The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-11-22 00:00:00

WEST DrII:RY (AJARDIANS.

The weekly meeting of this body vlas
at the board room at the workhouse. Mr. Pilling pre-
sided, and the other members present were Messrs. H.
Edwards, I. Edwards, Shaw, Woods, Roberts, Jeffreys,
Abrahams, Wareham,. Whitby, Richmond, French,
Mawdsley, Webster, and Clarke.
From the returns of the hospital, it appeared that
last week the number of patients was 7; admitted since,
7; this week) 14; corresponding week of last year, ;
12 Of the eases at present hi the hospital are of fetid'.
The number of inmates in the Workhouse Was reported
to be 3$J, Against '3d4 id the edriespOnding Week of
4st Year: CheqiieS fpr
.OntddOr. relief were,grdnted as
folleVri Potts, £116; "Mr. Lgthibe; £2l, miss 11i::
Roberton, £37.
A communication was read from the Commissioners
of Lunacy, who had visited the house, and now expressed
tneir opinion runt rue sensing or viotat cases direct
to the workhouse should be discontinued, and that the
relieving officer should have the power of sending them
at once to the county asylum.
Mr. ABRAHAMS said it had been unanimously agreed
by the Visiting Committee, that,. except in special cases,
the retommendation should be carried into effect. He
alsO stated that the COninfitten had spit mach time in
the sick wards of the. workhouse, and felt the iietessity
of urgirim:the board tq take I..nipecliate ptepS;.,,or,the Ock
patientsiVere increasing so ,rapidly that no.furthjer peds
were available for theni ,
enerodchinp upon the
space for healthy inmates. He moved, therefore, that
the architect be instructed to prepare such plans as
would meet with the approval of the Poor-law Board.
Mr. H. EDWARDS, in seconding the motion, said that
there were at present not less than 159 sick cases in the
workhouse, and it was absolutely necessary that some
further provision should be made.
The motion was agreed to.
A lettet was tlien read from Daniel Gunn, of Garston,
complaining that Mil': Itottertrini the tepe!ing-officer for
that district, had refused relief to lln inothei-ld-ld~9•
He charged the officer in broad terms with corruption,
insinuating that, for the sake of drink, which they gave
him, he was making allowances to parties in Garston
who had a large income weekly, independent of relief.
Mr. EAMERTON gave an indignant denial to the
charge. He had never taken a glass of drink with a
pauper in his life. With reference to the parti€ular
case of Dunn, he stated that he bad brought the step-
mother before the board on a former occasion, and she
had been refused all relief. It was resolved to take no
notice of the Conirritini6atiort;
CHARGE OF
,CRUELTY AND i4G-41:EC4f AGAINSI
It will be remembered that an inquest,, was held last
week before the borough coroner, respecting the death
of Mary Ann Nile, an idiotic and insane girl, which
was supposed to have been hastened by starvation ; and
during which inquiry ri charge had beer evolved against
Jonathan Bramham, the relieving officer for the Everton
and Kirkdale district, ,of cruelty and neglect. It then
appeared that the deceased resided with her grand-
mother and a brother, the latter earning; only Bs. or 9s.
per week, in a cellar below the house 59, Townsend-st.,
Kirkdale. The grandmother, however, had died about
a month before the deceased; and from the evidence
tendered, it appeared that the attention of Mr. Bram-
ham had been frequently called to the girl's destitute
condition, but that he had refused to give her any
relief, and did not even mention her ease to the board.

