The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-06 00:00:00

POOR-LAW INQUIRY.-THIS DAY.

This morning Mr. Parnell, the Poor-law Inspector, com-
menced an inquiry at St. Giles's Workhouse, touching the
death of a pauper named Richard Gibson, respecting whom
the jury at the coroner's inquiry made some severe stric-
tures, which Dr. Lancaster conveyed to the Poor-law
Board.

Mr. Robinson having been sworn, said—l am a clerk to
the vestry and to the directors of the poor for the united
parishes of St. Giles and St. George. I was 4appointed in
November, 1826. This is the second official inquiry I have
attended during that time by the Poorllaw Board. I re-
ceived the rules and regulations of the Poor-law Board now
put in. All the officers were supplied with a copy of them.
So far as I know, it was the wish of the directors that tho
spirit of them should be carried nut. The directors always
desired they should be so. The directors of the poor are ap-
pointed by the vestry, which is elected by the parishioners.
The directors inspect the workhouse once a month. The
workhouse, in 1848 and 1849, was inspected by the Medi-
cal Commissioners of the Poor-law Board in the first in-
stance, and by the Board of Health in the second. The
commissioners, in 1848, were Dr. A. Farre, Mr. Martin,
and Mr. Toynbee. The house was inspected with a view
to making arrangements for cholera cases in 1848, and in
the other year it was again inspected for the same purpose.
They published their reports by authority. The first re-
port stated the particulars of all the wards in the new and
old infirmary, giving the dimensions of the windows, fire-
places, &c. The second report repeated the former evi-
dence. The directors reported, in effect, that there was

ample room for cholera patients, and that they should be
placed in the new infirmary. The ward 47, in which

Richard Gibson was first located, is in that infirmary, and

so is ward 42, in which he died. The was no condeMna-
tion to ward 47. No exception was taken to it in the re-
ports. I have not considered it my duty to see that Mr.
Bennett, the medical officer, kept the medical officer's form
of account, which is appended to the rules and regulations
I have before alluded to. There are two medical officers
in our workhouse. One is assistant to Mr. Bennett, the
principal, and both are resident on the premises, and the
directors supply the drugs. This has always been the

case. We occupy the whole of the time of our medical
officers indoors and out. They are not permitted to take
private practice. The out-door officer changes frequently.
. . _

The principal medical officer has been with us about 20
years. The out-door officer seldom remains with us longer
than three years, as they find a private practice. We
always require the double qualification, as laid down by
the Poor-law Board. The assistant is the out-door
officer.

Mr. Rankley, the master of the workhouse, was next
examined, and said—l have filled my present office for six
years. Previous to that I was relieving-officer to the united
parishes. I don't think our inquests in the house from
deaths occurring in it average above one in two months.
We have now about 720 inmates, the great majority of
whom are aged, infirm, and sick people. I say we have
450 aged and sick persons amongst them. We have one
paid nurse, and a matron. Myself, the two medical
officers, the matron, a midwife, a nurse, and two porters,
are the paid officials. I can say I can go to all the male
wards twice a day, keep my books, and do all other duties
required of me by the rules and regulations of the Poor-
Law Board without any further assistance. Generally
speaking I visit all the male wards twice a day. I know
ward 47. I remember Richard Gibson- coming into the
workhouse on the 9th of July, 1864. He was then warded
in room 35. That is not the infirmary. He had the full
dietary of the house. Gibson remained in ward 35 till 29th
October. I can't say whether during that time Gibson had
extra dietary. I can't say how much extra dietary has
been consumed. On the 29th of October last Gibson was
removed to ward 47, by the doctor's orders.
Mr. Parnell—How does a sick man in the ward get his
extra diet ?

Mr. Rankley—lt is cooked in another part of the house
and sent to the ward.

Mr. Farnell—Have you a dietary table paper displayed in
the infirmary, so t?iat tho poor may know what they are
entitled to ?

Mr. Rankley—Yes ; I now put in copies of it.
Mr. Farnell—Does the Poor-Law Board interfere with

the dietary in the infirmary ? Because I have read in the
report of the inquest that Dr. Lancaster said the dietary
in the infirmary was insufficient for the sick inmates.
Mr. Rankley—No. The dietary is entirely in the hands
of-the medical officer. He can order whatever he pleases.
Mr. Farnell—How often do you change the sheets and
body-linen in the infirmary ?

Mr. Rankley—The moment it is required, but the body-
linen invariably once a week. The pauper nurses have
meat and beer daily. Gibson was removed to ward 42 on
the 9th of February, and died next day. During the time
Gibson was in ward 47 he had the same paid nurse, but the
pauper nurse died, and her place was supplied. One of
the pauper nurses was with him throughout his illness.
Her name was Mary Ann Poacher. She is still in the
house. I never heard a single complaint from Gibson, nor
did either of the nurses speak to me about him.
Mr. Farnell—Did any of the inmates ?
Mr. Rankley—No, none. The paid nurse is answerable
for the food of the patients being administered to them, and
she is also responsible for the cleanliness of the ward.
Ward 47 holds 18 beds. The number was fixed by the
Poor-law Board. They had done the same for evory ward
in the house. We carry out the order exactly. We never
have any more than 18 beds in Ward 47. I never recollect
the whole of the beds in that ward being occupied at one
time.

Mr. Farnell—Did Gibson ever desire his bed to be
changed?
Mr. Rankley—No, never.
Mr. Farnell—ls it the rule of the house that no food
shall be brought into the workhouse ?

Mr. Rankley—Yes, and we have a porter and a female to
see that it is not done ; but the doctor has permitted such
things as an egg, butter, and tea to be brought in. He
never allows meat to be introduced by the friends of in-
mates of the infirmary.

Mr. Farnell—Was Gibson ever in a dirty state while in
ward 47 ?

Mr. Rankley—No, I never saw him so. I was present
when he was removed to Ward 42. The barber never
complained to me about Gibson. The man had a niece
that used to visit him, but she never complained of any-
thing. If a pauper was very ill we should immediately
send to his friends. It is our practice to do so. I never
heard that Gibson was in a distressed state while in the
house. I never heard him complain to the directors when
I have visited his ward in their company. Our paid nurse
gets £2O per annum with rations. I have never heard that
she has complained of her orders not being attended to. I
have never had to report the nurse for tho non-performance
of her duty.

The investigation was likely to occupy some days.

MARKETS--This Day.

METROPOLITAN CATTLE.

There was a fair average supply of beasts on offer in our
market to-day, but the general quality of the stock was by
no means prime. Sales progressed slowly, and in some
instances the quotations had a downward tendency. The
show of sheep was moderate. Prime Downs and half-
breds were tolerably firm; otherwise the mutton trade was
in a sluggish state, at barely late rates. The top figure for
Downs in the wool was 6s 6d per 81bs. Lambs were in
fair request, at from 6s to 7s per Blbs. Calves moved off
slowly, at barely late rates. Pigs were a dull inquiry.
Milch cows sold at from £l6 to £22 each.