THAMES HOSPITAL COMMITTEE MEETING.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1781, 17 September 1874, Page 2

THAMES HOSPITAL COMMITTEE MEETING.

. The first meeting of the Hospital General Committee for the further investigation into the alleged neglect of Maurice Po\ver by, the Hospital servants was ( held in the Salutation Hotel, last evening, at 7 o'clock. There were present: Mr. Howe (President), Eevs. J. Hill, Father Lbnergan, V. Lush, and Messrs. Frater, Renshaw, Mcllhone, McCullbugb, Power,; .Sims, Macnab, Souter, Kennan, Hudson, Tyler, Ronald Macdonald', and Gudgeon. The President suggested that the committee should-proceed to decide on. 'the course to be pursued in conducting the enquiry. He, said it had been suggested that Mr. Berry should take a report of the proceedings on behalf of the committee. Mr. Mcllhone considered they should ascertain the business first; probably Mr. Berry was, like some others, 1 engaged there specially. , The minutes of the last meeting were then, read and confirmed. Mr. Mcllhone said, regarding the President's suggestion, that it would be as well to have some one to take the proceedings down verbatim, which would prove,of great assistance to the Committee, He would move that Mr. Berry be asked if he would kindly take down the evidence. , ' . Mr. E. H. Power seconded the motion, which was carried, nem con. ' The Eev. Mr. Hill said before the subject of the report was entered';into; he wished to draw attention to a matter, the importance of which would be fully aci knowledged by the members of the Com-, mittee. As he had stated at the last meeting, the sub-committee felt that they were placed in a very difficult position with regard to the re-investigation, inasmuch as the witnesses had had the opportunity of reading all the evidence given. The Sub-Committee had not made that a consideration, however, and it had been decided to proceed with the investigation. But there was. another difficulty; A witness (it was said) had been tampered with by a member of the.Committee. How far the tampering had gone, he was not prepared to say:. but to some extent at least. It was their first | duty to see whether this .was the easel If it should be seen that anyone had tried to turn a- witness against the evidence as . produced—if that* were proved tp.be true —the Sub-Committee werftpkee^ in a dangerous position. In addition, if any member of the Committee had .tampered with a witness, he should, be disqualified from taking any. part in the investigation. The witness he referred to as having been tampered,with was Miss Milgrew. He asked-that Miss Milgrew be called first that she might be questioned as to whether she had been tampered with. ' Mr. Mcllhone said, with regard to the observation of Mr. Hill, he thought the request was a reasonable one. If it

