The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-17 00:00:00

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sent to
_oo. fion Octobt
Janet Johnson, orphan, was admitted June 24, _ am.
sent to Tooting, December 2, 1847. Bridget Quin was
admitted September 18, 1848, and sent to Tooting Sep-.
ternber 30, 1848; she had a mother in the house.
Michael Harper was admitted September 16, 1848, and
sent to Tooting September 30, 1848; he had a mother in
the house. Had notice of the outbreak of the cholera at
Tooting on the 2d of January from a man named Kelly,
who was a pauper belonging to Holborn, and had been
over to Drouet's. On the 3d had also a verbal commu-
nication to the same effect. Received on the 4th, the
first official communication on the subject, and the same
day a medical man went from the workhouse to Tooting
to ascertain the real state of matters.
Mr. Wynch, a member of the Holborn board of
guardians, examined—Visited Tooting on the 9th and
Oath May last, with other guardians. Saw the boys at
dinner en the 9th. Cut open 100 patatoes in their plates,
and fbund them black and diseased. Told Mr. Drouet
they were unfit to eat; aid he replied he had paid seven
pounds a ton for them. Told him he ought to substitute
some other food in their piece; but he made no reply.
Some of the rooms were unhealthy; the sleeping-rooms
were all very clean. The girls looked very well; but
the boys sickly, and very unhealthy. The inspection
took place in the school-room. The visitors did not ask
Mr. Drouet, and his brother, and his schoolmaster, to
withdraw', in order that they might have a private exa-
mination of the children. Mr. Rebeck (one of his brother
guardians) asked the boys if they were dissatisfied with
the food, or anything else; and forty of them held up
their hands, to show that they had reason to complain.
This witness then detailed the altercation that ensued,
precisely as it appears in the report quoted by Mr. James,
the clerk. Had heard Mr. Drouet say he could feed the
children better it he was paid more. He received from
Holborn 4s. 3d. per child. Did not know that he (wit-
ness) had any power as a guardian over the dietary or
clothing furnished to these children.
Richard Hall, Assistant Poor-law Commissioner, de-
posed—Had been inspector and superintendent of the
metropolitan district since 1843. In the discharge of his
duties was in the habit of inspecting Mr. Drouet's estab-
lishment at Tooting twice a year. Thought that estab-
lishment was not under the control of the Poor-law
Commissioners. Visited that establishment merely as
an informant to the Poor-law Commissioners. Knew of
no regulations having been ever issued by which estab-
lishments such as Mr. Drouet's could bo governed. Be-
lieved the opinion of the Commissioners was, and ever
had been, that they had no power to make any orders
for such establishments. With the 15th and 49th of the
Poor-law Act before his mind, that was witness's own
opinion also.
The CORONER here remarked that it was very de-
sirable they should ascertain who was responsible, if
blame was ascribable for what occurred; and justice
could not be administered without that fact being dis-
covered. He wished to know Mr. Hall's construction
of the 15th and 49th sections of the Act of 1834;
and if ho considered the Poor-law Commissioners
had nothing to do with Mr. Drouet's establishment, ho
would have to ask why he had interfered with it at all.
It had come out in evidence that the board of guardians
had consulted the Commissioners before the children
were removed to Tooting; and that the Commissioners
had sanctioned their removal, subject to the approval of
Mr. Hall. He wished Mr. Hall to say whether Mr.
Drouet was or was not a contractor, within the meaning
of the Act.
Mr. Hall said that the first time these establishments
came under his notice with reference to the power of the
Commissioners to control them was in connexion with
the City of London Union, which kept adult paupers at
Marlborough House, Peckham, and at another institu-
tion at Stepney-green. Rules were issued by the Com-
missioners for the city of London in 1842, but they had
ultimately withdrawn them again, and they re-
mained without control up to the present time. The
Commissioners had come to the ,conclusion that
they could not issue valid rules for the regulation
of such institutions as that of Mr. Drouet
at Tooting, and that of Mr. Aubyn at Norwood. The
Commissioners might, although possessed of no direct
control over these establishments, have certainly issued
an order prohibiting the guardians from sending the
children to Mr. Drouet's, or they might have sent a pe-
remptory order, requiring the guardians to withdraw
them thence after they had been already farmed out;
but either of these courses would have been a very strong
measure. Neither Mr. Drouet nor anybody else under
him were poor-law officers; and he (Mr. Hall) had
never heard the question mooted of issuing regulations
for such contracts for farming out the children. The
last inspection witness had made of Mr. Drouet's eats-
blidnent was on the 16th of November last, when he
was accompanied by Mr. Tuffnell, the Queen's inspector
of school-. Understood from Mr. Drouet on that occa-
sion, that he was about to receive more children into his
as)lutu, and that he had increased his accommodation
since witness was last there. Witness told him he
thought the establishment would not admit the num-
ber contemplated. Thought it advisable that Mr.
Drouet should receive pecuniary assistance from the pub-
lic funds, and be placed upon the same looting as Mr.
Aubyn had been for several years past. Represented to
the president of the Commis:akin, that the accommodation
of Mr. Drouet's buildings, and the number of his
teachers for educating the children, and instructing them
in different trades, were insufficient ; and that it would
