The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-30 00:00:00

REPORT

That they invited Mr. Dignan's attendance at their first
meeting, and the production by him thereat of any evidence
which he might have to offer in support of the above charge.
That invitation was followed by a refusal on the part of Mr.
Diguan to attend the meeting, and a long letter by him ad-
dressed to the board, which letter was subsequently placed in
your committee's hands.
Your committee find in this letter no facts put forward, nor
any evidence adduced of a character to sustain the charge in
question. They cannot, indeed, but regret that Mr. Dignan
should have given publicity to an allegation so grave in its
tendency, yet so groundless, reflecting alike upon the character
of the board, its individual member, and its officers, and entail.
ing upon the latter especially a vast amount of labour in
defence of their own integrity, to the serious obstruction of
their official duties.
In the absence of any assistance from Mr. Dignan in the
conduct of this investigation, your committee called to their
aid the relieving officers and the collecting officers who have
been concerned for Vauxhall Ward, the district of the town
to which Mr. Dignan makes reference ; and, after a long and
thoroagh scrutiny of the lists for the last four years, viz., of
tho ratepayers (voters) as compared with the rate recipients
(paupers), they are unable to discover a single fact giving
countenance to Mr. Dignan's charge ; and the officers, all
and each, tendered a written declaration that
" Mr. Bradley had not at any time requested them to
place parties on the relief lists who were voters in Vauxhall
Ward, or any persons whatever whom they considered not
proper objects of relief. That Mr. Bradley, during the time
he had sat on the quorum for relief, diminished rather
than increased the :amount given to residents in Vauxhall
Ward."

In conclusion, your committee feel bound in common jus-
tice to Mr. Bradley, to record their opinion, that the activity
and zeal which he has brought to bear upon the administration
of relief, has proved beneficial, rather than otherwise, to the
Public interests ; that he has evinced no partiality to any class ;
that he has been actuated by no sinister motives in the dis-
charge of his parochial duties.
THOMAS HENRY SATCHELL, Ch?irman

Mr. Satchell said, as chairman of the special committee, be
would move that the report just read be adopted. The com-
mittee had paid much attention to the investigation, and they
had not been able to find a shadow of evidence to support the
charges which had been made against Mr. Bradley. They had
enquired of the relieving officers, and had gone through the
books for the four years that Mr. Bradley bad held a place at
the board, and there was nothing to support the charge. Now,
that the inquiry was over, be hoped the subject would be
allowed to drop, and that there would be no more acrimonious
feelings existing between Mr. Bradley and Mr. Dignan.
Mr. Jones, in seconding the adoption of the report, exon-
erated Mr. Bradley from all blame in the matter.
Mr. Owen said, the investigation had been given to a com-
mittee of certain persons, but scarcely any of them had ever
attended, and had not signed the report ; in fact, it was a
report of three of Mr. Bradley's own nominees. (Hear,
hear.) He did not wish it to go forth that it came from the
body. (Confusion.)
The Chaii man said, the board were departing from the good
advice given them by Mr. Satchell. There is a report before

the board, will the board adopt it or not ? He did beseeeh of
them, not to use any offensive remarks during the business,
which they should conduct properly.
Mr. Jones and Mr. Owen made a few remarks, after which,
Mr. Woodruff explained that, domestic affliction had pre-

vented him from attending on the committee, wh
The Chairman declared the repot
Mr. Bradley thanked the

board f

placed in him; and hoped sucL

le confidence they had

would never be for-

felted by him

After transacting some routine businesss, the board ad-
journed.