should be show* that anyVaJifempT^had been made to make the youtjtgf lady alter the evidence she iiad given, there would be fair ground upon which to alter the enquiry. He was' not aware what grounds the rev. gentleman had for his statement; but was sure that he would not have made it without some reasons. He (Mr. Mcllhone) hoped that the Eresidentf &nd Committee would we their way to acceedmg to the request. MrJPower understood that Dr. Lethbridge's letter was the subject,, first to be considered. It was premature to question Miss Milgrew. He had' no objection to the request, but thought Miss Milgrew could be examined afterwards. It was carried that Miss Milgrew be examined as to the tampering before other evidence was taken. Mr. Honiss (Secretary) went in search of Miss Milgrew but returned to ask whether she had been requested to be in attendance, as he had failed to see her. Mr, Mcllhone said a resolution had been passed that Miss Milgrew should be examined first: nothing had been said about calling her. Mr. Honi»s saidhehadunderstood'that her presence was desired. Mr. Hill said the young lady was at Mr. Tyler's house, as a servant. She had no knowledge of the action he (Mr. Hill) had taken in the matter. He considered it necessary that she should be^ called, the resolution having been passed. It was desirable to have her testimony. Mr. Lush asked when they were likely to get,on with the business, if the young lady couM not come that night. Mr. Sims: Why not ask the gentleman to whom the charge refers, whether such is the case, and take his answer for granted. Mr. Hill: I object to such a course. Mr. Kennan suggested that perhaps Mr. Tyler would be, able to enlighten them as to whether Miss Milgrew could come. Mr. Tyler said he did not interfere with the domestic arrangements of his house. But as the request specially pointed at. him a* the member who had tampered with Miss Milgrew, he would have something to say at another time. Mr. McCullough proposed that Mr. Honiss be asked to go and see Miss , Milgrew. Mr. Mcllhone said if it could be shown that any member had tampered with a witness, it would have a great deal to do with the statement of such member, and would be calculated to throw great suspicion on anything he mighj; say. They would not bo justified in proceeding with the enquiry when one of the committee was suspected of that. Mr. Tyler said it was inconvenient for the girl to leave his house. His wife suffered from extreme, nervousness ; and could not be left atoned Under these circumstances it would be highly improper to ask for the girl's presence. The request of Mr. Hill, he was aware, was directed at him, because the girl lived in ids house, and for the purpose of shutting [his (Mr. Tyler's) mouth in the forthcoming evidence. He might state that since the resolutions had beea;passed he had not said a word to the girl. Before those resolutions had been passed he had asked her whether she had said what was in the report as published, but that was all. He hoped that he had sufficient sense of honor not to,be guilty of that with which he had been charged; such an one as nobody had made in respect to him until Mr. Hill, |the belicose parson had chosen to do so. The Chairman called Mr. Tyler to order, as did other gentlemen. Mr. Hill was asked no t. to reply. Mr. Hill said he had no intention of replying to what Mr. Tyler had said of him : he would let it go for what it was worth. Mr. Mcllhone thought those words made use of by Mr. Tyler should be at once retracted. Unless this was the case he.would not consent to sit on the Committee. Mr. Tyler said (to the President) no one had greater respect than himself for those in authority, but .when a man was charged with an offence cuch as he had been — Mr. Mcllhone interposed to" say that Mr. Tyler was not charged with anything; but if language of that kind were to be permitted there he would have nothing to do with it. Mr. Tyler said when interrupted he was abotxt to say that, laboring under that charge of falseness, he had made use of the expressions (which to say the least Were 1 not parliamentary) under the influence of excitement; and should be happy to withdraw the expressions. Mr. Hill said he had formerly risen to say that the remark of Mr. Tyler was a fair and just one; and one that they must bow to. He was anxious that the enquiry should be made for the sake of Mr. Tyler as well as themselves. " He had made no charge; he merely stated that he had heard it. .. If it were not true, he should be only too glad to learn it; but if it were true, it would be a serious matter for the Committee. As it was not convenient for Miss Milgrew to come there, they should appoint a committee of three to see Miss Milgrew. Mr, Tyler objected to thafc course: siace Mr. Hill had said he wished for the examination for his (Mr. Tyler's) sake, he proposed that Miss Milgrew be brought before the Committee, i Mr. Power would adjourn the inquiry. Mr. Bill did not wish to adjourn the enquiry—he was anxious that it should be proceeded with. Mr. Sims mentioned that it would be inexpedient to postpone the matter after the explanation bf.jfr. Tyler. He proposed they go on with it. Mr. Lush asked Mr. Hill if any other member of the Committee had tampered with witnesses. Mr. HilJ. t. That is what I wish to find ouifc. • ■. ■ . ■ Mr. Mcllhone: Perhapp Mr. Lugh

will not mind who answers that question; and I .may state that I have reasons* to. suspect others. > . i Mr. Frater inquired whether it was to be undersold that Mr. Tyler objected both to the girl coming and the deputation being sent. ; Mr. Tyler: Yes, Ido object. I would postpone the inquiry to any time. Mr. Hill would object to "a postponement. As the girl could not come there that evening, and |c Mr. Tyler objected to a deputation waiting upon her, they could hear her testimony some other time. Afte* a little discussion, arising upon the difficulty of proceeding without Miss Milgrew in the face of the resolution passed, Mr. Hill suggested that they should preface to tha^t resolution the words "having heard|he explanation of Mr. Tyler, that it would"be inconvenient for the girl to attend, it is decided that the enquiry proceed." Mr. Frater moved that the objection of Mr. Tyler to the deputation be also inincluded. A discussion then ensued as to whether the latter part should.be added. Mr. Sims thought the explanation of JMr. Tyler reasonable, and that the latter part was superfluous. Mr. Mcllhone said in that case He would move an amendment that the enquiry be postponed until Miss Milgrew can be present. Mr, Benshaw thought tho first reason quite sufficient. The Chairman was about to put the amendment when a misunderstanding arose, by which Mr.. Mcllhone conceived thafcMr. Sims looked upon tlw-second, portion of the objection as included in the original motion, and he was about to withdraw his amendment when it was found that Mr. Sims was still averse to the reference to the deputation in the preface, and Mr. Mcllhone therefore hold to his amendment. Mr. Lush rose and said he hoped every member would vote for the original motion. Rev. Father Lonnergan hoped every membe?: would vote conscientiously. Mr. Macnab said he was sorry to hear Mr. Lush asking the members to vote in any particular direction, and dictating to them. He (Mr. Macnab) hoped that every member would vote as his conscience led him. He thought the fullest enquiry' should be courted; and he would be willing to sit up every night to get at the root of the matter. He thought, moreover, that the enquiry would be facilitated by examining Miss Milgrew. Some discussion then arose as to the time of meeting to be convenient to members, and eventually it was decided to meet on Wednesday next,..the 23rd inst...