The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-24 00:00:00

MARYLEBONE WORKHOUSE.

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OFFICIAL POOR-LAW INQUIRY.

Yesterday, Mr. T. W. Austin, the Poor-law In-
spector, resumed the above inquiry at one o'clock. Tree
same gentlemen were present u upon previous accessions
The first witness called was
Mr. George Crawley, who said that he was:•ne of the in-
spectors of the out-door poor fur the south district His duties
were to visit the out-door poor who were receiving relief,
every week, within his district, and report everything which
he saw that was contrary t• the rules—such as drunkenness
or want of cleanliness ; also, if he finds it necessary that
more relief be required, or any: should be taken off,
frsm any circumstances, he gives them orders to come be-
fore the rota. He also delivers the relief cards at the huoses
of the recipients when he tries to see parties, except in ex•
treme cases of old age. The cards are brought by the par-
ties above- named to the office, unless in the cases gust
named, when a known agent receives the relief, and in
which the rules are not so stringently carried out. Ile
was empowered to give casual relief, for which there
was a check book, and on the following morning
Ihe tells the assistant overseer what he has dour,
and produces the counterfoil of hie cheek book which shows
what relief he has given, with a short note of the case,
whether destitute, lame, and the ages of the recipients
with the number and nature of their families, where there
are any. Witness bad nothing whatever to do with the
contractors, or giving the relief in kind. He simply gave
the orders and attended before the rota on Fridays, to state
the progress and alterations of his district and whatrenewals
are necessary. Has been an inspector between six and
seven months. Knew Garrett Walsh first about the 21st
of October. Witness's first transaction with him was on
the 2ith October. He had is. tid., which witness
proved by his check book, where the entry had been
made from the card of relief. Fur the four follow-
ing weeks ending the 31st October, 7, 14, and 21st
November, Walsh had received the Is. 6ii. a week,
when his card became out and wanted renewal.
After every one of those payments Walsh had his card re-
delivered to him again. Witness could never find Walsh at
home, and cis answer vrh• n questioned about it was that he
was always out looking for work. 11 tween the 7th and the
14th of November witness saw him in the street after his
card had expired, when he raid that he should like to
have his money continued to him, or to be taken into the
workhouse. On the Thursday or Friday following be
rune to go before the rota board, witness having given
him an order fur that purpose. He raid ten y must either
give me my money again or they shall take me into the
workhouse. When Walsh went before the rota board Mr.
Result sad Mr. Poland were the only guardians present.
Mr. Messer, the assistant over eer, with witness, were also
there. When Walsh came in witnen drew the attention
of the bo ,rd to the number on the report-book,
which was lyieg before them, witheill elated the cue from a
memorandum which he had, and welch agreed wash the
eatry in the report-book. The guard•ans agreed to renew
the previous order for two months. Ile was to have 2lbs.
of meat and 2 loaves, with It 6.1., commencing on that day
Both Mr. Russell and Mr. Poland said that he was to have
it without delay, as Walsh stated that he was out of work,
and he seemed very well **titled with the decision. Wit-
ness did not recommend the guardians to make that order,
nor could he infer their reasons fur so doing from anything
they said. The nest time witness saw Walsh after be left
the rota-room was in the pay-office, • • g with his wife
by the fire. That was about half an hour after. He said
to witness, "Are you going to give me an order for
my meat and bread ?" Witness gave him an order
for 21bs. of meat, which was on the authority
of what had taken place before the rota board.
Witness never heard it stated before the rota board that
Walsh's wife was a good market woman, or that Walsh
was to go and make a home, or go home and nurse the
bahy, nor about hie coming into the house. When wit-
ness sow him in Ore's-court, he said that he would be
obliged to leave hie lodgings because he owed them rent.
By Mr. Russell—Witness told Mr. Beautron that the
21b. of meat, 21b. of bread, on the Friday was " extra "
over and shove his regular allowance. Witness was never
told that Walsh did not live at 14, Gee's-court. Did not
hear hint tell the rota that he had no place to sleep in,
having been turned out. Distinctly rteclleebd Mr. Poland
telling witness to watch the case, and not to let them want.
There was not a word said by Walsh when before the
rota about either his wife or child. Had he said
anything about the child being ill, there would have been
a medical rater immediately, as that is the invariable prac•
tire. Mr. Poland asked witness if Walsh's circumstances

had altered during the last month, and he answered that he
could never find him at home. Wh e witness asked

