THE WELLINGTON ASYLUM ENQUIRY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XVI, Issue 62, 15 March 1881, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON ASYLUM ENQUIRY.

MISS BRIGDON'S EVIDENCE AND CROSS-EXAMIN ATJ ON . Condensed from the " Xeic Zealand Tiuu-x " and " Post." The Commission resinned its work on Thursday last. Mr Shaw and Mr Chapman appeared to prosecute, and Mr Edwards to proceed with his defence. Mr Whitelaw appeared m person. Elizabeth Brigden said she had been at the Asylum for some time, and knew Mrs Kettle. She first knew her m Scotland.- and resided with her at that place m the same house. She also came to New Zealand with her, and travelled with her from Scotland to London. Agreed to Mrs Kettle calling her her neice on the way out. Went to the Asylum with her, and saw Mr Whitelaw, and Mrs Kettle said to Mr Whitelaw : — John, Lizzie is my niece, and she is your cousin. Witness did not intend staying m New Zealand, but Mrs Kettle met with an accident, and broke her leg, and 1 witness decided to stay with her. About 18 months ago Mrs Kettle made witness promise that she would never leave her. She resided with Mrs Kettle all the time. W.-i -; on the staff of the Asylum from March iv ' ! , ueinber, m ' 1878, and again m December la: t had acted as ! matron. Had continued as m; tioii since Mr | Whitelaw had left the Asylum. Mr Whitelaw told witness that Dr Skae had asked that she might be allowed to remain. Mr Whitelaw took the voucher, and asked his mother to j sign it. He also received the cheque. Mrs Kettle was laid up at the time ; it was after she had broken her leg. Mrs Kettle said she was too bad to sign the voucher, and Mr Whitelaw said : "Do sign it." Subsequently witness signed it, and had often done so since. Mrs Kettle had asked her to sign more than once. By the Bench— Can you tell the Commissioners why she objected to sign it ? Witness—Because her hand shook so she could not sign it. Mrs Kettle was avare that witness signed the pay-sheet m her name, Had written a great many letters for her, consisting of business letters. By the Bench — Wp,s not aware that Mrs Kettle was m the habit of writing private letters, and never saw her with a pen m her hand since she left Scotland. By Mr Edwards — Had written private letters for her m Scotland. Knew a patient named Agnes Kobinson, and remember her bein^: j>ut into a cell ty Mr Whitelaw. Mr Whitelaw was coming up the walk with a watering-can, when Agnes Kobinson took up a large stone flowerpot, and threw it at witness. It did not strike her, but broke a pane of glass m the fernery. Mr Whitelaw did not use any violence m putting her m the cell. She was a very violent patient. She never complained to witness of the way m which she was treated. It would not be possible to for her to have been put m a shower bath, and held down by the head and feet. She" did not complain to witness about it. In answer to Mr Chapman, Miss Brigdon said — Three or four weeks after I first went to the Asylum I acted as an attendant, and was paid a salary, for which I used to sign vouchers. Shortly after I went there — I could not say how long — Mrs Kettle was laid up. About two months ago she was also laid up. Mr Chapman — You said you were with Mrs Kettle m Scotland. Was that m the employment of Lord Kinnaird? — It was. Did you ever see .» r Whitelaw at Lord Kinnaird's house ?— Once or twice. You made his acquaintance there ? — I spoke to liim for a few minutes each time. For a few minutes only ? —That was all, as far as I could remember. How long did he stay at Lord Kinnaird's house ? I could not say. Was it hours or days ? — lt might have been days. Was it weeks ? I could not say ; 1 saw Mr Whitelaw only twice. Did you know he was Mrs Kettle's son '!— I did. Did Mr Whitolaw have any reason to .suppose that you were Mrs Kettle's relation then '? — Not then. Was he aware that .you were tio relation to Mrs Kettle ?— Mrs Kettle told him that I was her niece.