It was further alleged, that When, applied to on her
behalf, Mr. Bramham had intimated that he might act
if. they would treat him to "something hard." It was
also stated by the witnesses that the deceased had been
several days without any substantial food. At length a
person acquainted with the family called upon Mr.
Gough, the governor, who at once communicated with
Mr. Johnson, the medical officer for Kirkdale. He
visited the case, and she was removed to the workhouse,
where she shortly after wards died. A post niortem
examination was held by Dr. Nevins, who stated
that death was the result of disease of the brain,
but whether accelerated by want of food he could not
tell. A verdict to that effect was returned by the jury.
The coroner requested Mr. Gough to communicate the
case to the board, and the matter having come before
that body last Wednesday, a special committee had been
appointed to investigate the charge. That Committee
met on Friday last, when additional evidence was taken,
to the following effect :—=Mr. James Johnson, the medical
offier, called, stated that the deceased was too imbecile
in body and mind to make personal application for relief.
She had been in that state of indapacity, for at least two
weeks, and would certainly have been in a more fit state
for removal six weeks ago. Margaret Hogan, who lived
in the cellar 59, Townsend-street, stated that the deceased's
grandmother, and with whom she lived, along with a
brother earning 9s. a week, had died about a month
before. About four months ago the grandmother applied
to Mr. Bramham for relief, but returned stating that he
had told her to apply to her own parish in Ireland. About
seven or eight weeks ago, witness asked Mr. Bramham
for relief for deceased who was sick, and her grand-
mother ; but he made no reply. About a week after the
grandmother's death she saw Mr. Bramham again on
the subject, when he said he could do nothing for her---,
she must go to Ireland. She wanted hint to take her
to the workhouse, but he would not. After this the
deceased was seized with fits, when she, a third time,
saw Mr. Bramham ; but he only laughed at her. This
was only three or four days before her removal to the
workhouse. Jane M`Callum repeqted the evidence
which she had given before the coroner, stating that
she had, on one occasion, informed Mr. Bramham
that the deceased and her grandmother were dying from
starvation. He, however, made no reply. Mary Smith.
residing at 59, Townsend-street, was next called in cor-
roboration. Mr. Bramham had put questions to each
of the witnesses, with the view of showing that he had
offered the house to the deceased, even undertaking tol
send a car for her : but he received, in each instance, a
'negative reply. The committee, having considered the
evidence; had resolved unanimously " That from the
testimony of the several witnesses brought before the
committee this day, they cannot come to any other con-
clusion than that Mr. Bramham has been guilty of
great dereliction of duty in the matter under investiga-
tion—that at least three distinct applications were made
to him for relief for the deceased ; and that he knew she
was not only sick in bodily health, but imbecile in
mind. The committee have also reason to fear that Mr.
Bramham has endeavoured to obtain drink from the
friends or neighbours of the deceased, as a reward for
the performance of his duty."
Mr. `Poops, who had been the chairman of the
special committee, moved that the resolution be adopted.
After a full investigation, the charge brought against
Mr. Bramham had een proved. He had had every
opportunity of cross-examining the witnesses, but had
not been able to shake their testimony ; and from the
manner in which they gave their evidence, the com-
mittee had a firm conviction that what they stated was
true.

Mr. H. EDWARDS asked what they intended to do
by adopting the resolution.
The CRAIRMAN said it would be for the board to
take action in the matter. He thourrht they could not
go through the evidence without thinking that there
had been gross cruelty and neglect of duty. In the
first place there was want of attention to the poor
unfortunate, and then he had aggravated his cruelty by
holding out an offer that if he got some drink he would
attend to the case.

Mr. H. EDWARDS said he rose to take upon himself
a grievous duty, but it was one which some of them
ought to perform. Mr. Bramham was a man far
advanced in age, the father of a family, and also, he
believed, a grandfather ; but he had known so much of
Mr. Bramham's goings-on for the last four or five years.
independently of the present matter, that if the charges
could have been positively proved against him, it would
have been the duty of the board to have discharged him.
He should therefore move, that Jonathan Bramham,
relieving officer for the township of Everton and Kirk-.
dale, be suspended. He thought he was a most immoral
character. very unfit for the office : and if he was not
suspended or discharged, the board would disgrace
itself.

Mr. WOODS, as chairman of the committee of investi-
gation, thought he could not do less than second the
resolution of Mr. Edwards.

gated twice before the proper tribunals, he.did not see
what advantage could result from further enquiry.
Mr. CLABIOE isuppprted the amendment, as he con-
sidered a supension equiv;tlent.ton, dismissal.
The Ciiirmas-*1 the character of the West Derby
Board was now bercre tl c tieblic:;,,and? if itherdid' not
act unflinchingly in the matter, they rrtieipcteti ,in it.
He thought the character of the board at stalC,. ttnd
should, therefore claim to give his own vote.
Mr. Abrahams moved that the names be taken down.
(No, no.)
Mr. ROBERTS—We all want the same thing.
The CiatrotAx then put the amendment, for which
Drily thtet hands were held up, those of Messrs. I.
Edwards, diaricei and goliertti The original motion
anddaffied lw line majority.
It i+ad then, agreed to aVtioint It f. call f master of the
hospi,tal„kd,toi;to takecbaJrge of the distriet,
The Board then, adjourned.

