _- " Tj : e witness at thc time was not in the _2 i " _. _''" , Tat la swriee at _Stocibrid-e . " _^ i' ) , _^ T _? lSt , irsc " , itl ' *' ' VTas in confirmation of _?* _-2 r to 7 ,. ,, . masKr m tlj c liouse , the girl having _*** _= _at- _* * ' " ' ! ' ' l 0 ° l , y L 5 s dircctioE . and he fallowing up 1 i _> ' u ' _- _'T ' _^ Ir * v : is l , art of tuc same transection . V , ; ,. r . "' i 3 ! ''' 1 , n-Cc : _nBiist iontr mUj _n _^ t he could not take ai
f -... _» V . _^~ " ' _' _rnsz-- created a as-sat sensation 'V , au _'li ! _-9 rv . c _l- * 2 UiIS ; : & * _^''^' _-i'ht the evidence engirt to bc _re-* ~ _%£ ' smi £ _* _«« --3 _fellowing i _^ _liis evil in-- - ¦ - „ ' _" _*~ -a ' - " _uC * _J * ni _* is * ioii 6 r i _?& JJ r . oi _Lcsr Hie cci' ¦ - ~ 2 _S _?^ ' / _Ari tr . r _? 5 resac _' _-cd hy "Mr . _Pre nucv' - ¦ :- _''^ mu - _l-is t- _^ _i-j-to catch _hulil of mc , and ' _"' ¦ - - ; . "j . _s _* f l ! _- _^ - " _s en Hl- _ii-Ssiwaji 3 _- « -- Jt ' - - _ - ; - -. " . ! 7 " _" . ; _* u " - ' - _*'• i _' _-: * aj .::. ; . - cicthts . V . s was -- - ' _- > _coastaii'Tr - . _rci-:. ; r _; , T 5 and _Sundays .
The Andover -Workhouse Abomina- I Tioxs....
_ByMr . MiSS , ng . ~ . It vTasbetWceasb : and ei ght o ' clock _SSL . _' ° c puUin _S _« _a _awt about . There 215 ? f Par _? ° Sentlen _*< -a the ** Mr . HughMundy _5 _W J ? ' e resthad sone away- _! -o » w frequently heard the servants joke the master about "Come here . " 1 _nao . never allowed any person to talje liberties With me . I told m the kitchen what I saw master doing to Bhza Kout . I was much _ghocked and annoyed by what the master did to me . It quite shocks me now to tell this before so many . I suppose his pulling up jour clothes was the worst of it!—Yes . Why did not you tell your mistress _?—JligtreSS Once tneu to make an end of herself when there was a row between her and master , and we did not like to hurt her feelings . By Mr . Prendergast—Mistress attempted to hang herself once , about Whitsuntide . Mr . Missing objected , that no ia _q . _-olry ought tobe made into the " row . "
By Mr . Prendergast . —I heard mistress threaten to hang herself . It was on a Sunday night the row took place . Bid that row take place in consequence of _. Mr . Missing again objected , and The Assistant-Commissioner too . Mr . Prendergast . —5 Sy friend attempts to show that this witness is not to be believed , because she did not tell the mistress of his behaviour to her , and she gives as her reason for not doing so that Mrs . _M'Doujjal had threatened to hang herself . If this threat was made because the house had been robbed , it wouhl have nothing to do with this case ; but if it arose from something of a similar kind having taken blace to excite fhe jealousy of Mrs . M'Dougal , it has to do with the case .
Mr . Parker ( to the witness ) . —Where were you ? Witness . —Mistress came home from church and we were called up stairs , and I heard mistress ask for a rope . Mr . Frendergast . —What was the subject of the vow \ Mr . Parker . —How do you know ? Witness . —I was upstairs . I heard Blake say that there had been something wrong between master and Mrs . Grace , the cook , while mistress was at church . Mr . Parker , —Between Mrs . Grace and the porter S Witness . —No : between Mrs . Grace and Mr . M'Dougal . Elizabeth Crouch , aged 18 , examined by Mr . Prendergast . —I left the workhouse on the 14 th of April last . I was in it five years . I remember Mary Ann Banks making a statement to me about Mr . M'Dougal , as to something tbat had passed between him and her . At ono time I was Mrs . M'Dougal' s servant . ~ He has taken liberties with me during my servive , which was in the last two years of my stay in the workhouse . Ho has kissed me , and put his hands into my bosom . When he kissed me he asked me to kiss him . He has done so a great many times . When he has treated ma so I have not allowed him to do What
he wished . Imd not kiss him . I told hun I would tell tho mistress ofit . By Mr . Missing . —Tho master was the only man that ever took sneh liberties with me . Ho did so in the kitchen first , and then upstairs . I can't tell exactly how long ago he did so in the kitchen . He patted me on the tack the first thing , and then asked me to kiss him , I did not . That was " all he did that time . The nest attacks were made in different places . He put his hand into my bosom one day in mistress's passage upstairs . I can ' t tell the day . I was very much annoyed at this . I have told him not to do so , often . Why did notyougo and _teUjour mistress howyou had been insulted and ill-used!—I was afraid , or I should have done it . What should you he afraid of?—Because it was my master , and I thought he ought to know better . It was froquently repeated after that .
When you found he did not lnmnr better , why did you 1 complain to the mistress or to the board 1—1 have told yon . I was afraid to do it , Maria laishley , sworn and examined by Mr . Prendergast . —I was seven years in the workhouse , off and on . I was nurse to the children after 1 had been in the workhouse nearly two years . _Whilo I was nurse , Mr . M'Dougal said something particular to me . I was engaged in cleaning the work-room . Mr , M'Dougal was in the office adjoining the work-room . He called nie , and I went to the door . Ho put his arm round my neck , and attempted to kiss me . He wanted me to give up to him . I told him he was a married man , and ought to know himself better . I toldhim I was a married woman . If I had no husband with me , he had a wife with hira and he ought not to want any other person . My husband had gone away from me . The master did not say any more to me at that time . Several times when I had been cleaning _theofiVcohe has come to me and hindered me from doing my work . He patted me on the hack , and hud hold
of my hand . He tried to put his hand up my clothes , and wished me to give up to his wishes . That occurred several times ; I can ' t say exactly how many . After I was nurse to the children I went into tlie 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 had seen too much trouble before through a man , or I never should hare been in the union . I had an illegitimate child after my husband left me . He said , " He knew the nature of young people , and that I could not live so long without a man ; he Could not believe that I could . Of course , I must haTe my feelings as well as others . " While I was cook he tried to take liberties with me , as he did before . I have three children—two legitimate and ona since my husband left ¦ me , which I had seven years ago . I am now living in service with Mr . Gale , a farmer , at littleton . Ono of my children is in service . The others are kept by a person , and I pay her for them out of my own pocket . I always refused the overtures of the master .
