The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-02 00:00:00

THE CASE OF STARVATION AT
WORCESTER.-INQUIRY BEFORE AN AS
SISTANT POOR-LAW COMMISSIONER.

On Thursday J. T. Graves, Esq., attended at the
Union Workhouse, Worcester, for the purpose of inves-
tigating a charge of alleged neglect against a relieving
officer of the union, whereby it was alleged an infant of
one Sarah Dovey had, for want of proper clothing and
attention died. At,i the coroner's inquest, held on the
body about a fortnight ago, the jury found a verdict
charging the officer, William Crisp, with. neglect, and
hence the present inquiry was directed by the Poor-lass
Commissioners.
The first witness called was Elizabeth Scott, sister to
Sarah Dovey, the mother of the deceased infant, who
deposed that her sister was delivered of a male child on
Sunday morning, the 13th December. On the following
day she applied to Mr. Crisp, the relieving officer, foe
relief. In reply to Mr. Crisp's questions, she told him
that her sister had been confined at the workhouse about
fifteen months ago of a child still-born. Mr. Crisp
thereupon remembered who Dovey was, and, using a
c)tirse expression, asked whether she (Mrs. Scott) was
not ashamed to ask a second time for relief under such
circumstances. Mrs. Scott replied that she had done
nothing to be ashamed of, and told Crisp that her sister
had nothing to eat, nothing to cover her, and nothing
to lie upon. To this Crisp replied, " She sha'n't have
much, I'll take care of that." Crisp said he should not
go to her sister that night, upon which witness told him
that if he did not, either her or her child would die, and
she must go somewhere else. Crisp rejoined, "and
serve her right too." Witness told Crisp that her sister
had had nothing since her confinement but what she
(Scott) and the neighbours had given her. Witness bad
taken her sister on the Sunday a pint of tea and some
toast, and had borrowed a shilling to procure it, being
very poor herself. She did not., however, tell Mr. Crisp
what she had had. The witness was pressed on the im-
portant points of her evidence, but she persisted that she
had told the relieving officer that Dovey had nothing to
eat, and nothing to lie upon. The witness was cross-
examined by the guardians and by the relieving officer,
who was present during the inquiry. She said she had
represented her sister's case to Mrs. Crisp also in the
absence of her husband, when she first called at his
house, but this Mr. Crisp said he was prepared to prove
was not the case. Ann Pool, a midwife, said she de-
livered Sarah Davey of a male child early on the morn-
ing of December the 13th. She was in a deplorably
destitute condition. The house in which she found her
was a void house in Bridport-street, Worcester, and the
only furniture in it was a chair. There was no bed or
bedding, table, or anything else, and very little fire.
There was no food in the house on the Sunday when the
woman was confined, but she could not tell whether there
was any in the house on the Tuesday. Both on Sunday
and Tuesday, the only clothes which Sarah Dovey had
on were an old gown, which was open behind and torn
almost to pieces, and a shawl across her shoulders. She
had no petticoats nor cap. Before witness left on the
Tuesday, she had a conversation with Mr. Crisp, who
was with Dovey when she called. Crisp said, in reply
to witness's remark, that " it was a shocking place, and
that the woman had been confined in the workhouse
fifteen months before." Witness told him that she was
in the same state then as she found her in on the Sun-
day. Mr. Crisp said he should leave a shilling for her
at the huckster's shop near, and thut she must do with
that until the Thursday. This was on Tuesday, the
15th. Thursday was board-day. In her cross-exami-
nation by the guardians, the witness stated that she was
of opinion that if the child hal had sufficient clothing,
and if a tire had been provided (it being excessively cold
at the time), its life might have been saved. Her fee
was five shillings. She had not received it in Dovey's
case, nor did she expect to do so, unless the guardians
paid her.—Sarah Dovey, mother of the deceased
child, was then called into the board-room. She ap-
peared very weak, and spoke low. She stated that
Mr. Crisp attended her for the first time on the Tues-
day, two days after her confinement. She was then
sitting on a borrowed chair with her child on her lap.
There was no food in the house, and no other furniture
than the chair on which she sat, but there was a small
fire in the grate. Mr. Crisp having asked her how many
children she had had, said, " Are not you ashamed of
yourself ?" Witness answered, " Not more so than
other people." He then called her a dirty wretch, on
which she said that she was as much like a Christian as
anybody else. She was dirty then. Crisp did not ask
her who was in the house when she was confined.—Dlr.
Crisp, in his defence, said he should prefer making his
statement upon oath, and being sworn, and cautioned not
to say anything which might criminate himself, said—
Elizabeth Scott called at his house on Dec. 14, to ask for
relief for her sister, telling him that she had been con-
fined on Sunday, and that both her and the father of her
child were " very bad off." She said the mother had
had gruel and tea, and he thereupon said, " Atm% you
ashamed to come a second time ?" She replied that her
sister was not the only one that applied a second or even
a third time for relief under such circumstances.
He said, " Very well ; he should not come to her
that night, but that he would see her in the morn-
ing." Scott said, " They be very bad off ;" and
he (Crisp) replied, " Serve her right ;" and there-
upon she left him. Ile denied that Scott had ever told
Inns that if he did not attend to the case that evening
either the mother or child would be lost. He was posi-
tive Scott never told him that Dovey had nothing to eat
or nothing to cover her. He did say that it was too
bad, for that this was the second time St. Andrew's
parish had had her." With respect to his interview
with Dovey on the Tuesday, Mr. Crisp said ho found
her sitting before the fire, on a chair, sewing, with her
child at the breast. There was no furniture in the room
except the chair which Dovey sat on. Dovey did not
make any complaint of her wanting anything in particu-
lar, she said she wanted relief. Ile was not aware that
she had no under-garments, because she did not tell him
so. Before leaving her he told Dovey that he would go
to the shop in the street and pay for a few things for
her, which she could send for, but that, living in the
state in which she was, he said she would have little of
him. Ho, however, promised to lay her case before the
board of guardians OA the 'Thursday—board-day. He
then went and paid for the things at the shop, and Dovey
afterwards sent for them as she wanted them. He con-
cluded by calling witnesses to his general character.
This evidence terminated the inquiry. The Assistant
Commissioner will make his report thereon immediately
to the Poor-law Commissioners, who of course will com-
municate the result to the board of guardians of the
Worcester Union.