MR. HO s ET,tEIA 11\1,10gT•
"GEMS OF THE EMERALii

Our notice of the opening entertainment by Mr.
Hodson, was necessarily curtailed, but we now return to
it with satisfaction. Somehow or other, Irish enter-
tainments on the stage, draw houses when other things
fail to attract audiences, and, therefore, there must be
something in these things that charm the public. It is
too often the case, however, to ridicule the people of the
sister kingdom=--to misrepresent them, and to attribute
all iojiy, Of bYtttdcfs ahstirdities to the sons of the
soclh; th4igs: ale tioy heirig e:tploded, and Pat
may be seen.la all lifit and intenigende,
for which be need not tarn hid Vali, to an oi'li'
er Mate
in the world. When the Irish &tread is.fairlN
sented, it, may challenge competition, and fierier
speaking, Mr. Hodson is a fair exponent of the character
ho• assumes. He personates a good many leading
features in Irish life, and has evidently studied these,
for in some he is peerless. In the opening scene be-
tween the Irish gentleman and. his servant he is excellent,
and although the story is not quite fresh, he manages it
with tact and ability. The original story finishes up
dArerito ftorn Mr: Hedson's version, and in such hands
as his, We thi*.f,tic adoieli of the peroration about the
spectacles (which is omitted),,Vienici be Ore Most irresist-
able thing we know of. His SeNdoiriltdsteri in
dress and manner, is excellent, but the rnaitq4the
dialogue, is no more like what is to be found in Tri.sli
schools, than a piece of Dover Cliff is to double
Gloucester cheese. No', no, that will not do—it is not
even a good caricature—reform it altogether.' The
Kilkenny Assizes too, is another piece of--we do not
know what to call it; better not mention it at all. We
allude to these defects, not because Mr. Hodson performs
badly, for we may at once say that his acting is everything
that eciithl be wished; but for the purpose of disabusing
theAincla fit these Who draw impressions of Irish life
and customs iron ghat stO on the stage only—and
this we knowie frethient jr the ease; to the prejudice
of our Hibernian neigliblours: . dive then/ a deaf stage
and no favour, and represent theM
more; and fairplay will have no less. As an rish
"jarvey" (car-driver) Mr. Hodson dresses to the pink
of perfection ; but appearing in this difficult character
so soon after Valentine Vousden, shows no small pluck.
The latter must ever remain the Emperor of Irish
jarveys, and so we leave Mr. Hodson, with this remark,
however, that he sings that ballad, " Sweet Peggy—the
Low-baCked Car," remarkably well. This is one of the
few ballads by Lover worth calling pretty. Let us
glance now at the other side of the picture : in the
character of "Paddy O'Rafferty" (with a little less
grotesque, and more attention to natural pronunciation)
Dix: itodsott may be said to be peerless. He dresses and
looks titan the dialogue Is good, and given admi-
rably. It is truly fi fine Charade/1 faithfully represented;
and, as we have. already, said; tile song " The
Whistling Thief," that aceelitianieS obliterates all
the sins of commission and omission cornMitted by Mr..
Hodson, in our eyes. As we are on Irishism's, the
one, we could go eight nights out of every week to hear
him sing that song ! He has no equal, nor ever will, in
that song. The great flexibility of his voice, and the
power of changing it in this exquisite cantata, is almost
enchanting. In fact he sings all his songs to perfection
—no matter what the poetry may be he makes them
tell. Here, however, we must observe, that the accom-
paniment of the piano—excellent in its way—is much
too loud, and drowns some of the best passages in the
voice of the vocalist. This should be looked to. In the
" Bellmani" Mr: Hodson is natural and droll: He tells
one old story in a new dress, so that its own father would
hardly recognise the bantling; but that is neither here
nor there, as it is well told, and cannot fail to produce
an effect. Such ate a few of the leading features of that
part of the entertainment called " The Gems of the
Emerald Isle." The second part is not less attractive,
and represents a number of animate celebrities on and
off the stage, in many departments—oratorical, vocal,
tragic, comic, musical, (instrumental,) and the like,
His voice—for he is an A 1 ventrilognist—here renders
him yeoman's service, and his wonderful powers of
absolute face changing, makes the thing perfect. His
personation of a showman at a country, fair, with one of
the best trained dogs we ever saw, is incomparably the
best thing we have looked on. This, and his imitation
of the celebrated conjuror—with real conjuring experi-
ments—must be seen, and will then be enjoyed. An
imitation, and a very graphic ono too, of the Christy's
Minstrels, winds up the whole, of which we have endea-
vottred to give a correct synopsis. And let us now say,
that on the whole Mr. Hodson is a man of versatile
abilities, and that in his excellence; and his exertions to
please, he is successful. Re goes through more real
hard work in two hours than any other single actor we
have beheld, .and we trust he will remain at least a
fortnight amongst us, to delight thousands more than he
has already succeeded in pleasing.