Elizabeth Harris sworn and examined by Mr . Prendergast .- —I was an inmate of the house last year . Mr . M'Dougal insulted me while I was cleaning the young men ' s room . He came and handled me , and pushed me back on the bedstead . I asked him what he was doing , and told him my partner would ha up directly . He took hold of my band and kissed me . He asked me who cleaned the room above ? I told him no one ; it was locked np . He said , "Never mind that , you go up there after you hare done this , and pretend to clean it , and I will come to you at ten o ' clock . " I said lhe room was not occupied , and therefore it did not want cleaning . The master , after asking me to meet him in the upper room , called to the servant to fetch tho key , and he unlocked it , leaving the key in the door . I stopped in the room which I was cleaning . At ten o ' clock I saw tlie master
go up . I did not go up to him . He did not say any more to me after that on that day , but st tho beginning of thc conversation he asked me if I was in the fainilyway . I said , "So , sir ; and I don ' t wish to _gtt 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 . Next morning , when I got to thc same room to cloan it , he was there . He said to me , "Well , Betsey , how was it you did not go to the room I told you yesterday ! " I said , _"Decause I didn't choose . " He then began kissing me agnin and pulling my clothes up . I _pushtd him away . He then said , " Well , Betsey , don ' t tell any one what I have been talking about to you . Keep your own counsel . " After that , when no one was present , ho would often take hold of my hand and hit me on the shoulder . I left tha house the 1 st of Alav .
' Cross-examined by Mr . Missing . —How soon afterwards did you get into _Wiuehestav _Hospital 1—I never was there in my life—neither as an indoor or an out-door patient ( The witness admitted that she became aSl _* ctfld witli a certain disease ahout three months after _fIic left the house . ) I had no home . 1 left this house because the master insulted me , and I was afraid that the mislress would hear ofit . During the three months I lived anywhere I could . I was at Southampton , Portsmouth , Maidstone , and other places . I was not living by prostitution the whole of that time _: only ahout six weeks or two months . When I left the house before April , I went to my mother-in-law ' * house . That was my only home then * I had none afterwards . ( The witness was coarsely _ouesiloned as to her mode of life , and admitted that four or five years ago . she had heen a prostitute . )
I did not come here to swear that I was a virgin . ( Laughter . )—Nobody would hare believed you . —I don ' t wish them . I tell you the plain truih . If I am what I am , that is no reason why Mr . M'Dougal should take liberties with me agaiust my will . I was in tlie house twelve years oS _' and on , as many as ten or twelve different times . I remember four years ago going away without learo with a _nnion dress . I was afraid to tell mistress . It was not out of consideration for her . If I told her , perhaps she would say I was as bad as tlie master . I knew what a life she would brad u _* . e and all in the house . lie-examined by Mr . _I'rendcrgast—Mr . M'Dougal took liberties with me a great many times . I had not been in the workhouse twelve months before he began . It was _wlii-fl I used to go upstairs the lirst _lhiug in the morning to ! _i _* rht the fire in the sick-ivard , and he unlocked the
door to lot mc-in . He usc ~ l to t : iky Iil . ertisswlrlim .--J . * liis _slclMvard closet . 1 did not go iu . but he used to pull me hi . What did lie Jo ? What he didn ' t ought lo do . Ho wanted to have connexion with me . He took liberties witli me in a way which he ought not . He put his hand upon 11 : 3 . _Tc-ll ' us what he did—what were the liberties ? The v . -ituess , after some _Iic-sitatiyu , s ; _-. iu , —Tt _* u confOUlldsnie . You may _gUCSS ' . _vhat I mean . He wanted to have connexion with me , and I would not give up to him . De unbuttoned his smallclothes , anel then he pulled up my clothes . 1 resisted him as well as I could . I got away . * It has not been done in that way in other places and times . When I have been _going up aud down stairs irith the bucket in my hand , he has catcheo
hold of mc when I could not help myseif . ( The witness described how the master put his hands indecently upon her person . ) That has happened nine times . I had not thc bucket always . I did not mention it to Mrs . M'Dougal . I did not like to do it . I ran away from tlie _-rrori-liouse because I did not like thc -usage I got from Mr . M'Hcusal . It made ma very uneasy in my mind . 1 don ' t complain of any other ill-usage . 1 wi .-, taken up on the charge of running away from toe : workhouse I was iaken before the justice . Mr . M'Dougal was _the-e . I did not K-entio : i in _l-js _presence why I ran _airav , Me ra"o me a _gor-a character to tho _jnsliee . una _aske _' d " me what I ran away for . I _ivas imprisoned _ti-rec davs and three months aud then sent back to the
_worhhoase . _-E'fc-ibeth Rout sworn , and examined hy Mr . _Prcnt . _crg-n _, _* — I am the wife of I _^ aac _Hosit . i live « t Chariton . i was formcrlv married lo a person named llutehins . He h _* f : mc a widow abt-. r . t fix ? vs . ? 5 and ¦> . ' - _^ _if » g » . _^ - " _I- - _i- jure some little lime I w _; : s * . j ; oimed cook . 1 _n _' _*"* . ;' i ; Vr c memtl : _t- - n : _c - ! _i the- _h-. _u-ivry , stud _aftsrwarus v ' _- ' _,- ¦ it ! 1 ' * _£ : <• - - w : 'rd . Mr . _;>'* . _* _:-ou-.--i 5 : i ; zdc a _propose C ' _r-l - - -- _>• I i : _uu ' h : _* -n in 'he _iio-. ; _-. ' a ' _-i . - . - . - _'b , or _rat-icr
The Andover -Workhouse Abomina- I Tioxs....
_mons , He asked me r . _Question or two . I was then in tne sick ward whitewashing . He first asked me if I would have any objection to go in with him ? I told him to go off . He did . After that he asked me the same a second tune . My children were almost starved , and I thought I would consider of it . He said he would give me gome victuals and beer if i would . I thought , if he asked me again , I would . Htt did ask me again , and I gave consent . It took place up in the _lick-ward . He gave me some victuals aud some beer . That took place more that once or twice , —several times , all the _whUe I was in the house . It was not on any particular- night ; hut sometimes on Saturday nights . I slept with him on Saturday nights for a little while . Itwasinthe next room to mistress ' s room . He 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 he came Up to WC . Tell us how he came to you 1—( The witness knocked her knuckles on the table twice . ) _Mt _\ Parker . —He tanned at th © < _lwi twice ' . —Yes .
By Mr . Prendergast . —He waited at the door until I came out . I went down the sick-ward stairs and through the kitchen with him , and then up the stairs to the lefthand room . Mistress ' s room was on the right , Tliis was when mistress would not let him he with she . I don't know why that was . I went ahout twice with him into that rcom . It was once in the sick-ward . Altogether four or five times . It was not all done at one of my stays in the workhouse , but at different times . By Mr . Missing . —Hutchins was my first husband . Brown was my maiden name . I was married to Hutchins about twsnty-cight years ago . I lived with him till we had eleven children . He was a deserter when he married me . He was taken up a fortnight afterwards . He had his flogging , and was obliged to stay in his regiment five years , i weut a little way with him , but was taken very ill , and compelled to come back , I wax brought hack to Abbotts Ann parish , and given into Mr . Davis ' s hands . I did not live with my husband _durhig fire years . I had no child , nor was likely to have , during that time .