Walsh what the letter was doing so much out, he answered
that he was seeking employment, but witness never found
him employed, unless smoking tobacco, mostly at the gets.
of the workhouse, and also in Gee/ stood. Witness
saw him looking for employment anywhere. Witnees hardly
ever saw him without a pipe in his mouth, smoking, and was
g Ily hanging shout the workhouse. Witness was in
the rota room all the time that Walsh's cue was nosier con-
sioerstion, and must have heard everything that had taken
place. Didn't tell the rota that Walsh was always
smoking, although he might if he had thought of it ; but be
did not wish to bias a case against anybody. Has heard
some of the bah era complain about Wald being constantly
gawking. Mr. Kirby, for one.
Matthew Green, the porter at the Northumberland-street
gate of the workhouse, was nest examined. He said that
be knew Walsh and his wits well, and remembered their
being brought from the police court on the 19th of Novem-
ber, by Police-constable Whims, 86 D, about twenty si-
ssye to six In the evening. No officer of the workhouse
being in the way, the policeman left them at the gate, the
pewter undertaking to inform the officers, if any of.
thew came. Witness closes the outer gate of the work-
house at six o'clock every night. On Saturd.y night,
the 19th, witness did not see Walsh or his wife after the gate
was closed, although he opened it several times during the
efteeieg. When witness opens the door to let any one in or
ear, be can see very little obliquely to the right or the left,
amd if any person stood o,i the pavement a little way from
the door, witness could not see them unless they were di•
reedy before the door. Witness has seen Walsh hang about
the door for the last 18 months as much as any one who
One. Witness had an inmate as an assistant at the gate.
no bell to the gate now, as it bad been taken off in
easeimpence of people melting a rattle of it. The master
hed authority to give relief in the night. When parties
bee* at the gate in the night the noise is easily beard. On
the esturday night after the door wan closed, neither
Walsh nor hie wife made any application whoever
Witness did not notice parties outside the gate (unless they
made an application), for sometimes people get up awful
rows am tog themselves at that gate. Witness could not
state poeitsycly that he saw Walsh at the gate on the Sun-
day morning, although he had hi en there on other Sunday
mornings. Witness does not think Walsh stopped at the
gate more than flys or ten minutes after the policemen
went away—a little before six o'clock on the Saturday even-
ing. Witness did not inform the master that Walsh was
at the gate because the latter made no application. Wa
imea keeps a book, and which he enters every occurrence
after six o'clock in the evening. lle gave several doctors*
orders on the evening is question up to a quarter to ten
o'clock, at which time witness took into the house an elderly
woman who was sitting destitute at the gate by herself.
He looked up and down the street, but tould see nothing
at ell of either Walsh or his wife. Walsh applied to
witness for a medical order, or it would have beets entered
on the diary.
By Mr. M'Donal—The wens is not kept closed after gig
o'clock without being opened if any people knock. Did
not remember Mr. M'Doual knocking cod obtaining admis•
sion for people who bad been waiting from sour o'clock in
the afternoon.

Mr. IV Do/al—Will you swear that you did not answer
on one occasion, when Mr. Smith, of 18, Nottinghaewstreet,
drew attention to the number of people who were waiting
outside for admission, " What • pity to knock us out of
bed for these -- wretches!"
Witaen—Will swear that he did not, nor was it a com-
mon occurrence to order the people away altogether. Wit-
ness was superintendent of labour on the Bow-road of
the City of London Union. Plenty of complaints have been
made about his conduct at the gate, but they were without
foundstion. Has never been reprimanded by the board,
although has been called once before the guardians. Wit-
mess did now remember Mr. M'Dosal calling and obtaining
admission for one or two, or two or three parties, but never
for as many as seven or eight.
Mr. M'Duual here stated that he had obtained admission
at times for as many as eight, five, and laser numbers.
Mr. IPllonal here complained that in such • respectable
paper as the Daily News he laud been detained as •
" chartist lecturer,' and hooded the paper to the inspector.
He (Mr. 111.Dunal) begged to state that he had not that ho-
nour; had it been some papers which he mentioned lie
sl.ould not have been surprised at or noticed it
(Mr. M'Doual may rest enured that his deseription as a
chartist lecturer was not intended in disparagement either
of himself or of the vocation of a political lecturer, but was
simply the only one which th.- reporter could obtain from
those persons of whom he inquired.]
The proceedings were then sojourned.

A DARING ROBIART was committed in South-
ampton on Thereday evening. Mr tilaspool, a corn nue.
chant, has a shop and stores at the corner of Hanover-
buil ling., and a dwelling-house in Vincent's-walk, two or
three hundred yards distant. To go from the shop to the
dwelling-house by a short cut, a person must cross a corner
of the Houndwell, an uninhabited place but a great
thoroughfare, and in view of tile Post-office. A man and a
boy in the employ of Mr. Olsapord ware conveying his
book. and cash from the stores to the house as usual, be-
tween eight and nine in the evening on Toursday. When
an the lloundwell both the h,,y and the man were attacked
suddenly by two men, who robbed them of the bag of
money, amounting to near', 201., and the hooks that were I
in their possession. Mr. Olaspoul's servants were attacked
in each a manner that they could not give an alarm before
the thieves were on their way to the purlieus of St. Mary's,
whemalthough they were purstotd,the y made their escape.
' The books vete thrown away by the thieve, and found the
nest day. On the same day a lady was robbed of her purse
in the Post-office lobby of that town
NORTH NiETROPOLITAN RAlLWAY.—Ciatleti to
protect the interests of the raterayers of St. Pancras are to
be inserted in the bid to he *weldor d to parliament in the
ensuing session by the above company. These clauses de-
fine the mode in which the works are to he conduoed under
the New-road, limiting the ••oiee to be taken up at any cne
time, and specifyieg the places wsacre sate us may be
elected. They also empower the vestry and other local
boards to pave and restore the roads at the expense of the
company; and also to keep the lams in repair for four
years; should the company fail to du the work effectually
themselves, a per centage on the outl.iy within the parish
has been used, for the purposes of rating.