LIVERPOOL POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY.

(Before Mr. RAFFLES.)
SHOP-LIFTING.
Richard Walsh, a young man but an old Offender,
was charged for having stolen six shirts from the shop
door of Mr. E. Kersley, draper, 20, London-road. From
the evidence of two persons who were passing the shop
about six on Tuesday evening, it appeared that the
prisoner and another young man were observed lurking
about the shop door in a very suspicious manner. An
eye was kept on them, and after some time they snatched
a bundle of shirts consisting of six, and ran off With it.
The prisoner was captured, but his companion got off
with the shirts. The prisoner was remanded.

PLUNDER OF TOBACCO.
A young girl, named Louisa Holt, was charged by
Mr. Steele, tobacco manufacturer, Duke-street, for steal-
ing a quantity of tobacco. The girl was employed in
the large establishment of Mr. Steele, and was detected
going out with a quantity of tobacco. Mr. Steele said
he had upwards of 100 girls in his employment, and he
only wished to find out if any of these bad influenced
the prisoner to steal the tobacco. He did not wish to
punish the prisoner. She was put down for the
present.

AN ESCAPE WITH £6O.
Eliza Taylor and Mary Walton, " unfortunates,"
were brought up on a charge of having. stolen £6O from
a gentleman, named Robert Cochrane, in a house of bad
repute, kept by a person named Hayes, in Finch-street.
Mr. Bluck appeared for the prisoners. The prosecutor
said he went to the house in question at five on Tuesday
evening; he was not sober. He then told how he had
gone with the prisoners to the Parthenon, and other
places ; and subsequently he lost his money. On cross-
examination by Mr. Bluck, the prosecutor said he came
from America about three months ago, and was in Scot-
land and England since. He is a builder, and is going
back to America to-day. The cross-examination, Was
continued at some length, and the prosecutor gave an
account of his wandering through town, to singing
rooms and other places with the prisoners and other
females. He admitted that he was "pretty drunk," but
that he knew what he was doing. Mx. Bluck contended
that there could be no reliance placed on the evidence of
the prosecutor, as be was so drunk that hecould not tell
where or how he lost the money. The c prisoners were
remanded for a week, in order to make inquiry about
the money.
CHARGE OF remand,EMBEZZLEMNT.
John Downes was brought up on charged
with having embezzled several sums of money belonging,
to his late employers Messrs. Jones, Enwright & Co.,
shipbread bakers. Mr.i Martin appeared for the prose-
cution, and Mr. Cobb for the prisoner. Mr. Cobb said
he was not prepared to go into the prisoner's defence,
and he would therefore ask for a remand. Mr. Martin
said he had no objection, and the prisoner was remanded
for a week, but to be brought up before that time if the
case be ripe for hearing.
GRATITUDE!
John Pierce was charged by David Davis of. Caza-
neau-street, with having stolen his watch and £2 in
money. It appeared that the prosecutor brought the
prisoner from the country, and got him a situation ; he
also kept him in his house and fed him, until he could
get " square." On Monday morning he took prosecutor's
watch and £2 in money, and went to a house where he
spent the latter. When that was gone, he pledged the
watch in Whitechapel, but told where it was. He was
sent for trial at the sessions.
PROTECTION.
Mr. Bluck appeared on behalf of a respectable-looking
female, named Anne Hall, of Chadwick-street, to seek
an order of protection from her husband, under the
following circumstances : —He stated that the husband
of the applicant was the steward of a ship, and some
tun years ago lie left her, and has not returned since,
although she has reason to believe he is alive, and
perhaps would return. She was going into business,
and was anxious to protect her little property, if her
husband should return. The applicant was then sworn,
and having corroborated the statement of Mr. Bluck,
the order of protection was granted.
(Before Messrs. BOOTH and CUILTON.)
Mr. Higgins, the chief inspector of nuisances, had
the owners of several cellars summoned for neglecting
to have them clean and whitewashed, and various fines
were imposed.
Mr. Wilson, the inspector d , had the lodging-houses
owners of a number of lodging-houses summoned for
not having their houses washed and cleaned, according
to the act. Fines of from one to five shillings were
imposed.