Mr . Parker . —Did you say , not that you could recollect ?—No . I said I was not like to have them . Mr . Prendergast . —She did not go the way . Witness , —Tho way to do that is to come into this house . I had ten children hy my husband , and one beside by some one else . I shan't tell you by whom . It was not by you . ( Laughter . ) I don ' t know how long it was ago that I was sold in Andoyer-market . There was no halter round my neck or round my waist . Titer * was no halter at all , I was sold by my husband . The man who bought mo is dead and gone . —Well , tell us who it was that made such an excellent bargain ?—As good a bargain as you liv _» with at tho present time . ( Laughter , ond clapping of hands . ) His name was Edward Winter .
He was ft very nice man . _( Alaugh . ) My husband came back soon , and took me away from him . He liked me better than t'other did . I have been married to Kout since I loft the house . There is _no'er a one of my children alive but what belongs to my first husband . I was in the ward about a month before I consented . I did not know what it would come to , or I would have kept better account . The first time was in Mr . M'Dougal ' s b » d not in the sick ward . The second time was in the sick ward , just going _in'at tha door , where I used to sleep . _Thera was no one in the sick ward at the time , except some little children , a good many of whom are since dead . Another time was in the otlier sick ward , ' in the afternoon , I can't recollect particular times . I speak the truth , and there _eita the " gemmun , " and he can't d » liy it ,
CHARGES OP INTOXICATION . Mary Ann Banks sworn , and examined hy Mr . Prendergast , —I am in service at Andover . I ' was six years in this workhouse . I left three years ago come Deoember . I remember being alarmed on one particular night in the summer time of 1811 . Is was about ten minutes past twelve o'clock on a Saturday night that I was alarmed by JanoEmroa and Fanny M'Dougal , two daughters of the master . They called me , Sarah Coudcry , and Betty Farmer , to go up stairs to their mother , as their father had heen heating her . We went up . I saw Mrs . M'Dougal sitting in a chair just inside of the door . Blood was streaming all down her face and bosom . Mr . M'Dougal was there , sitting against the fireplace in a chair . He was swearing very much . The cook went to fetch water . Jane Emma M'Dougal told me that their
father aud mother had been Quarrelling . Mr . M Dongal might have heard what she said , but there was a great hustle and noise . Betty Farmer fetehed water , and we washed tho blood from mistress ' s face and bead . Master swore at us for doing bo— " D~— and hi your eyes , you ' re aa bad as she is . " His head was cut too . He was not sober . Ha said he would , sheet ws . He got up and fell down in thc room . Miss Jano 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 passage , at the end of which a gun was kept , I went and took the gun , and asked Miss Jane whero I should put it . She said she did not know . I went and laid it under my bed , in the little boys' bedroom . When the master fell
down he lay where he was . ne was bleeding from tile head . The blood stained the carpet and went through to the floor . He kept swearing . He was in an awful state . I never saw any one look so dreadful in my life . He kept on swearing . He said "Bloody" something to his wife . She came out of the room , having got her dress , and said , pointing to her besom , "Yes , here I am , bloody Mary ; the old name . " When I left the room , he was still in it , lying on tlie floor . Mrs . M'Dougal came out and locked the door , leaving him in the room . She slept with her children that night . Itwas about twenty minutes past two o ' clock on Sunday morning before I got to bed . I haTe not seen the master in such a dreadful state of intoxication at any other time . He has not always boon sober when I have seen him at other times . I have seen
him under the influence of drink many times , more than a dozen I think ; but I never kept account . I knew he was intoxicated by his way of talking , and his staggering about . I have known him at prayer-time to read some of the prayers overtwice—the Lord ' s Prayer and another . He went over them once , und then-again directly . WiUism Smart examined hy Mr . frendergast . —I was betwixt twelve months and two years in tho workhouse , and left on . the ISth of June , 1839 . "While I was hero I have seen Mr . M'Dougal come home on a Saturday night , and sometimes he was intoxicated . He was mostly intoxicated on Saturday nights . I saw him so many times . I have sat up for him with Thomas Blake , the porter . On Saturday nighls he came home at ten , or halt-past ten , or at nine , or there away , and at different times , as near as I can Sav . Sometimes he required help . Thomas
Blake has helped him in the hall , but I can't say who helped him up stairs ; nor say whether he got up without help . Sometimes he was more intoxicated than at others . I remember he came home one night with scratches on his nose . It was in the winter-time , when thc evenings were longer . It was while I was in tho pantry , the winter before I left the house to go to Abbott ' s Inn . He was drunk . He told thc porter the next morning that he had made a false step in getting over the stile , and fell down ana scratched his nose . The stile was just over here ; it is now taken up . Itwas betwixt ten and half-past ten o ' clock . Thomas Blake helped him in thc hall . I _raniained in tho hall . Blake went somewhere , hut I can ' t tell where . He did not tell us that night how he had
hurt himself . He was speechless . I did not ask him how begothurt . _Iwishedhim "Goodnight , " and hccould not answer me . He had sticking-plaster on his nose the next day . I can ' t say where In slept on Saturday nights , nor whether he slept with Mrs . M'Dougal or not . I did not go out of the hall . Whilst the porter was out I always stayed in . I remember Mrs . M'Dougal going to fetch him sometimes on a Saturday evening , and sometimes she brought him home . The son went after him occasionally . 1 don't know of any one els _» . I have been for him . I have not found him . I went part of the way and returned again . Mrs . M'Dougal sent me to look 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 up to she lime I was ill . as
Cross-examined by Mr . Curtis . _^ Saturday marketday . It is not unusual for tradesman and farmers to spend their evenings together on that day , Many of the guardiaus may be farmers ; I can't say . Mr . Prendergast . —If you will only prove tho publichouse I shall bc obliged to you . ( Laughter . ) Mr . Curtis . —You say , using a word put into your mouth , that he was drunk , what do you meau by drunk S Witness . —Intoxicated . Mr . Parker . —AVhat do yon mean by intoxicated ! Mr . Prendergast . —Drunk . ( Laughter . ) Mr . Parker . —Wo have had a definition of drunkenness as being between drunk aud tipsy . Mr . Curtis . —I heard a gentleman of thc bar say , that a man was not di'uuk as long as he could lie still without holding . Mr . _Prcndere-ast . —I believe that is the opinion in Russia . ( Laughter . ) I have heard of os " Drunk as David ' s sow . " ( Laughter . )
By Mr . Curtis . —I bavu seen the master brought home Mr . lVeiidergast . —Brought home f Witness . —Yes . Anthony Antony , sworn and examined by Mr . Prendergast . —I was porter in this house ahout fuur years and a half . I left about twelve weeks ago . During the time you were porter was Mr . M'Pongnl in the habit of coming home sober on Saturday nights ? Y / _itness . —Sot at all times . He went out every Saturday n _" _-ht . He came homo at all hours , half-past eight , lock hare
nine , ten , eleven , sometimes twelve o ' c . I known him come home at two o ' clock ou Sunday _mcrniigs , just af ter I got to hcd . I and others have heen sent for him . This happened on most . Saturdays . I hay _e 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 New Inn , the Globe , and the George . I havo never seen Mm at the G » orge . I _hava inquired for him at the Masons' Arms also . I have found him there , at tbe Eight Beks , and at tha Globe . 1 have sent in for him , and havs had to wait two or three hours before he would come away . H was
tipsy when he did come . Mistress went with mc sometimes . I have sometimes returned without liim , because he would not come just then . I can ' t tell why . lhcn mistress and I bave guno down after llilll . _iiiSlrCSS has sronc in for him and brought him out . She used to talk to hira . She would talk of kicking him along the lane sometimes . ( Laughter . ) He was than just able to walk . - _ilon-, ' without help . I knew he was intoxicated , because he could not talk / Master never could talk when he was tin ?} . He couitl not walk Quito straight . He walked _suivfgO'y _, from < me side to _liic other . When ha got to tho house 1 have locked thc ikor una given him ihe key . I ilon ' _t _knoir _i-iat ha was able to walk up stairs hy himself . I could not sec him , because he locked Iks door behind I--- } He wr . 'kcd up _ii-c _sl' _-ps outside by tnking bold of
The Andover -Workhouse Abomina- I Tioxs....
