The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-11-28 00:00:00

THE WORKHOUSE.-CHARGES AGAINST
MR. NIGHTINGALL. ,

An investigation into certain charges preferred against
Mr. Nightingall, one of the house surgeons to the Liver-
Workhouse, has been proceeded with during the last two
days, which originated in consequence of an order from
the Poor Law Commissioners, founded, we understand,
on representations which had been made to them of neg-
lect of duty on the part of Mr- Nightingall. In order to
inquire into the matter, the Hon. Charles Clements, one
of the assistant commissioners, arrived in Liverpool, and
a vast body of evidence has been laid before him, for the
consideration of the Commissioners. The examination
was conducted by Mr. Lowndes, the vestry clerk, and Mr.
Traffcrd, instructed by Mr, Currie, attended on behalf
of Mr. Nightingall. There were also present, during the
investigation, Mr. S. Thornely, Mr. J. Urquhart, Mr.
R. Bright, Mr. R. Jones, Mr. H. Bremner, Mr. A. Hen-
derson, Mr. R. Clay, Mr. G. Riding, Mr. W. Groom,
Mr. J. Wilkinson, Mr. E. Ford, Mr. John Hand, and
Mr. J. Muncaster.

The charges consisted of several instances of neglect of
his duty as house surgeon—that he had not attended to
the regulations of the honorary board of medical officers,
and that he had been inattentive to the patients under his
care, and in one instance had allowed a patient to remain
in the hospital after admission from twelve to twenty
hours, without being visited by him. It came out inci-
dentally during the inquiry, that some time ago, Mr.
Nightingall wrote to the Poor Law Commissioners to ask
their opinion, whether he ought to obey implicitly the
regulations of the honorary medical board, when the com-
missioners wrote to the select vestry, stating it to be their
opinion that the stipendary medical gentleman ought to
be at the head of the department, but asking for a report
on the subject. In order to draw up this report, a minute
book, kept by the honorary board, was produced, and in
this book several complaints were entered of want of at-
tention by Mr. Nightingall, which, coming to the know-
ledge for the first time of the select vestry, led to the
present inquiry.
On Thursday only two witnesses were examined, Mr.
Neil, surgeon, and Mr. Cripps, also a surgeon, the for-
mer being about four hours in giving his evidence. He
had for some time the care of the optbalmia patients i❑
the Workhouse, and stated that a great number of the in-
mates were labouring -under chronic disease of the eyes,
and that sufficient attention had not been bestowed on
them ; but he was of opinion that proper attention could
not be awarded to all the patients without a very consi-
derable addition to the number of medical men who at
present attended.
The inquiry was resumed again on Friday morning at
ten o'clock.

The first witness was Mr. Dowdall, the late governor,
but his evidence did not show a single instance of inat-
tention or neglect on the part of Mr. Nightingall, and, in
cross-examination, said he considered him a most able
practitioner, an attentive officer, and kind to his patients.
This was his opinion, notwithstanding his knowledge of
the honorary medical officers having frequently com-
plain, d of Mr. Nightingall's neglect.
Toe evidence of the present governor and that of
Thomas Galloway was given as to what occurred in the
case of a person named Smith, who was convicted a short
time ago for an assault on them, the facts of which have
already been made public.
Mr. David Macrorie, one of the assistant physicians,
was examined, and in the course of his examination, the
minute book kept by the honorary board was produced,
and the charges read. He proved that they were correct,
as stated in the book.
His evidence was corroborated by that of Dr. Gouth-
Waite, who was of opinion that Mr. Nightingall had not
been so attentive as he ought to be up to a certain period,
but that since the 19th August there had been no ground
of complaint. He knew Mr. Nightingall had suffered se-
verely from domestic affliction.
Mr. S. M'Culloch, the honorary surgeon, also corro-
borated the opinion of the two last witnesses. In cross-
examination, he said be had the highest opinion of the
talents and ility of Mr. Nightingall. He thought, in
addition to the present medical officers, there ought to be
a dispenser; and with that assistance, Mr. Nightingall
and Mr. Wood were perfectly competent to perform the
duties of the establishment. He knew he had suffered
severely from domestic affliction, and that he was at pre-
sent labouring under a most painful surgical disease,
which would have the effect of impairing his mental and
physical faculties ; but unless the disease assumed a much
more aggravated character, he was capable of efficiently
discharging his duties.
This closed the evidence offered in support of the
charges, and Mr. Trafford stated that he should not
tender any evidence to dispute the facts already brought
forward, but should call several witnesses to character.
Dr. Formby was first called, and he gave Mr. Night-
ingall a very excellent character as an able practitioner,
having had very great experience, by which he had pro-
fited. Some years ago, when typhus fever was very pre-
valent in the town, and when he expected an attack was
coming on, he gave orders to have Mr. Nightingall called
in if he got worse. He also knew that Mr. Nightingall
was suffering under a severe disease; but he thought it
would remain ti its present quiet state for a long time
yet, and thus he would be enabled to attend to his duties.
Dr. Banning gave similar testimony.
The Rev. S. Cragg, chaplain to the Workhouse, who
had known Mr. Nightingall for two years, and had had

daily oppc;i ies of observing his conduct, said it was
kind and attentive, and he had frequently beard it well
spoken of by the poor.
Mr. Churchwarden Wilkinson, a member of the Select
Vestry, and who had been so for the last ten or twelve
years, had never heard any complaints against Mr. Night-
ingall previous to those brought forward during the present
inquiry, and also gave him a good character for attention.
This was the last witness called, and the inquiry termi-
nated at four o'clock.