Mr. H. EnwAnns was sorry to say that for a number
of years past he had known Mr. Bramham to be a pro-
fligate and immoral character, and if he were continued
as a relieving-officer of that Union, the board would
disgrace itself. He did not speak with any vindictive
feeling against Mr. Bramham, for he had none.
Mr. WOODS said it was right to say that two wit-
nesses had appeared on his behalf. One, Mr. Royds,
spoke strongly in his favour, as being a humane and
attentive man ; and another, a Scripture reader, who
attended at the workhouse along with the party who
had called upon Mr. Gough respecting the deceased.
Mr. H. EDWARDS—WeII, I have heard the same man
talk of Mr. Bramham in the most disrespectful manner.
Mr. Woons—l thought it right he should have the
benefit of that.
Mr. WHITBY—At the same time, I understand, that
was the unanimous resolution of the committee.
Mr. ISAAC EDWARDS said he always understood that
Mr. Bramham was a most efficient officer. He proposed
as an amendment that the evidence be sent to the Poor-
law Board, and that they be requested to send down an
inspector to examine the witnesses.
Mr. H. EDWARDS—If suspended, it would be in the
power of the Poor-law Board to reinstate him.
Mr. ISAAC EDWARDS—I don't wish him suspended.
Mr. H. EDWARDS said the witnesses had been already
twice examined.
Mr. ISAAC EDWkRDS thought the motion was very
severe upon Mr. Bramham. He was an old officer, and
he was sorry to hear the remarks of Mr. Edwards.
elMr. H. EDWARDS said he could say more about the
immoral conduct of Bramham. For the last four or five
years he bad watched him, and knew more of his goings-
on than any other man at the board could possibly do.
There was not a more immoral man in the county of
Lancaster.
Mr. ROBERTS thought it an unusual course, and a
very severe one, to suspend an old officer. He surely
must have had some merits when changed from one
position to another. It had been said that it was the
unanimous decision of the committee, but—
The CHAIRMAN—You were appointed on the com-
mittee.
Mr. ROBERTS was not aware of it; be knew nothing
of it till the enquiry was over. There were two guar-
dians for Everton and for Sirkdale, but, to his know-
ledge, none of them were present. They should take
into account the class of officers that they had to deal
with, and should not give credit only to one side. He
believed the Commissioners of Lunacy were about
taking the matter up ; and if he was proved, to their
satisfaction, guilty of neglect, it would result in some-
thing like punishment. They should give the man a
fair chance. He seconded the amendment, that the
evidence be forwarded to the'Poor-law Board.
r.eLE:eveErittatsn legalaidthe
firm to
Commissioners
instructed Bram-
ham for his neglett in the matter.
Mr. RoBERTs—The man would be morally discharged
or suspended.
The CHAIRMAN said the evidence was either true or
false. The committee had examined the witnesses as
well, he believed, as they would be in a court of justice.
Mr. Bramham was present the whole time. Ile had
asked a number of questions, but could not shake them
in the least. Mr. Brown, the scripture reader, gave the
best of characters to Leischmann, who commenced these
proceedings, having looked in and seen the deplorable
comiition of the deceased.
Mr. ABRAHAMS said, after the matter bat gone so
far, he did not think they should be doing their duty to
the public at large if they did not suspend Mr. Bram-
ham. They were bound to protect the poor as well as
their own aggro ; and after the case bad been investi-

THE DAILY TIMV, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1860:

TRYING A FIRE!
Mary Sullivan, summoned Patrick Mooney, for £5,
damage done to certain dresses, &e. Mr. Bluck was for
the complainant, and MI. Cobb for the defence. The
defendant lodged with the father of claimant in Wrjght-
street, and it was stated that he got notice to leave the
house, and on this some ill-feeling was created, and the
defendant was heard to say he would burn the com-
plainant's clothes. The clothes were burnt, but the
difficulty was to bring home the charge to the defendant.
Mr. Cobh asked the girl how old she was ? and she
replied, eighteen; and he then submitted that she could
not sue, as she was an infant, and her father should be
the person to sue. Mr. Wybergh said, there was a
penalty in this, and therefore the girl was competent.
Mr. Cobb then cross-examined the girl with the view of
showing that she had a vindictive feeling against the
defendant, but she denied that allegation. Several
witnesses were examined pro and COO. and at last the
magistrates decided on dismissing the claim.

SUICIDE OF A CLERGYMAN.--A sad case of self-
destruction occurred at Hipperholme, near Halifax, on
Tuesday morning, when the Rev. John Warburton,
master of the famous school there, was found suspended
by a cord to his own bed, and dead. The deceased, it is
said, had become much depressed during the last few
months, arising from family disquietudes, a depression
much increased by the death of his wife, which occurred
some six months ago. He was a man of rather reserved
manners, but yet amiable, and greatly respected. Very
many will read this brief record of his end with regret
and even distress. It may interest some readers to know
that the late Sir Robert Peel was fora considerable time
a scholar at to liipperholme School.