The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-12-08 00:00:00

TIIE CANE OF ALLEGED NEGLECT OF A UNION
MEDICAL OFFICER-

LOCAL GOVERNMENT INQUIRY.

On Tutuday, Mr. Henry It. Courtenay opened an inquiry
respecting the came of alleged neglect against Mr. William
Turner, the medical Aker of St. James s district, of the
Poole Union. The Guardians present were :—Messrs. J.
Hayman (chairman), T. W. Green (vice-chairman), J. W.
Buckley. G. Curtis, J. W. laiff, W. Meadus, E. C. oakley,
and Messrs. Adey; Millna, Pearce. and Stone (ezAfic).
The Inspector on opening the inquiry pointed out the
manner of proceeding, and amid he should leave it to Mr.
Slade to call the witnesses in support of the charge; and
Mr. Turner would then call any he might have. After
that Mr. Turner would lie called upon to make his state-
ment in writing; and the whole would then be forwarded
to the Board in London. No speechifying would be
allstwed.on either side.

Mr. F. frareni • umared in behalf of Mr. Turner; the
friends of leceeee.l were not legally represented. The
first witness called wee

Ann Coward,F. 'ld* w Burgess's mgw. Lagland-street,
sail: On he Ist of October I went to Mr. Rollings for an
order for Mrs. Dibbeu, which was granted me by Mrs.
Rolling". When I went to Mr. Turner, he wanted to
know if Mrs. Dilken was not able to come and see him.
I said she was not. Ile said it would not do for hint to
come and find Mrs. Dibbsen aisle to come &MI SC* him. He
came the same day between the hours of three and four in
the afternoon. Seeing him go in, 1 went behind him
knowing she had no one with her but a little girl. When ,
I sent in Mr. Turner looked round. 1 said, "This is the
place and that is Mrs. Dibben." Mr. Turner then said,
" Oh, I see you are about your household work, you are
better able to conic and see me than I am to see you."
Mrs. Dibben was sitting at the table when Mr. Turner
came it., and stood up out of good manners. Mr. Turner
said "I cannot have my Buie taken up in this manner, as
1 have more iinportant work to do." He felt her pulse
and looked at her tongue, told her to send for Senile
medicine on the following morning. I went for the
medicine on Friday morning. There was very little or no
remark passed then. I spoke of her complain in- of a
swelling of lier legs. I did not go ainsin until lifonslay
morning, when the lottle was empty. When I went on
Monday morning and handed Mr. Turner the bottle for
the medicine, as he WWI putting up the medicine he
sosesi the remark, "I shall not allow Mrs. Dildsen anymore
tuolicum until she comes and see me." I said, "Mrs. Dibben
is nut able to come and see you, sir." "Oh, yes," he said,
"she is quite aisle hi come and see nie. When I saw her
I atu sure she Was quite able to come and see me." I
said, " No, sir: Mrs. [Milieu
Ls not aisle to come and Nee
you she is very touch worse. Mr. Turner then said, "I
don't care fur that; I shall not rouse and Scro her." I
then left the surgery.
The Clerk said lie had no questions to ask.
By Mr. Travers: I last saw Mrs. Ifibben a few minutes
before I went for the. order. I went straight from her
' house to Mr. Ro g llin's. 1 saw Mrs. Dibben betwom
that time and the time when Mr. Turner saw her. She
was sitting in her chair, and was unable to do any work.
I was out and in continually. :She sat about fur several
days.
A spiestion was here asked whether Mr. Salter Barrett,
solicitor, and a ratepayer residing at Parkstime, could Ile
present for the tourpose of asking *Wee questions of the
witeesses.

The Inspector said be left the matter in the hands of
the board. The gnar.lians and the Kew were priment,
sod Hu doubt the tress would report everything that was
done, so that the ratepayers it wild have an opis,rtunity of
loving it. llu thought the best pLta would he not to
admit any one else.
The Chairman expressed a similar opinion, and this
was a1...r.5.,!1 to. _

--DY-141::-Tr;;ers: 1-ast saw Mrs. a few
only lwfore going to Mr. Turner. Went straight from her I
twine to Mr. Itollings. Mr, !Skim' oat ii, a chair. She
was not able to ilo ttttt work • she sat about for several
days. %Vent into the noon behind Mr. Turner when he
Mn. Itilalew, got upas lie went in —saw her get up
out at her chair. AN soon Sc I saw Mr. Turner go in I
went— knowing there was no one there but a little girl.
She had no work-basket in her banal—it wits on the table.
She walked a little way from her chair, which wasagaitist
the window. They are very small nsisits, indeed. It was
tuy own imprtaision that she stool up out of" Cissi
manners." She went the followeig morning for the
medicine, and had it. I at,, quite slant I mentioned the
swelling of the legs ; hut omitted it the other day. Mrs.
Dibben passed the remark that she had forgotten to tell
Ur. Turner of it. Reel heart her complain that she had
had erysipelas in then, some time previous, but couldn't
say how long she had so suffered. She said she caught it
In a tidal at 112,1111wortby at the Itegetta, a year or two ago.
Went to Mr. Turner on the Monday, and raw Mrs.
liibleen several tine, in Um meantime. War quite sure
Mr. Turner had not called on tlic Satunlay :opt Sunday.
I thought it neeeseery he should hay,, ,h.no
woman appeared to be sinking fast. I didn't renal for
lain,. When 1 went .111 the M ttttt lay. 1 alial not ask I
to ewe° ; bait told I she on,, not able locum.: anal NM
only knon n Mrs. Iriliben while she had lived
next door; but knew her a few yearn ago ; not known
her personally. Couldn't may anything ex to her habits
all I can say is that, she appeared a quiet, inoffensive,
respectable woman. heal never seen her the worse for
liquor. Was aware that her brother saw her lying on the
floor on the morning of her death. Couldn't say who sent
data nieves for the medicine on Tuesday morning. \Vas
not waiting on Mrs. biblien, only occasionally rendering
every little act of kindnesa she could. On Tuesday
morning saw her between 11 and 12,• but couldn't say the
exact time. Went in between 1 and 2 with the Rev. G.
Morgan, beset her. She wash, bed when he she first saw