the rail . Mistress was before , he followed , and I was behind fastening tho gate . I can ' t say how often I have seen him come home in this way . It was most Saturday nights . Sometimes he was rather worse than at OtllCl' 8 . I have known him fetched from the publichouse as late as twelve , half-past twelve , and one o ' clock . Mrs . Mary Ann _Tasker , sworn and examined by Mr . Prendergast . —I carry on the business of a blacksmith in Andorer , which my late husband carried on . I Know Mr . M'Dougal . In January , 1811 , he called upouinc to pay mc a wn due from the guardians of tho union . He came into my sitting-room . It was about 8 o ' clock iii the evening . Ho paid mo three half-crowns . There was some ale on the table . He took up the cup and kept drinking until he had finished it . He then rattled thc _eup on the table and said , " Come , Missus , fill the cup
again . " I bad not asked hhu to drink at ail . I told him he had had too much already . Ho then wont to sleep a little . When he woke up he looked into the cup and . sind , " _Hissws , M it nop ngain . _" _ILaugbter . ) I brought him no beer , I wished him to go homo . He said he should stay all night . He brought the chair close over to mine and pressed my _footprivately with his , saying to my daughter , "Why , Miss , you ought to be in bed . " I weut to call a young man , my servant , to come and sit ia thc room till Mr . M'Dougal should leave the house . Ho did so . Mr . M'Dougal remained for an hour or more . Sometimes he sang a little . The song was , " The Helmet , on the broiv , " ( A laugh . ) I am quite sure that he was drunk . I _beggM ot him to go more than once , twice , or thrice . But he still stayed after that . Ho looked as if he would picrco any one through wheu ho spoke to my daughter . lVe were quite alarmed .
Joseph Bevan _, in the employment of the last witness , sworn and examined . —I remember Mr , M'Dougal being at mistress ' s house . She culled mc into tho room and told me not to leave it while he was there . He threw his feet up on the grate , and told mistress to fetch him some beer . She said she would not , because he had had too much already . He attempted to sing , but ho was too tipsy to get on . He sang a few words of " With a helmet on his brow . " After a considerable- time ho went away . Mistress repeatedly told him to leave , but he would not . He went out the back way . I wanted him to go out the right way . He said that was the way he came in . I said he was wrong . He could not get in at the back way , the shop being fast . Ho could not get out at hack , the garden being wailed-in . At last he wsnt out at the front door . I did not notice how he walked out , because I shut
the door directly . Mistress was glad to get rid of him . His conduct was that of a drunken man—very much indeed . He was very tipsy . Quite drunk . Mr . C . King , sworn and examined by Mr . Prendergast . —I am a master butcher iu Andover . I know Jlr . M'Dougal , I have seen him tipsy in the streets of Andover several times . I have seen him betwixt two and three o ' clock on a Monday afternoon at thc George bar . I have seen him drunk at the Globe a great many times , at different hours—six , seven , and eight o ' clock . It was generally on a Saturday . I have seen him drunk at the Masons' Arms , The first _timo 1 saw Mr . M'Dougal tipsy , and asleep in the George bar , was about three years ago . Some of these times I speak of were within tho last six months . I have seen him drunk about two mouths ago . I have seen him go out of tho Eight Bells very tipsy .
Cross-examined . —This quito shocked yonl—Oh , no , not at all . ( Laughter . )—You have never b »* ll drunk , have you ?—A great many times . ( Renewed laughter . ) —Then you don't think it a very heinous offence to get drunk f—I think it is quite as well to keep sober ; particularly for a man placed in Mr , M'Dougal ' s situation . I think it is worse for liim to get drank than . I . I havo very Httlo to do . —Then you fill up the intervals by drinking-bouts!— Somolimcs . I don't liuo to be idle , sir . ( Laughter . ) I was sober whoa I saw him drunk . —Then it was not ipse he , but tipsy he ? Mr . Prendergast . —Tho Latin is tipsy . ( A laugh . )
William Robinson , sworn and examined by Mr . Prendergast , —I am beadle and constable of tho borough of Andover . I know Mr . M'Dougal . I have seen him frequently in the streets of Andover on Saturdays , I have " timos and often" seen him intoxicated , and particularly on a Saturday . He was reeling abcu _* . I havo 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 . 1 cannot tell how many times ; forty would not bo too many to Eay . I saw him so not above Eis weeks back . As he
passed some persons remarked , "lie's got enough of it again . " ( Alaugh . ) It was in the year 1 S 13 that I saw him . drunk in Andover at one o ' clock in thc morning . I had been watching Mr . _Loscombe ' s turnips . I left the turnip-field after twelve o ' clock , I was in thc lane near the workhouse . I hcar 4 some one coming , I lay down by the gate , as I thought it might bo some one after Mr . LoEcombe _' s turnips . I saw it was Mr . M'Dougal , He came up to the gate . He was drunk . It was several minutes before he got in at the gate . He was staggering at the gate . ( The witness acted the manner , ) He was all of a boggle . ( Laughter . )
Mr . William Clark , farmer , sworn nnd examined by Mr . Prendergast . —I live at Gholdcrton . I attend the Andover market sometimes ou Sa . tviY 4-. vjs . X _Viswc seen Mr . M'Dougal drunk in thc streets on those occasions a great many times , I have Keen him SO within the last six months . I have also seen him in public-houses , in a state of intoxication . I hava scon him intoxicated more particularly in Mr . King ' s house , tho Eight Bells , four or live times within the last six months . On one occasion I saw him asleep , a person put a piece of lighted paper to his nose . ( A laugh . ) He roused up for a moment , rubbed his nose , and went off lo sleep again . Tbat was on the 23 th of last December . It was generally towards evening when I saw him in this state , from about three or four to seven or eight o'clock , when I generally left the town . I did not stay after eight o ' clock _.
