The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-01-07 00:00:00

MEMORIAL OF MR. MILLER

The TOWN-CLERK read a memorial from Mr. Miller,
the late head constable, a copy of which had been sent to
each member of the council, complaining of the report
the Watch Committee had lately presented to the council
with respect to his alleged inefficiency. There was a long
statement of his case appendid to the memorial, which the
council requested the Town-Clerk not to read.
Mr. nem said it was his intention to have called at-
tention to the case without reference to Mr. Miller's
statement. He thought that there was enough to show
that something like—be would not say oppression, or a
denial of what would be considered justice out of doors,
had been practised ; but he thought there was quite suffi-
cient shown, not only in the memorial, but in the records
of the Watch Committee, that the matter could not be
allowed to rest where it was, and that it ought to be in-
quired into further. Mr. Miller, it appeared, was not
allowed to be present when the evidence was received
against him ; but in the absence of the Mayor, who was
chairman of the Watch Committee at the time, he should
refrain from going into the question. He moved that the
memorial of the head constable be taken into considera-
tion at the next meeting, and that in the meantime the
evidence taken before the Watch Committee on the sub-
ject of his conduct be laid on the table for the inspectien
of the members of the council.
Mr. AnciN seconded the motion.

Mr. TURNER remarked, that when Mr. Miller applied
for the evidence he was told he might have it publ.shed,
and that be objected to its publication.
Mr. THORNHILL said the inquiry which had been in-

stituted was not an inquiry into Mr. Miller's conduct,
but into the general efficiency of the force, from the head
constable down to the lowest constable ; and that if Mr.
Miller had a right to he present, then every man in the
force had an equal right to be present. In the course of
the inquiry it was ascertained from all the officers that
Mr. Miller's conduct was not such as the committee
could approve of. It was all a fallacy to suppose that
Mr. Miller had been discharged, as had been alleged, for
eating his breakfast at Birkenhead. His going to Bir-
kenhead, contrary to orders, was a subject merely for re-
primand. It was only a shadow. 'I he real charge against
him was for inefficiency ; and in their own justification
the committee were obliged to publish their report.
Mr. AIKIN thought that if the man had not had an op-
portunity of rebutting the evidence, he had scanty justice
done to him.

Mr. HonosoN delivered an able speech in justification
of the course pursued by the Watch Committee, who
were, he contended, the masters of the Head-constable.
Mr. Miller's testimonials were thought sufficient : his
performance was considered insufficient. He had no he-
sitation in saying, that there was a most marked want of
confidence in Mr. Miller for a great length of time, and
that there was not a dissentient voice with regard to his
leaving the force. He concluded by saying, that he
should oppose the motion, upon the ground that there was
no case made out for interfering with the decision, the
united decision of a body of masters with regard to the in-
competency of one of their servants to fill a most important
situation.

Mr. TcumEm said that anybody who read the evidence
of Mr. Miller and Mr. Whitty, would he fully satisfied of
the total incompetency of Mr. Miller for his situation.
The evidence against his efficiency was overwhelming. He
moved, as an amendment, that the memorial da lie on the
table.

Mr. KILSITAW seconded the amendment.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE thought that neither Mr. Mil-
ler's interests nor the dignity of the Watch Committee
would he promoted by further inquiry. He regretted that
the council should have condescended to reply to Mr.
Miller or to get into any paper war.
Mr. SliErrAnn said he had read the evidence carefully,
and that a more incompetent person than Mr. Miller he
bad never heard of. He was as foolish and as incompe-
tent a person as ever attempted to take charge of a great
body like the constabulary of Liverpool.
In reply to a question from Mr. Aikin,

Mr. HODGSON admitted that the Watch Committee
divided upon the question of bringing forward the report
after Mr. Miller bad resigned and published his letters in
the newspapers.

. -
The council, upon a division, agreed to Mr. Turner's
amendment, " that the memorial do lie upon the table,"
by a majority of twenty-eight to four. The four were
Mr. Nicol. Mr. Aikin, Mr. Wood, and Mr. Atherton.
The council adjourned soon after three o'clock.