TWE POLICE FORCE.—This week the newly-appointed
Watch Committee proceeded to fill up twelve vacancies in
the police force, and so numerous were the applicants
anxious to occupy vacant situations, that the committee,
in order to have a full view of the men, directed them all
to assemble at one of the police stations, on Wednesday,
when tt e selections were made. The number of appli-
cants was 160.

SYSTEMATIC SHOPLIFTING.—Bridget Dunn, who has
been in the habit during the last six weeks of frequenting
the shop of Mr. Aaron Lewis, draper, Great George-
street, was found on Tuesday to have concealed under her
cloak, two shawls, a piece of cloth sixteen yards long, a
quantity of lace, and other articles. On searching her
residence, a quantity of lace, a piece of silk, and a gown,
which had been stolen from the same shop, were found,
as also the pawn ticket of another stolen gown. On
Wednesday she was committed to the sessions by Mr.
Rushton.

LIGHT SOVEREIGNS.—We are enabled to state on the
most undoubted authority, that the statement which ori-
ginated in the Mercury, and has since been copied into
other papers, to the effect that the Branch Bank of En-
gland, in this town, is in the habit of issuing light gold, is
wholly unfounded. All gold received, or paid, is tested
by the standard weights authorised and sanctioned by the
Mint, although it may often happen that gold, which is
of full weight, may appear to be short, when tried by in-
accurate scales in the possession of individuals. We have
ourselves, for instance, two sets of scales, which differ
from each other; and, on a late occasion, on taking
eighteen sovereigns to the Stamp-office, which were light
by our own scales, fourteen were accepted as heavy by the
government officials, who carefully weighed them. In
other instances we have had sovereigns, heavy by our own
scales, rejected as light by the Borough Bank. Such
being the case, it is rash and unjustifiable in a journalist,
to give circulation, without previous inquiry, to a " rail-
ing accusation" against a respectable public establishment,
which will not condescend, directly, to justify its charac-
ter against what it considers so contemptible a calumny.
—Chronicle.

THE LATE CHARGE OF IN'CENDIARISM.—At the
borough court, on Monday, Hardman was again placed in
the dock, and the other two boys were brought up before
the magistrates. Mr. Beswick said, he had nothing farther
to communicate to the court in this case, except the re-
ceipt of some letters. From one which he had received
from the vessel with which the boys stated they had been
connected, he had learned that they entered the service
on the 10th of July, and left on the 22d of October, con-
sequently they could not have been in Wales at the time
stated. Mr. Maude said, there was no doubt about the
innocence of the lads, and he would therefore discharge
them. Mr. Beswick applied for the further remand of the
prisoner Hardman to Tuesday, by which time he expected
some communications from Wales. The prisoner Hard-
man was then remanded, and the two boys were then
discharged from custody. A subscription was commenced
in court to enable the boys to reach their home, in Maid-
stone, and in a short time I9s. was collected. On Friday,
Hardman was again brought before the magistrates; and
Mr. Beswick having stated that Mr. Roberts, treasurer
of the St. Asaph Association for the prosecution of Fe-
lons, had arrived in Manchester, in order to remove the
prisoner to Denbigh on the charge of setting fire to the
stacks, Mr. Maude directed that the prisoner should be
handed over to that gentleman.—Manchester paper.
AN IMPOSTOR CAUGHT AT LAST.—On Thursday last,
at the Police-court, William Reddy, a person for a con-
siderable time known as an " amateur' attendant at that
court. He had to some represented himself as studying
for the bar—albeit when he ventured to put pen to paper,
which was rarely, and only to the extent of an inquisitive
note across the table; he exhibited a woful lack in indus-
try in studying the " Spelling made Easy." He at length
attained in one sense, the height of his ambition—he was
called to the bar. He was charged with obtaining money
from a Mrs. Brown, by means of a forged certificate, pur-
porting to be signed by " D. Gibb," whom, on being
questioned he stated to be " Mr. Duncan Gibb," mer-
chant and shipowner of this town. Mr. Gibb was in
court, and stated that the signature was not his, and he
did not know the prisoner. Several other certificates, or
letters. were found upon the prisoner, which were also
forgeries. The prisoner said he had possession of the
letters in question, bnt had not made use of them. Mr.
Rushton said the prisoner had evidently been pursuing
a systematic course of fraud with a view to impose upon
the charitable c. . unity, and ordered him to be im-
prisoned for t ' ..onths.—The prisoner, it would be
remembered, m• . himself notorious at the municipal
election last year by being accessory to inducing a man
not entitled to vote to represent a voter in Castle-street
Ward, and was exposed for his conduct in the police-
court, to which he had imprudently gone as a mere audi-
tor in the case, but was on its hearing (his name being
mentioned) lugged into custody from behind the screen,
or curtain, near the bench. We learned, at the tirue,

th regret for the parties duped, that the same r