Cross-examined . _^— Choluerton js five miles from Andover . My busin ; ss has generally brought me here on Saturdays . I have not seen him drunk more than four or five times within the last six months . The person who put the lighted paper to his nose was Mr . Isaac Pothocary _, of Clatford . ( -1 Guardian . ' ) Mr . John King examined . —I am landlord of the Eight Bells Inn . I have _seec . Mr , M'Dougal at my house frequently on Saturday evenings the worse for drinking . I have seen the porter of the workhouse eome for him , generally from nino to ten o'clock , lie has beeu told the porter has come for liim every time , 3 _Ie did not go when
so told . Sometimes the porter has waited for lum . His son also has been for him . I have seen Mrs . M'Dougal come after him . He has left my house intoxicated at various times , sometimes as lute as eleven o'clock . It would be impossible for me to ray how many times . It has happened more than once or twice , and ; vs _vnawy w . * moro than four or Rye times during the last six months . I didn ' t say he was incapable of going home . By his manner of going home , he showed that lie was intoxicated . The conversation between Mr . and Mrs . M'Dougal was similar to what takes place between man and wile when ono is in fault . She said he ought tobe ashamed of himself , and should come home .
Sarah Coivdcry examined . —I have been an inmate of thc Andover Union workhouse , I have left it about four years . I am now in service at Andover . I lived with Mrs . M'Dougal as servant for some time , and saw Mr . M'Dougal come home very tipsy oil Saturday evenin _gs _. Ho WUS all Of _O . Stagger _ujistalrs ; sometimes mietress would help him , sometimes not . Ho came homo at all hours—nine , ten , and eleven o ' clock . I remember on one particular night we were alarmed about twenty minutes past twelve o ' clock . Mary Ann Bunks , Betty Farmer , and nie , were all called up by Jane Emma M'Dougal . When I went up into the room I found Mrs , M'Dougal with iho Wood _rumiing _doira lier face . Mr .
M'Dougal also was bleeding j he had been struck with a tin can , wliich was all over blood . Ho was swearing . He swore at all cf us . When I weut up he was sitting in a chair . lie got up , and said he would go and got tbe gua and shoot us , He went about two steps and fell down , Mary Ami Ba « Us ran am ! got the gun , and hid it under one of thc beds . When he fell down , thero lie lay swearing all the time . lVe left him in tlic room . Mrs . M'Dougal weut to bed with Ibo children . _Vfo went to bed . Itwas twenty minutes past two o ' clock when wo went to bed . We _noticed tho time particmnrly hy "Mr . M'Dougal's clock , "hen ivc went doivn stairs to bad . I have seen him intoxicated at _pension times , and _Salm-ilay nights often .
MANXEn OF COXDUCTIXO THE _ISQUIHY . We have before _alhi-. ' . etl to tho proofs of partiality evinced by thc Pvesuling Assistant-Commissioner , and given one remarkable instance of it , _wJiieb wan made to recoil upon himself ; tliat , where l \ o so often complained that tiic medical officer ' s books were informal—for which informality fie ( tbe Assistant-Connnissioner ) was answerable . Wc shall now give one or two other specimens , leaving them to tell their own talc Oil the public mind , both as the particular partizanship of Ml " , Parker , raid of the _sys-lem . which elevates those _n'lio arc criminated by those revolutions into tlio position of " Judges . " During tbe examination of one of tiic witnesses on tlie " charges of immorality" the following occurred : — Mr . Missing and the Assistant-Comrfcissioner _objected that a question should not bc put , " Were you engaged in cleaning the work-room ? '' It was leading the witness .
Mr . Prendergast . —It mi ght as well bo objecicd that if I were to ask a person if sho was going from Andover to Southampton when she was indecently il . ' . _SRllUcd _, that that would be a leading _^ . _icoHon , I never heard of such ntt objection in my lii ' c , Mr . Missing . —Then I wiil teach you what is evidence . Mr , Prendergast . — I am much obliged , to vou . ( Laughter . ) Mr , Parker . —T think il is an improper Question . Mr , _rrendergast . —I am satisfied that is vonn orisio . v ; and fum equally satisfied that it is a prrpor onestion to put n )) . '' ! t'Ji « i _* c and te any place . Hut now I must not press it . ( To the witness)—IVlierc were you ? Witness . —In tlio work-room . Mr . Missing . —Of course she has got it now . Itis mi old trick . Mr . rrenilcrsast . —IsyoiirB a now trick , then ? ( Lau » htcv . ) =
Mr . iU ? _shix . —Tt is an old MpU In 7 u . fr n n , iA , i „ . „ j .--.. . Mr . Missing—Tt is an old trick to put a question for a purpose , aud wheu you have got it to give up a _mioi-ion for : i sl _.-otv . Mr . rrendergast . —Why , you arc not _sa-isfi .-d _n-. _,-,-. _- . You arc like the _celebrated soldier nhj was ji _^ _g-il , ( Laughter . ) t- ° " _Ditrii : _*? the proceedings , one day Jlr . _Li-. uib (< _- ! .-vk to thu union ) entered the ha ' ; _. 'iii' . i called out Jlr . Parker , who asked Mr , _Frewicr'Af : ' lo
The Andover -Workhouse Abomina- I Tioxs....
accompany them . They proceeded to the board-room , where the guardians were assembled , at their weekly meeting . During their absonco , Mr . _Etwall , M . P ., entered the hull , and said he and other ratepayers wero about to make an application to thc board of guardians to suspend the master until the conclusion of the inquiry , on tbe ground of the statements made by the witnesses , and particularly those made _thatmorning . Mr . Missing observed that he did not know ho had any ' tbing lo do with tt . It was » case for the guardians _. Shortly afterwards , Mr . Etwall returned and said that tho guardians had refused the application . They would not agree to any such thing until they knew whether the master was innocent or guilty . The attorney for tlie defendant thought It was a pity that the application should bo made behind the master ' s back .
