HOSPITAL GENERAL COMMITTEE.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1787, 24 September 1874, Page 2

HOSPITAL GENERAL COMMITTEE.

ALLEGED MISMANAGEMENT ■■' INVESTIGATION.

The adjourned meeting of the Hospital General Committee was held last night at 7 o'clock in the Salutation Hotel. There wero present—Mr. W. Eowe (President), Messrs. Mcllhone, Benshaw, Souter. Macnab, Frater, Power, Tyler, Macdonald, Gudgeon, Sims, Cox, Beys. Hill, Lonnergan, and Lush.

The minutes of last meeting were read. Mr. Tyler said the minutes were scarcely correct^-Mr. Hill had not proposed any resolution, but simply made a request that Miss Milgrew be the first witness.

Mr. Hill: I think Mr. Tyler's statement is correct.

Mr. Tyler said he had noticed it. at the time, but had not said anything, as he did not wish to throw any obstacle in the way. Proposed by Mr. Tyler, and seconded by Mr. Mcllhone, that the minutes be amended. ' ni The minutes were then confirmed.

The Secretary read a copy of a letter sent to Miss Milgrew requesting her attendance that evening; also that lady's reply, in which she respectfully declined to come, and referred to the motives which had been imputed to her by the Thames Advertiser. The letter stated that the writer had given the facts in referenco to Power's casa in as mild a form as possible, but sho shrunk from placing herself again in a position to be misrepresented. Mr. Hill: Would it be in order to state the position of Miss Milgrew in this matter?

President: I think not; Miss Milgrew is not here ; but we have her evidence as printed, and must stand by it.

Mr. Tyler said that was not the point, and would be treated of in its proper place by the Committee. He asked that steps should be taken to clear uj) the imputation which rested on him, inasmuch as the reference to tampering was clearly intended to point at him and to $how that he was not a proper perion to sit oh that Committee. He was not placed in a fair position as certain charges had been made —founded purely on hearsay—and opportunity should be given of clearing the matter. He again most emphatically denied that he had endeavored to induce the girl to alter her evidence. If the enquiry proceeded without this preliminary investigation, he would be iv this position, that he would be compelled either to leave it or to remain still, resting under, the imputation which cask a stain upon his honor. He had arranged with the Rev. Mr. Hill to confer with the girl apart from himself. That gentleman did so, and afterwards said in his (Mr. Tyler's) presence that he was perfectly satisfied, and would set the matter right on Wednesday night. _ As to what Mr. Mcllhone's opinion might be, whether good, bad, or indifferent, was utterly— Mr. Tjlor was here called to order on, all sides and the President interposed. * Mr. Mcllhone said he held the , same opinion of what Mr. Tyler might express. Mr. Tyler: As I said b«fore, I am quite indifferent as to what Mr. Mcllhone may think of me, as I hold what he may say in the greatest contempt. . This expression caused another cessation for a moment, when Mr. Mcllhone asked the Chairman if there was anything before the meeting to sppalc to; if not Mr. Tyler should be requested to leave the room. His conduct was most ungeutlemanly. Mr. Tyler: I should not ask you how to conduct myself: were I to do so, I should not be asking a gentleman, Mr. Tyler was again called to brdar. More of the same kind of stoppages occurred for some time, when the President said he should vacate the chair if Mr. Tyler did not submit to his ruling. Mr. Tyler said he was perfectly in order. He had a resolution to move. He was going to charge a member of that Committee with being unfit to bo a member —that member was Mr. Mcllhone, and heshould make a motion to that effect. The reason Mr. Mcllhone v.as unfit was because he was so strongly biassed. , At the time the anonj'm'ous letters had been received Mr. Mclihone expressed his surprise, as he was a friend of Maurice Power's, and had never heard any complaint—on the contrary he had said he was pleased with his treatment.

