Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-09-30 00:00:00

TOXTETH-PARK BOARD OF GUARDIANS

The usual weekly meeting of this board was held yes-
terday, at the Public-offices, Park-read ; Mr. H. S.
Alpass, chairman, presiding: The Other members pre-
sent were-7Mcssrs..J. D. Carter, John Wilson, Henry
Leyland, Alexander Mellor, S. Siddeley, G. W. Hunter,
M. A. Johni, J. Harrison, John Moss, William Baynes,
A. Griudrod, and William Leyland.

Mr. Genctn, governor of the West Derby Workhouse,
reported that the number of paupers in the:house be-
longing io_the district:of Toxteth-park was,
,last week,
331 ; this week, 347; against 371 in the corresponding
week, of last year. Cheque's were drawn for the relief
of out-dOor paupers to the amount of £lO5.

MR. HEATH'S CASE

:Mr..Tiar...Ns, chairman of the committee appointed to
investigate this case, said that the committee thought it
better to make no report. on'the subject, but submit the
evidence taken. to the whole board, aitd he would call
upon Mr. Cleaver to read the evidence.
Mr. CLEAVER then read the evidence, the substance
of which we published yesterday. •
The CIFIAIRNIAN' said, Mr. Heath had handed him a
statement, 'which he wished to have read before any re-
marks were made. The effect of this statement was,
that he had' only discharged his duty in patting the
question to, the man; " Have you been drinking," when
his appearance seemed to' indicate that such was the
case. He maintained that the woman did not ask for
any other than medical relief.

Mr. MILLER—I think it right to state, with your per-
missien, that, havinc, 'been summoned to attend the
finance committee, and also a meeting. of the overseers,
I was prevented by this protracted inquiry, which led to
my hearing a portion of the evidence, and also • the
defence of Mr. Heath, and I feel botind to say. with all
due deference to the honest intentions of the committee,
that a more irregular and one-sided affair I never wit-
nessed in the short course of my experience as a public
man. The chaiiman and Mr. Cleaver appeared to be No
unscrupulotisly prejudiced, that"Mi; Heath could not de-
fend himself without being repeatedly interrupted; in fact,
One of the obinmittee3vas so impatient that he said he would
turn witness himself, and was allowed to give his evi-
dence against him. The merits and demerits of this case
have now been carefully gone into, and it is not for me-
to say who is right or who is wrong, but I must confess
I saw nothing to justify such an outburst of indignation
against Mr. Heath, nor has he so recklessly neglected
his duty as to render himself morally culpable of corn-'
milting an offence which is equivalent to manslaughter:
Nor will I admit that this board, as a board--no,,nor
even one member of it—is so indifferent to 'the wants of'
the poor as to permit Mn Heath' or any other officer
repeatedly to practice, and wriggle out of, inhuman
atrocities. I feel, sir, it would ill become nie and•others
around this' board; whom "Providence has fh,VOUred, to
sit in judgment against the poOr and amicted ; but
whilst I am here to dispense the funds of the ratepayers;
I will not forget my duty to the officer, who [believe is
unfairly attack.ed'and misrepresented. However, this I
believe will be, the last of these cases,' as the officer will
be obtuse if he dOes not adopt the system of *others' who,
before they' will be subjected to this Censure, freely dis-
tribute the funds of the ratepayers to worthless and
undeserving recipients.
Mr. 11loss—I have listened to the long hariangne
from Mr. Miller with great patience, and .I have no doubt
that he has come to the conclusion, which 'he has
thrOngh a mistaken feeling, inasmuch as he seems to
stand:forth as the advocate of the accused, instead of
being the protector of the injured and-the innocent. I
have been two years a member of this board, and I
have observed the conduct of Mr. Heath; and though he

may be a very good officer in other respects, he still lacks
the essential qualities of humanity and discrimination.
If this had been the first complaint, I would not have

said a word about it; but when we have had for months
past cases of very violent brutality, which have always
been explained away; 'and he is still permitted to To on
with such a system, I think it will be -the fault of this
board if they permit him any longer to continue it. I
not go into the evidence, either one way or the
other, "but I would , submit that evidence to a much
higher tribunal than thig. - The whole town have their
eyes upon us, and I have heard this board condemned
for their leniency with respect to Mr. Heath. lie lookii
upon the poor people with a degree of callousnessand
indifference, and I have heard it said that his heart is
as hard as- the nether millstone. I can bring men to
prove it. I_think, under these circumstances, it is only
honest and just for us, Who sit here as guardians of the
poor, to send the whole of this ei-iden6 up to the Poor-
law Board for their opinion, and in the meantime that
this-boird suspend Mr. Heath from the. further. perform-
ance of, his duty till that opinion is obtained. Feeling
as I do, I will not shrink from what I believe to be my
duty to the poor. I *ill not submit to gee them rode
over by a so-named or mis-named
Mr. JoHNs seconded the motion proposed by Mr.
Moss.

asked what was the specific charge

, Mr. HAnnrsow
against Mr. Hettth
Mr. JouNs said, for neglecting his duty. He then read
the rules relating to the duties of relieving officers, 'and
contended that these rules had mit been complied with.
M. BAYNES—He had to say, as one of the 'com-
mittee, that the, witness,es were ex Amin seParately,
and out of the hearing of the others ; and it was only
after the reporters had left,, that Mr. Heath got up and
made the little remark that Mr. Miller had referred to.
He had no desire to annoy any man, and he felt sorry
for Mr,. Heath.
Mr. HA.naisoN moved, as . a

endment, that the
..Nidence be sent t tivZactlaw-Board, with a requeit
that thew-ntspector e-sent °down', to investigate the case.
.

the

to enquire into the case, and tabs

in evidence, lie ebuld.

still,

be silent after the remarks that had
who had stated that, from Wliat
114,-. they had giYen,,Air. Heath fair

:Nrifs'op.j was satisfies that t

we was extieeCliiigk