The Express.
London, England, 1864-08-31 00:00:00

[Stamped, id. AdditionaL)

THE CHARGE OP NEGLECT AGAINST
CLERGYMAN;

Yesterday afternoon Mr. John Humphreys,
Middlesex comer, resumed and concluded • protracted
isiquiry at the Market-house, Fisebury-market, relative to
the death of William flansel Webb, aged 5 years.
The evidence taken on the previous mossiest was to the
offer* that the deceased was the son of the Rev. B. Bearnish
Webb, who resided at No. 50, Worship-street, and was
until lately curate of All Mats, Babopegate. The
reverend gentleman's wife died in March last, leaving
hiss with five children. At the end of Jaw he
west to Indeed for • mouth for the basalt of
his health, and durisg his absence the care of the whole
family devolved upon his eldest girl,wbo was sterns years of
age. He had a month previously givesnotice to the servant
to leave, and she accordinglyldt three days after his de-
parture. He left his little daughter 1/. 12s. for honaekeep-
mg, and she borrowed another sovereign while he was sway.
Directly after his return he was dismissed from his curacy,
as he stated, because his eyes were affected, and he could
not reed his sermons. On last Tuesday week the deceased
child was found to be so ill that a doctor was sent for, but
death took oleos on the following Friday. It was alleged
that the children had all suffered frightfully from neglect—
alltheir heads had to be shaved, and it was also deposed
that the father not only was neglectful, but that he ill-
treated them and swore at them. All theme allegations were
strenuously denied.
The resumption of the proceedings seemed to excite oon-
siderable interest. The first witness called was
Dr. R. Fowler, who stalled that be had made • poet-stories
simminatlos of the body of thedsomesd child. It was much
emaciated, and the skis dry. The Kelp was covered with
pustular disease, which just prior to death discharged a
bloody secretion. Vermin crawled over the scalp. Under
the left ear was a glandular abscess, and on the right side
were a few enlarged glands. dearcely say fat was visible in
the wells of the chest and abdomen. In the stomach was
faxed about two ounces of dark fluid. probably tea or coffee,
and is the liquid a few masse.of undigested food. There
was inflammation of the membranes of the brain. The
immediate canes of death was spasm of the glottis. The
intestines were empty and contracted. There was meson- I
kirk disease, and the child was decidedly scrofulous is
habit. _ _

By the Coroner— The contraction of the intestines de-
noted want of use. It might hays arisen either from
mesenteric disease or want of food. The condition of
the scalp undoubtedly demoted loog standiog neglect.
Spasm of the glottis was frequeot with serolulons, sod also
with underfed or improperly fed children. The glandular
abscess was the result of the thin affection.
The Rev. Kr. Webb-11 the child retread to Übe food
would not that produce oontraction of the intestiora
Witness—Undoubtedly ; but the kind of food given
would bare a material effect. There would be ao uss in giv-
ing potatoes or solid breed to suck a child. It would loath
fetid food. It would require delicacies that only a mother
or a good none or cook could give. The inflammation of
the moonbeams of the brain was not from neglect, but wee
doubtless iaberited from the mother.

The Rev. T. Hugo, incumbent et All Sainte, Bishops.
gate, aid—Tbe Rev. Mr. Webb ins my curate. He lett
rue dulls at sy request. I dismissed him.
Corooer—l do not wish to go into ►ny needless details ;
but wu he dismissed for general mueondnet !
The Rev. Mr. Webb—l do not HI what that can have to
do with the nee!

Coroner—l put the question in the mildest form to your-
self, and you, in reply, gave an explanation of your da-
intiest which may or may Dot be founded on fact. The
allegations are serious and the evidence coollicting ; the
quaitioa is therefore a key to the whole case.
Witness mid that the dismissal was in consequence of
Mr. Webb's ntiacoadost.
The Rev. Mr. Webb—That is the fiat I have heard of it.
Coroner—lt is neosseary that the jury should keow how
far the habits of the parents may have led to the neglect of
the child. Was Mr. Webb intemrende
Witmer—Tea, undoubtedly.
The Rev. Mr. Webb—The habits of the wait could
have bad no effect mace the child came into All Sainte
pariah. The answer of Mr. Hugo may be ruinous to me and
to my children for ever.
Witness eoetinned—Mr. Webb was with me from the
10th April till the Bth August He was absent for •
mouth of that time, and was not at duty for a longer
period. I paid in all 411. Il& , and 151. of that was given
to him the day he went to !labial-
The Rey. Mr. Webb—h 7. of that was lent to me for the
nounahmeets, Sc., ordered me by the doctor, as I was not
In good health ; it was not as payment.
Waimea—lt was 51. given to you for your family and
your arcessitieyand not to throw away. It all went into
the seine P-ocetia the other moue* fon got.
Mr. B. J. Aldis, so invalid, said that he was the land-
lord of Sir. Webb, at 50, Worship-street. The children
were neglected, pale, and dirty. He had often to send them
out of the factory, they were so dirty. H. frequently heard
them cry from one to the ether, and the sound of slaps.
Mr. Webb used to say to them, " You scoundrel, to tell me
that lie ; you liar !" and other epithets. The Sunday of ter
he returned from Ireland witness heard him apparently thug-
ing saunerne at them, and say. " You scouudrel, put it in
its place. He swore a good deal that day. Witness sent
• lodger down to see what was the matter, and be found
Mr. Webb Singing his arms about like • madmen.
Mr. W.bb said that the affair on the Sunday was all
imagination. He very likely celled the child • scoundrel,
became all parests scold. (To Mr. Alita—l believe you
are not paid your rent, Mr. Aldis!
Mr. Aldie intimated that such was thee's'.
Mr. Webb celled Mrs. Harriet Cochlea, 2, Aniescettege,
Stratford, whodeporad that she was with the children for
the second week of the absence of Mr. Webb. Deceased
had • good appetite and was in his usual health thee. Wit.
one did not me the children for the rest of the time, but
she beard from Miscie, who was very tutelligent. Witness
was the aunt of the children.

By the Coro•er—Under the circumstabees witness coo-
iddered it decant and prudent to leave four children under
the care of • little girl 11 years of age.
By Mr. Webb—lt was often difficult to get • good ser-
vaot, sad the &Whoa would he better without a bed oae ;
the one he dismissed was utterly incompetent.
Dr. F. Hyde Forsh•ll said he wee Dot in practice sow,
but he had been in the army. He blew Mr. Webb twelve
mouth.. and be was affectionate to his children, and did
not appear to neglect there.
Miss Mamie Webb. an intelligent little 101, said that her
father seat her as. is postage stamps from babied. Oa the
Seedily after his return he did Dot throw saucepans at the
children. He was kind to them, and never stinted them.
There were g►ocerries in lb* house while he was ►way.
By Mr. Webb—You got up at one o'clock on that Sun-
day—not to cook the diaper, but to ask how it was getting
on. I cooked it.

The fury, after boor delibeestioo, returned the following
morsel verdict;—" lhat William Samuel Webb, Wier au
infant of tender ere in charge of his father, died from
spasm of the glottis, aid the jamas farther may that im-
proper food sad the sadly neglected readiteec of t►e said
child predisposed to the disease from which he died ; aid
the Jaren lastly say, that the conduct of the father is highly
ossearable."