NEW YEAE'S-DAY.—Yesterday being New Year's-
day, the poor inhabitants of the several City parishes
had a supply of coals, bread, and other necessaries dis-
tributed among them by the respective parochial autho-
rities. The Ladies' Visiting Societies of St. Marylebone
and St. Pancras, in addition to their numerous gifts of
meat, bread, tea, sugar, oatmeal, coals, blankets, and
flannel clothing during the late inclement weather, have
ordered a further supply of coals to the poor inhabitants.
This gift will make above 250 tons distributed this
winter. The parochial authorities of St. Mary-le-
Strand and the precinct of the Savoy, St. Clement
Danes, and St. Paul, Covent-garden, gave tickets for
bread and coals in their respective parishes. The
clergymen of the extensive parish of St. Mary,
Lambeth, distributed coals, bread, and oatmeal to the
poor of their respective districts. There were similar
gifts in other parishes, and a very large quantity of coals
were issued from the City kitchen, and by the inhabi-
tants of St. George's, Hanover. square.
ATTEMPTS AT ROBBERY IN EAST LOTHIAN.--
Since the atrocious outrage and robbery at Begbie, in
the neighbourhocd of Haddington, occurred, a number
of farmers and others in the district have got all the
windows on the first floor of their houses strongly secured
with iron bars; a watch-dog is also kept, and in many
cases a loaded gun in readiness. All these precautions
are most necessary, as the Begbie affair seems to be but
the beginning of a system of robberies. Last week three
Irishmen, supposed to be "navvies," paid a visit to the
farm-house of Carfrae, in the parish of Garvald. They
broke a pane of glass, and attempted to open the
window-shutter of the room, but being well secured,
a degree of violence was used to get it opened,
which aroused the inmates. On the farmer inquiring
what was wanted, they would not speak, but con-
tinued working with the window fastenings. The gentle-
man threatened to fire if they did not desist and go
away, but no attention was paid to him, and he from an
upper window fired a pistol at them. Immediately after
this, one of them, with a strong Irish accent, exclaimed.
"Let's be off, boys," when all three ran away. At two
o'clock on the morning of Thursday, a similar attempt
was also made by thtee men to break into the manse of
Athelstaneford. The breaking of the window glass
awoke the reverend clergyman, and on repeated ques-
tions being put as to who they were and what they de-
sired, no answer was returned. The manse stands at
the end of the village, apart from any houses, so that it
was impossible that the human voice could be heard by
their minister
the villagers, to come to the rescue of
but he, with great prudence and presence of mind, tool
from the lobby a large hand bell, and, going to the
highest window of the house, opened it, and bean
ing the hell with great vigour. This had the ring.desire
effect. It made the villains decamp, and broughtthe
inhabitants of the manse to ascertain the cause of is
untoward ringing.—Bericick Warder.
Hoszeay.—lhe wrought cotton hose branch keeps
its ground, and the stockingers in the villa
suffering so much as in the tom' ; but cut-ups esare
not
every
samemay
ofery
description are on the wane. The
said of
steam propelled stocking-frames ; they area-evv evidently
the decline. The drawer, pantaloon, and shirt branchentlyon
is very dull, and many good and steady hands
ands make
heavy complaints of short employ most,
of no attempts to reduce the wages. yet we la( air
trade is further on the decline, especial(Th silk glove
y in the
the two-needle frames in the villages taking the tow n,
emplo:,7-
ment—in many oases through the truck system.-IYor-
tingham Review.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE STOCK Exc
MANGE, DEC.
31.—The sales were—Fleetwood, Preston, and West
S
Riding, ss. p.—Great Grimsby and • heffield Junction,
dk.—Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock, 265. 3d. p.
—Newcastle and Carlisle, New, 111 D
45
Berwick 15i p.—North British, 11 .Newcastle and
P.—Ditto, Quarters, s. p.---bitto, Extension, Y p.— ork and North Mid-
land, Preference, 12-1 p.