be advantageous to make him a grant from the public
funds, as, by that means, he would tie ready to submit to
any terms and stipulations that might be unposed upon
him as accompanying such a grant of enoney. At his
inspection of Mr. Drouet's asylum he went over the
whole of the establishment, particularly the school-
rooms. Came to a determination as to the number of
additional teachers which were required. Mentioned it
to Mr. Drouet, who was quite favourable to the improve-
ment in consideration of the proposed grant from Go-
vernment. Mr. Drouet was to pay 601. towards the
further sum that was necessary ; and they calculated
that the Government would pay 250/. Two boys',
and two girls' teachers, and one infants' teacher were
the additional teachers to be engaged; and these were
the arrangements (for they did nut amount to an order,
which the Commissioners would have the power to en-
force):—not more thin 400 boys for the large school;
160 girls for the senior girls' school; 120 for the junior
girls' school; nor more than 250 for the infant school—
not more than these numbers, respectively, were to bo
taught together in the schools at the same time. Nothing
was said about ventilation, and no calculation was made
as to the space to be allotted for each child. Thought
the room too hot and too crowded on the 16th of
November, and mentioned it to Mr. Drouet. Saw the
dormitories, and found the children sleeping three in
a bed. Expostulated with Mr. Drouet on this evil,
reminding him that in the establishment under the
control of the Commissioners the children were not
allowed to sleep more than two in a bed. Mr. Drouet
said he would turn his attention to that subject, and
he afterwards informed witnessed that he had in-
creased the beds, and then allowed two only to sleep
together. By reason of the grant previously alluded to,
no additional power was given to the Commissioners in
point of law; they had merely a recommendatory power.
Had visited Mr. Drouet's on the 14th of December, 1847.
Found 1,065 inmates in the asylum then, and that it could
receive 1,100 altogether. The schools were full, and
very few were sick—there was one case of influenza, and
a few of measles. Never called the children privately to
him. Had had it represented to him that Mr. Drouet
unfairly kept the girls up late doing needlework for his
own profit. Asked the girls then if it was true, and
they all denied it. Asked the same question of some of
them after they had left Mr. Drouet's and returned to
their unions, and the answers he received did nut bear
out the representations that had been made to him re-
specting Mr. Drouet's conduct. N ,ver compared Mr.
Drouet's dietary with that of other houses or unions.
Scales were kept in every workhouse, and every pauper
could call upon the master to weigh out his rations, and
see if they gave him the allowance allotted him by the
rules. Considered Mr. Drouet's dietary a fairk
a
one, and could find no fault with it if the
quantities were carried out where they were
made
fixed, and if an adequate allowance
where the amounts were not specified. iVewnetretroreTnogoet.-
ing after the cholera had broken out. Hall the
meats had been properly carried out, andhp
wit re
had been taken to divide the children ropagearrdcatroe
that the
schools and a orkshops, witness considered
ated
01041,0 the 1,370
establishment would broke out.
have accomhnieoele_
children that were in it when the
recommend at any
Had official authority to
lodged, but possesseo
place where pauper childeeevniswitelC
iLsotihtuetpioanrst aset atlhrc.,
rDorooru-el Drouet's.
Witness no power to order at tact,
Witness wished toierernstahese
establishments were as un-
Commissioncri, as' they ever could be to the coroner •to t
Duce attempted to remedy the evil by
satisfactory
schools, but such a strong feeling
and it had been
distarl:gaiest that plan that it was obliged to
establishing
had been create
be abandoned.
giJoian
jjosenworth, potato•salesman
16, Counter-
street,h-market,
supplied Mr.
Borough-market,
peouet with potatoes, at Tooting, for the last eighteen
years; but never had done so by contract. About two
months ago was eharging Mr. Drouet from Cl. to CI. 10s.
per ton.
Henry Boulding, foreman to Mr. Thos. Wilkinson,
baker, Tooting, deposed—llia master, who was unable
to attend here through illness, supplied Mr. Drouet's
establishment with bread. The quality was a portion of
house-flour, with a portion of No. 2. Sold exactly the
same quality in the shop to private customers. Mr.
Drouet's contracts lasted for six months, and the price
was 14s. Od. per cwt., or about 6,r-'d. per loaf. It was all
weighed at Mr. Drouet's establishment on delivery.
Jonathan Gain, butcher, Kennington-common, exa-
mined—ldad supplied Mr. Drouet with meat, by con-
tract, for the last three years. Had to supply him with
the beet meat, but not the primest parts.
Samuel Bowyer, cure dealer and mealman, Uppera
Ground-street, Lambetb, examined Supplies 31r
Drouet with flour and split-peas, but not by contract.
Had done so for some year:. Did not think he supplied
Mr. Drouet with all he had. Sometimes supplied him
with twenty and sometimes with twenty-five, sacks of
flour at a time. The quality was No. 2.
with from five to ten quarters of split-peas,
buoprtiheed besthini
quality, at a time.
The summoning officer her© stated
that Mheessr
s. Tru-
man, Hanbury, and Co. were the
ebrewers who supplied
officer)
had four
Mr. Drouet's establishment. He (the
children to produce as witnesses, taking ill. who had slept with the
deceased up to the time of the letter's
The CoCORONERthen observed to the jury that he
thought they had now arrived at a stage when they could
very well adjourn again, without detriment to the se-
queney of the inquiry.
ore _
b fordo half-past five o'clook, ad-
The jury, shortly
• jouuma top °duck on Friday morning next

0.•;M:3

[PRICE4 6D.