That was m New Zealand ; is there anything to lead you to suppose that Mr Whitelaw knew you were not Mrs Kettle's niece? — I could not say. In what capacity was she employed at Lord Kinuaird's ? — As housekeeper. And m what capacity were you employed? (The witness hesitated, and at first refused to answer, saying the question was an unfair one. Evenutally, however, she consented to answer it.) Well, I was there as cook. In that capacity you were brought pretty considerably into contact with Mrs Kettle?— l was. You knew perfectly well you were not related to her .—l did. Did you ever tell that to Mr Whitelaw m New Zealand ? — No. You allowed him to helieve 3 T ou were related to him? — As Mrs Kettle had said so. The Chairman — Have you any ground for thinking that Mr Whitelaw believed at any time that you were his cousin ? — No. Mr Chapman Was the rslationship supposed to be one of first cousinship, or was it no more definite than cousin ? — lt was " cousin." You never did anything to remove the impression that you were his cousin ? — No, I did not. Chairman—You have told us it would be an advan- ! tage to be regarded as his cousin. In what way ?— Simply because Mrs Kettle thought I should be better protected if she called me her niece. It was her suggestion, not mine. Mr Chapman— ln her evidence she denies that. Do you mean to say she is telling a falsehood? — Most decidedly, if she has not forgotten the circumstances. When you signed her first voucher Mrs Kettle was ill m bed. When you signed the second one where was she ? I don't know. Did you make afrp attempt to imitate her signature ?— None. Did you receive the money ? — No. You say he kept £the cheque by her direction. Did you ever see him take another cheque to her ? — Not to my knowledge, Did you ever see him take another voucher to her ? — Oh, yes, on several occasions. Always with the same result, viz, that you were asked to sign ? — Yes. Did Mr Whitelaw ever tell you what he did with the money ? — No. Mrs Kettle used to get it when she wanted it ; she very often did want it. I suppose you can't tell us how much she received? — No, I don't suppose I can — not quite the figure. What do you mean by that ?— That she must have had the best part of her salary. Why do you think so? — Because when she wanted money she always wanted me to get it for her from Mr Whitelaw, and I used to do so. Did you ever get a receipt for it ?— No, I did not think it was necessary. I have taken money to her m that way many times— on two occasions £10 each, and several times 0,5. On ten occasions ? — I could not say. Twenty times ? — I could not say ; I have taken it a great many times. Witness continued — I was not present when a gentleman from Government Buildings visited the Asylum to enquhe about the vouchers. I got my cheques each month from Whitelaw, and saw othersVget theirs. The complainant (Mr J. Shaw) next crossexamined the witness, who said. Durirgthe time I was pot on the Asylum staff I contiDued to reside at the institution. I helped Mrs Kettle m her duties, and passed as her niece all the time. Complainant — I should like to know something more particular about your household relations during this residence. Where did you reside or sleep? There are five rooms upstairs. Three of tbem are hedrooms. Mrs Kettle had one, Mr Whitelaw bad another, and I had the third. Do I understand that yourself, Mr Whitelaw, and Mrs Kettle occupied these rooms upon the same floor during the whole of this time 2 — Yes. Bow did you have meals ? Did Mrs Kettle have them at the same time as you and Mr Whitelaw '!— Sometimes ; when she was too tired to come up she had hera downstairs. As a regular thing she ate at the same table as you and Mr Whitelaw except when she was too tired to come upstaits ? — Yes. You resigned at the eni of 1878. What did you do immediately aft< r that ? — I was not well. What did jou do when you were unwell V — l kept my bed, Did you continue to reside m the Asylum all the time you were unwell?— l did. You never left the Asylum i.j consequence of that illness ? — Yes, for a ' fortnight ; I went away for a change, and staytd at. a fiiend's bouse. Wheie ?— In thia town. Who was the friend ? — lt is unnecessary to tell you. (To this question Mr Edwards objected, and the Chairman said the witness could refuse to answer if she chose to do so.) The question being repeated, witness replied — Mr Chapman was the Dame of the gentleman who had the place. Complain* ant— Have you any objection to say what was the nature of your illness ? — Hard work. You went for a fortnight after that somewhere else, I believe? — I was never away from the Asylum except the one fortnight, and that was when I was getting better. Did you {jo nowhere else than to this house m Wellington to which you have referred ? — No ; I visited a great many people, if that's what you mean. Did you go to Featherston ? — Yes. Where did you stay there ?— At an hotel. Which hotel ? — I could not tell you. After you returned do you recollect any unpleasantness about keys between you i and Mrs Kettle ? — No ; none whatever. Do " you know Miss Chapman ?— Slightly. Did you one day take out of a book at the Asylum a letter addressed to Mrs Whitelaw, hold it over a cup of hot tea and read it ? — I ne?er did. I took a letter out of a book one day, but there was no address on it, and no signature. Ifc was m a green envelope. I opened it and read it, and tossed ie m the fire. — Do you mean it was anouytnous ? — I do not know what it was. (Laughter.) — Was it sealed or open V — lt was closed. You must have known, it was not your own letter ?— Certainly I did. Then why did you open it ?— Cuiiosity. The Chairman — Was it very interesting 'i (Laughter. ) Witness— l don't remember what it was. There were only one or two words m it. Cross-examination continued — Mrs Kettle always [had her breakfast upstairs — m her bedroom. I din not mess with the other attendants because I was supposed to be Mrs Kettles niece. That was one of the "advantages." (Laughter.)l don't know that the locks of Mrs Kettle's box were smashed during her absence from the asylum the other week, and her le ters and documents pulled our. By the Chairman — 1 drew my salary last month from James Grey, the clerk, and gave a receipt for it. I have known all along what J was signing when 1 signed on behalf of Mrs Kettle. 1 don't know the cause of her bad eye a few mouths ago. Whitelaw called m Dr Grace to see her, and she was then put m a dark room. Since then 1 have virtually acted as nntron ; i can't say why she has not resumed duties. I have not been appointed acting matron by Dr Skae or the Colouhl Oflico. 1 have nothing further to say.

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