Mr . Etwall . —I am not going into any argument upon the subject . The attorney _tliouyht 3 Tr . Westiake Ought to he Suspended , ¦ Mr . Prendergast Suspend the prosecutor J that would be quite consistent with thu whole proceedings . To complete them you should suspend tho witnesses by tho neck-( Laughter . ) Take another instance : — Mi * . II . Muudy , a magistrate and a guardian , _addressed the commissioner , and said , that being a guardian , he wished to explain the circumstance of bis stopping to tea upon the occasion alluded to by one of the witnesses . Mr . Parker thought it was quite unnecessary , Mr . Mumly—I might have stayed to tea ; but I sliould not like it to bc understood that 1 took tea at tho expense ofthe uniou , Mr . rrendergast—Mr . Mundy has a great suspicion that all the tea drunk there was union tea , ( Laughter . ) Mr , Mundy—I can only say I spent as pleasant a day as ever I did in my life . ( Laughter . )
Mr . Parker—If you interrupt the business , Mr . Muudy , you must walk into the yard . ( Sensation . ) Mr , Mundy—When you order nie to go out , sir , I will go . Mr . Missing—He did not take tea only . Mr . Prendergast—It was a subscription feast , I believe . Mr . Mundy—Yes , it was Thero was no business at this moment before thc court , a messenger having been despatched for the next witness . The manner ofthe Assistant Commissioner towards Mr . Mundy formed a striking contrast to his never interfering with Mr , H . Loscombe , ki 7 io is not a guardian , but who really interrupted thc proceedings several times . But Mr . Mundy is the man that brought the bone-gnawing affair before the public . Here is another instance . It occurred while Ann Knight waa being cross-examined , after she had deposed to improper conduct on thc part of the " master" towards her . In answer to questions by Mr . Missing she stated : —
One time when lie tried to kiss me m ths sick warn thero wa 9 only an old woman there , and she was out and about . I can't recollect when that was . Was it in the summer or tho wiuter t—In the summer —at least in the spring . Oh ! iu the spring was it ! Then it was not in tho summer . Mr . l _' _vendtrgast objected that tho observation was unfair to the WittlCSS . The two great divisions of tho year were put to the witness , and she said summer . After that she said spring , making tho timo move precise . Mr . Parker said it was quite regular , and that was his decision . Mi * . Prendergast . —Wliat -is _^ _oar decision , sir!—Iftatatt observation is a question f Mr . Parker . — -That it was right to ask whether it was winter or summer .
Mr . rrendergast . —I should not object to that ; but I object that when the witness lias fairly answered the question sho should be charged with making a false answer . Mr , Missing . —I said no such thing . You aro objecting to air-bubbles , aud nothing else . Mr . Prendergast . —I think I am . ( Laughter . ) Still another instance . A witness is under crossexamination , after having deposed to what the Poor Law Commissioners call " an assault with an improper intention . " She states , in answer to the question . _*—•
You did notlikethishehaviourofMr . M'Doogall—So , of course I did not , I thought he was put here to take care of vis , and not to lake liberties with us . I did not tell Mrs . M'Dougal , because there would have been a disturbance , and perhaps I should _luivo got murdered . There was such a row about master being great with Mrs . Grace that I did not like—I was afraid . I did uot complain to the guardians , because they would not listen to my story against his . He ought not to liavc taken libertits . Ho ought to bo ashamed of himself . If ho had not done so I should uot havo been brought forward in this manner , whicli I don ' t wish . lie is grinning al me now . Mr . Parker—Who is grinning at you ? Witness—Mr . M'Dougal . Mr , rrendergast said , ho hadbeen informed tbat the master had conducted himself improperly towards the witnesses throughout ; although he had not taken _particular notice of it himself .
Mr . Parker said he had observed Mr . U'DougaVs countenance constantly , and it _icas as staid and < piict as that of any other person . Mr . Prendergast—Every witness who has been examined has more or less complained of his conduct , and many persons have informed nie that his conduct was such as to terrify and _alaim tho witnesses , I do not speak of what I have seen , Mr . _lilissing—Good Ood ! I think you ought to bring those persons forward . Mr . Prendergast—I can bring them forward ; tlicy are not far off . The witness is on her oath ; rou _aiie not , NOIl IS THE GOMSUSSIOSER . Mr , Parker— - What do you mean to say ? Mr . Prendergast—That the accused conducts himself iu such a manner as lo intimidate tho witnesses . Mr , Missing—I deny it , My word is as worthy to be believed as her oath , j Mr . Prendergast—This irregularity is not mine _.
Mr . Missmg- —It is your witness s irregularity . If she makes false assertions , 1 shall not stand here without _cwi-rectlng them . Mr . Parker—It ii one of the inconveniences of this inquiry that the persons who have to judge ofit only sec tho evidence in writing . If a jury had heard the statement just made hy thc witness . THEY WOULD KNOW HOW TO THEAT IIEK _TESTIMONY . ( Great sensation . ) Mr . rresjdwjfast—That was just my remark . I wish this matter was before a jury . Mr . Missing—So do I—an independent jury . Mr . Prendergast—Cf course , I do not know of any other , ( Laughter . )
( Thc womau whom tlio Assistant-Commissioner refused lo hear examined- because she was not a " young pers & n , " lias complained that while she was being _aworu the master winked at her , ) Mr . Missing ( to thc witness)—Why did you complain ? Mi * . Prendergast—I do now say , sir , that Mr . _M'llougal is looking at the witness in a style , and in such a way , as to terrify and alarm her . J saw it myself this time . ( C ' lics of " Hear , hoar , " from some of tlic auditory . ) Mi * . _Parker—Xi ' _-mf ? 7 _iy eyes v . pm Mr . M'Dougal ; I did NOT SEE _ANVTlIISO OP TUB S 01 _IT . Mr , Prendergast—I _oael * sav not . But what I saw that very moment I never witnessed before ; I _huvo Uuea told ofit , however , frequently , Mr . Etwall—I witnessed it , Am I justified iii stating it ? Mr , Parker—I don't _tfimfc _gju are . Mr . Prendergast—You were one who mentioned it to me ? Mr . Etwall—I was .
Still another instance . It occurred when Mra . Mivvy Ann Taskcr waa _beini , cross-examined , after having sworn to thc " master ' s" drunken visit to her house , and the alarm which that visit caused her . In answer to tlio defendant ' s attorney , she stated : — I have not bceu iu that state of alarm ever since . Ii did not go oil' immediately , for I said I should never like to sec that man again in the house . Then it did not go oil '?—It did so far aa that . Then it did go oil '?—So , it did not altogether . Then , which was it ? which way wili you have it ?—That is not a fair question . Mr . Prendergast . —2 _> o , it is an impertinent one . Mr . Curtis . —When Mr , _Prsnilwrgastis asked his opinion upon a question , he may give it ; when not , I think itis impertinence . Mr . Prendergast . — I take that whence it comes . Co on .
Witness . —I told him that night and the nest morning , when he came to apologise , thru _liic-viw wished to see- his face Ojfain in my IlullH _' _, Mr . Prendergast repeated part of tho witness ' s answer , to havo it taken down . Air , Parker said that Mr . Prendergast was constantly interrupting him , aud that ho acttd very irregularly . Mr . _Prcndurgust . —1 have had tlie honour io appear before many Ic'inied judges , hat I never found among _tiiesi _ai ' . c ' t a schoolmaster' ai ray learned _Assishml-cotninissioncr . ( Laughter , ) Jlr . Parker , —I have seen judges stop you when examining witnesses , I believe it is notorious that your mode of examination is to keep up a running commentary on tne evidence . Ii decs you much injury , nnd his done ( HI your life .
