The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-05-28 00:00:00

of his charges,

Probably there was reason, for I am told the

man cannot spell half-a-dozen words together correctly, and
that these charges are full of the most absurd errors.

A man was y brought forward as a witness against
me whose child died in the beginning of last November,
and I was expected, at a moment's notice, to defend myself
trom a rambling charge of inattention to it. How was this
possible or likely? I had only seen it-a few days before death,
and since then I find I have given 172 death notes. In fact,

had entirely forgotten the case. I knew, however, that the
man was a notorious bad character—a drunkard and a liar ;
that he had boasted to many of having got is out of the
inspector for telling tales against me, and that this precious
" inspector" had striven hard to get him more parish relief,
though he knew him to be in full work at the time.
This could have been proved by the uvidence of the relieving
officer, and of half-a-dozen other people. But I was taken
to task for calling the man a vagabond, and told that, as
to the " inspector," it was sufficient for me that he was
obeying their orders. A case was then brought forward
on which I had bestowed the utmost care whilst under my
charge ; yet the poor patient had been got to sign with a
cross a paper she didn't know the contents of, and full of mis-
statements (partly by threat). Nay, I can prove that this
" inspector" threatened her with handcuffs, that she should be
dragged through the streets, &c., and even took down one of
the parish officers dressed as a police officer, the more effectually
to terrify her into compliance. The poor woman, however,
would not answer the committee one way or the other, and
they would not allow me to question her, or I could have got
some racy things from her as to the way in which this " inspec-
tor" gets up charges. A woman was also brought forward who
said that she sent for me to attend her in labour and that I was
out. The fact was, it was in the middle of the afternoon, and
I was on my rounds. I could not be in two places at once.
But I was told by the committee that I ought to provide a
legally-qualified assistant to do the extra work. I was then told
to retire, and being recalled soon after, the chairman said the
committee wished me to resign, or they must try to compel me.
Though for what reason, or what were the charges they con-
sidered proved against me, he forgot to say, and I am still quite
in the dark about the matter. Now, I will just add that such
evidence, so obtained, from inch witnesses. was not worth the
paper it was written on ; and that if the committee choose to
pay a fired spy to dog the footsteps of their medical officer, and
to give ls. and parish pay to every tale-bearer, why the result
may be easily guessed. For myself, feeling that after so pain-
ful an occurrence I could not retain my present office, I shall
have the honour of giving the stipulated notice of my resigna-
tion at the next meeting of the select vestry. With my
hearty thanks to them for previous considerate forbearance and
kindness under many difficulties, I have the honour to remain,
sir, your very obedient servant, JOHN NEWTON.
Mr. Denton said he quite agreed with every word which had
fallen from the chairman of the workhouse committee. He
thought the committee came to a just conclusion, that they had
performed their duty, and performed no more. But he
objected to a proceeding which he feared had of late increased.
Tho system of amateur reporting of the proceedings of the
different committees, was the matter to which he objected—
the carrying out from the commi.tees of their proceedings, and
reporting them without any sanction in the public papers. Such
reporting, he feared, would in time be injurious to the board,
as in this way ex parte statements without the knowledge of
the chairman or the committee in general. If they were to
have their proceedings reported at all, let them invite the
reporters to come and give a proper report of the proceedings
of the whole of the meeting, so that both sides might be
properly put before the public. He referred to an article
which appeared in the Mercury of last Saturday. That
article appeared to have been reported by a vestryman, a com-
mitteeman, or one of the churchwardens themselves. If it
were a committeeman, he should object to any committeeman
making such statements, without having the sanction of the
chairman or the committee. He considered that the com-
mittee did no more than their duty, and if they did
it with any intention of gloryfying themselves, h 3 thought that
was a very improper feeling. The punishment of the indivi-
dual concerned should have been guile sufficient without
torturing before death. If the article in question proceeded
from the churchwardens, he contended that such a course of
Self glorification ought not to have proceeded from these
gentlemen. He agreed in a great portion of what was stated
in the article in regard to the churchwardens themselves.
They were fit and proper persons for their places, and
they needed not to glorify themselves. If it were so, he
would recommend that the vestry put them under a glass, and
keep them as specimens of churchwardens for the future.
(Laughter.)
Mr Wo,Atuff: I am afraid, sir, Mr. Denton has more zeal