Mr . Prendergast . —I am exceedingly obliged to you , Sir . I havo had the opinion of several eminent judges upon my professional conduct , but I have not paid much attention to them , thoy have been so flattering to myself . _Jlili I _ni / ver havo heard the opinion _jou express . 1 have received many comuiciidaCioiis from tiic judges , but never anything in the shape of reproof . I shall be very happy privately , ami in another place , to tell you who those judges are who have been pleased to express that high approbation . P . certainly did not come from an _AsiisUnt JL'oor - £ _«•(• Commissioner . ( Laughter and applause . ) _DtU'iui ? tho course of his daily labours , tho report crib r iho Times felt himself constrained to say : —
. I cannot let pass the opportunity of noticing onecuciimstance , namely , the pretence of ' ' _' « son of tha accused , a vouth of about twenty years o £ age , _duriiijl « . « m ** _* - _<¦/ . _**; _« ) ii !! _iy ilctuiis mih which his f ( titer ' s -name is mixed up . 'i -ns _voun-f mar ,, too , i 3 the schoolmaster , and recoives a salary ior liis services : _V-ui Worn tho commencement of the inqiiirv Uiromj-liout he has _bi'i-u present at the proceeding ? . This ' is tho * more _n-mnrkablc _, as the _assistant-commi _? - _-ioiw-r tohl the mv .: .-:- ! . •' _'ie-.-r , that _voUcil _^ _UmMu _; , the in-I'ttiru ond his _vMViani aUcudanct upon it , he must still _i'iiilKOKALLT uwr . _iffEU the sick , as usual .
The Andover -Workhouse Abomina- I Tioxs....
It was currently reported in the town one day that tha mistress had seized a knife and swore she _««*•« " » Mr . Prendergast as he came out of tho hall , it is saiw , however , that sho was restrained and kept wi tnin lm apartments . The cause of her wrath appears to have been the questions put by the learned gentleman with re spect to dinners being sent from tho workhouse to a , daughter who resided in the town at the time , and wno _afterworas died in France . On the same day the mistress , watching be ' . ' _ov-pe-niuiUy , pounced upon a woman , one ofthe witnesses , nml abused
and assaulted her , shaking her violently by the shoulders and pushing her down the steps , telling her to "e ou > sno had been there onco too often . Mr . _Ettvall called tli £ attention of the assistant-commissioner to the _ciratmMneo as he was passing by , hut un uxfusidto stay to xotioem . I cannot close without expressing my regret at seeing persons in thc garb of gentlemen , who no doubt mako pretensions to high moral bearing , persons iu oflicc , too , laughing at the evidence recorded aljov- * _, while it was delivered by the Witnesses , ag though they thought it a mere joke or a very light matter ; whereas , the nature of tlie statements reflects thc burliest discredit on the manner
in which they or their friends have managed the establishment where these women were lodged , and somo of them trained from childhood . If they look contemptuously ou these poor creatures because of the character so / no of them subsequently acquired , let the guardians and their admirers recollect thc sort of cclucaticii those unfortunate persons received in the union-house , and seo how well it corresponds with their mode of life nftev they left it . Of tho system so long blindly tolerated here it may bo well said , Fruclv . noseitur .
_gUSPEKSION OP TBE PBOCSEDISOS . When evidence of the above character Imd been adduced , anil it was manifest _thatpiiWioaltcntion would bo directed to the whole iVc _*! _- / Poor Law system , which had permitted such a state of things " to continue for years without cither detection or punishment , tho Poor Law Commissioners trial to give a . twist to the proceedings , and present them in such a shape as that they sliould be screened from observation , while the " master" would have every ehaueo of _getting seot-frec ; attention in the meantime , being exclusively confined to him , and to Mr . Westiake , who it was adroitly sought to make " Public Prosecutor . " To accomplish all this , the _coiwiiissioiiera addressed to Mr . Westiake , the followjnjr letter . It is an extraordinary document , and worthy of its concoctors : — "Poor law Commission Ofticc , Somerset-house , 9 th _Sejitcjnber , 1 S 15 .
" Sir , —The Poor law Commissioners have bad unde * consideration the length to whieh the inquiry at Andover has already extended , and the suspense as well as the outlay to which both parties interested in _*'»' s inquiry have necessarily already been exposed . All this must be still further increased if the inquiry is continued in the samo form . On these grounds , and because the commissioners wish that some , nt least , of tlie questions now raised should be brought before a jury , they have determined to take the following course : — " 1 . The commissioners will cause an indictment to be preferred against thc master in respect of any one case of an assault , with an improper _intention , alleged to have been committed on a pauper whilst ail itlluatC Of the workhouse , 'l'he commissioners wili take any case which you , as tub accuser of THE iiASTEit , may suggest , and will causo the bill to bc preferred at the ucxt _ryaarter sessions , which will take place in tbe month of October .
" 2 . The commissioners will , in like manner , cause an information before justices to be laid against tbe master or matron , under section !) " of the l _' oor Law Amendment Act , for AM * one act of embezzlement or _misei'piicalion of food , clothing , or goods belonging to t / w union which you may select . " It will on this chargo ba open to any one to show that thc inmates have not received their full " and proper allowance of fooj . It is needless to say that if tho master is convicted by a jury on tho first of these charges , the commissioners would at once dismiss him from o . _' _lico . " If he is convicted on the second chargo lie becomes disqualified , by the operation of tho act , from holding oflicc hereafter . If au indictment i ' or cmbcz' / . _lement or theft be thought more cft _' ectivc , the commissioners havo no objection to that form of proceeding , in : ! le .. iil of thc information under the 97 th section , above rcftrreil to . " Tho commissioners aro convinced that this course will at once bo thc most satisfactory and thc most expeditious iu bringing the matter to an issue .
" In order to remove misapprehension , iho commiss i oners wish it to he understood that they wiii mii'M the indtc !? ftc » t lobs prepared , and the bill tobe preferred , and the information to be laid at tic cost of the commission . Bar THEV WILL HOT UXnEBTAKE TO _IlEFllAY l > rX OL * THE FUNDS AT THEM DISPOSAL AM' SUUSEQUCXT _KXi'DNSES , ci ( 7 ; Cr for the _prosecution . or the defence . The v _. avties making the charge cnii in this as in eviry other case take their own measures to obtain conviction ; and tho master must of course provide for his own _rtefciica . " The commissioners will also recommend the * board of guardians that they suspend thc master and matron until the result of the indictment and informal ion are known , and place some othw persons in charge of tho workhouse . The discretion of doing this is by the regulations of tho commissioners vested in the beard of guardians . The commissioners can _disni'S-s , but this of course is a step implying a final decision on tiie merits of the case , ou which no evidence as regards ti _. _a master is yet before the commissioners , and ou which ' _" _. _they must bo understood as expressing no opinion whatever _.
" Jlr . Parker , assistant-commissioner , wiil he directed on thu receipt of a copy of this letter to _wspeittJ aU fur-I ther inquiry until the result of the indictment and infor-I _matiou shall bc known ; since the coi : tiiin _.-i ; n . 'C of such proceedings in the interval might be hold to prejudice the case one way or the other . The commissioners _ruimesi that you wiil notify to them , as soon as possible , tho exact cases which you desire to select , in such a f orm aa to enable ths indictment and tho information tobe properly prepared forthwith . The _commissioner . ' : have no objection to both of them being seen by _><¦ ¦ solicitor before they are finally settled . " _TliL-y aiso request , with reference to !! : _;? former , tbat you wiil supply them with a list of _witmsscs necessary iu your opinion to support the bill before thc grand jury . " I avn , _felv , your most obeCJenfc servant , " Gkokgi : CooOE _, Assistant-Secretary . " T . C . "Westiake , Esq ., Andover . "
Mr . YVcslIake replied to this extraordinary demand r . 9 follows : — " Gentlemen , —I have received your _Jt-itei' of the 9 'h of September , and 1 beg respectfully to stato that the purport of that letter very greatiy _suvf-riscd mc , "I will venture to hope that , upon _re-consjideration , you will sec the impropriety ami injustice oi * _stoiijimg tbe inquiry , now so near its close . " Thc only charges against IU ; _Jl'Uougal which your _asE'str . _nt-conmiissiouer has , according t . i his owu statement , power to _iiifjiiirc into , and U > ukich _ii-.-h _.-ts accordingly limited the iuouirv , are the followin ' . ' : — to
" 1 . The neglecting to j _^ ivo the sick and _in'irm paupers the extra food directed to bo _giron hy ( ho-medical officer , ami stated * jy thc master to haws boen given accordingly . " S . The sending of various _artieJci :. ti . ¦ _proijsirly . of the union , to the house of Mr . Holly , K . !) ' ; _-:: gyl J s . soa-inlaw , at Siecl-hmlge , and tlio washing cr iha _clojfefia of Mr . Holly ' s family at the miioa-housc . . .. . f _^ V ¦ - ¦ "'ii , Taking liberties with they _.-mng-. _-r wo .-. _k-- ' , and attempling to prevail upon them by force and othevwiso to consent to gratify his wishes , ( _See mv letter of Aug . IG . ) "i . Having had sexual intercourse with ai lcast one of the paupers . " 5 , Cross drunkenness on various o « _-- . _s ' ons , anil inebriety at prayers _.
_"TUc evidence for the prosecution ami iho _dsfence upon the two former of these charges is already ( - ' iron . Two or three days ago the a 3 sistan ' -cov ' .. _* :. _^ _:-ki : ' _.-i * di , reeled that tiic defence uyou the remaining charges should be _nostx'onecl until Thursday , when if . was probable that iho case for the prosecution upon all the charges would ba closed . This has now tatinu place , and a mass of sworn testimony given wJiifh , _imcontrauictcd _, establishes that the master of ihe _Andovc-r union workhouse bas taken indecent liberties with and attempted to seduce the young women and girls in that establishment , and that lie is a confirmed nnd notorious _dn-. _- .: !* ard . If
these two charges , or _i-itlic-r cl them , bo true , Sir . Jl'llousal ought no longer lo remain the m ; _-:-ter of tho workhouse . I therefore _vespt-ctfnlly ask ¦ . <•¦; , gentiome : i , if it would not bo monsiroui ' , w ' _u-mi tin-.-.: eharges have been established alter _gvtat _t-s * _, v . m _* -o am ; _IrouUA-s on i ; : y i « _ii-t , _sudiK-nly to eiopu the _in'JMirV , _Icavm _:- * tllC master in full possession of hhpregfnr iim ' . T to do evil , and rciViring me to a tribunal which cannot by any possibility investigate the most important of lhe _ohm-jres ? Such a proceeding would be manifestly i :. _* jui _i-. m . s iu the public moral .-, if Sir . _ii'Uouga ! tic guilty ; or , on thu contrary , it' lie Tee innocent , it would bc unjust to hi .- ' , 113 it Would deprive _liiia ol' the only _Opportunity lie ) : v . i 01 * can 1 * . ave of _ri-uilhig and contradicting thc tt' --f . uwiy which is so injurious * to his OihcLtl and personal _ehar-M-ter . As to the course 'iviiieb you point out to nie of indicting Mr .
M'Dougal for ' assault _withimpropcriutemioii _, by which , I presume , you mean with intent to co _:.- ? i _:-it a rr . _iio , I ilinl ! certainly have to others tlie task of _i-rouc-ciiting that person fur nu offence with which he has never been charged . You will , I am sure , upon furMicr _corisifleration , perceive that if indicted for : \? s _*» nK _S-r . _Vi'fioiujal would , in ail probability , find a safe defence i : i the silence or Uti le res _' . sttuicc ot the women . Mr . ¦ _Jil'liou . _-raVs cii ' enco is . Hint be , being tho master ot' : i _iinii-n _worl-. iivUSC , con « ducted _bimsvlf indecently towards the * . : rl . ? he * 7 « _sbc'ii ;* d to protect , a very serious oiiYnce in _inoi _als , ' u' . not ! _- 'g ; iily punishable ; an offence winch the law of ' . he lam ! will not reach ; but _ibcivpctition of which ought to be prevented by lhe _exerek-i ! of the d-scie - . Ui-. snry p _nvc-r - * . ' : 0 . i which . you ar * invested , It waa iu the _tsfcreist- of IS : U power ( bar you origiiiary _directed the pr .--. t-u' . imj .-. _' . _iy _, ar . il I respectfully submit tbat justice and yaui * own eou _^ _islcr . cy _ui-nmiid _lb- _'t that inquiry should _wocced to i ' .- _legiti _.-n-ito
termiuaiicn . " Thu observations already made apy _!; _- * _••> almost evevy char-c made against Mr , M * 'h _' oti , 'fil ; : > ' _¦ ¦ _•¦ ' _in'hilice , liO has Imd liis swi-i _.-i-Juir '» - c _' . othcs _regukrly ' •• _:-. ' - ' '! at tho _cvp-iuse of lb j union , he has curnmiifei ! _>' - i ' : *' . ' . •' ¦ upon tilts guardians-, but I doubl if ihe _acntcst law ; ,-.-i- t < _-:-, ld friiir . O aa _im-ic - _miMit at ! _.-i _- _.-U \ t to tbe case . A _^ ai" . w _' _lh ugartl t . th ,- ; : _i . t- _? at- /} _r-o-ori ' .- ' . t . ' - ( - _rn'ikei _- mr _^ . ' - Ct _.,: ¦¦ :,:. _* '; . _c-irr ; . tfc Mr . _M'j'oi ;; _- ; .. ! . tr . ul leE'UUil by suvU -- _•;;¦ . ' .- _jvju- . _^ icc , ( _Conchi-. ied in our eighth ' _-c ; . _-.. . , '
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 20, 1845, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_20091845/page/7/
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