Mr. Mcllhone : I did not say so

; Mr, Tyler: After a time the; inquiry was held, and the Itev. Fa.her Lonnergan gave evidence. Father Lonnergan. amongst other things, said that he had been told that Power did, while in the Hospital, make complaints.

liev. Father Lonnergan: I deny it. Mr. Tyler: Of course; there are members of ,tbe committee who heard what I state. ■■.','

Her. Father Lorinergan: Tell the truth. „-■:.'■

Mr. Tyler continued —The rev. gentleaie.a had said that i'ower did complain of

the treatment, and he had been told this by Mr. Mcllkono some weeks vbefore. Therefore either Mr. Mcllhone or Father Lonuergan was telling an untruth, arid ho should prefer to believe Father Lonnergan; knowing Mr. Mcllhpne's antecedents, ho could not believe him in preference to Father Lonnergan.

Confusion ensued. The Chairman called Mr. Tyler to order again, and said he could not allow allow any member to say that the antecedents of another would lead him to believe he was capable of telling a lie.

Mr. Tyler said it was necessary in moving his resolution lo make use of unpleasant remarks in support of that resolution. Ho then continued to say that a member of the committee, noticing the discrepancy between the statements of Father Lonnergan and Mr. Mcllhono, spoke about it, and Mr. Mcllhone said— " If I had sai d that on the general committee I should not have been put od the subcommittee."

Mr. Mcllhone : That is false.

Mr. Tyler asked the president whether it was proper that he should be continually interrupted in that manner. Chairman : Yes; I think when a member makes a statement which another member is in a position to know is untrue, the denial should be accepted. He had never in all his experience known such conduct at a meeting. He never had known of such a course having been pursued.

Mr. Tyler replied that perhaps in all the President's experience be had not known a person to be charged with an offence of so serious a nature as that with which he (Mr. Tyler) had been charged, upon hearsay. Mr. Mcllhone had shown a desire to pack the Committee with creatures of his own.

Chairman: I will not sit in the chair if Mr. Tyler continues to use such expressions, and I think the Committee will support me. (Hear, hear). Mr. Tyler said he had made that remark and did not wish to repeat it. He was, however, prepared to prove that Dr. Lethbridge had been asked to give £10 to secure a committee in his own interests at last annual meeting.

Mr. Mcllhone: Dr.Lethbridge offered the £10, if you wish to know the particulars.

Mr. Tyler said it would be seen that there,were some grounds for the statement ; but as to what Mr. Mcllhone had said he was in a position to prove exactly to the contrary. He then moved his motion, which was to the efftct that it is not desirable that Mr. Mcllhone should take part in the hearing of this matter. The motion was not seconded.

The Key. James Hill remarked on what Mr. Tyler had said respecting hia (Mr. Hill's) visit to Miss Milgrew. He had gone to Miss Milgrew at the request of Mr. Tyler. He went expecting to hear a statement from Miss Milgrew in the presence of Mr. Tyler. No statement was made, however; and he put a few questions to the young lady. It would be in the recollection of the Committee that he did not profess to know the facts of the case, and that if the charges of tampering were true, to whit extent that tampering had gone. And in order that no charge of interested motives could be imputed to him, he had purposely avoided seeing Miss Milgrew; he merely stated the suspicions which he had heard, and the alleged facts so far as he knew them at the time. With regard to what he had said to Mr. Tyler after the interview with Miss Milgrew he said he was far from being satisfied; and further that he should seek the first opportunity of laying the matter before the Committee. After leaving Mr. Tyler's house he had seen a party who had given him the alleged facts of the case: there was no contradiction between what Miss Milgrew had said and the alleaged facts as he had learned them. He was now more strongly inclined than ever to go on with the case. He was more desirous that Miss Milgrew should bo brought before that Committee. He (Mr. Tyler) had refused to allow a deputation of that Committee to wait upon Miss Milgrew, and yet he wished them to go on the evidence of a private individual. Mr. Tyler : I wish to explain. I only wish to see the enquiry proceeded with, and the matter cleared up, or the charge should be withdrawn.

Mr. 31 ill said he had been speaking. He said that Mr. Tyler had objected to Miss Milgrew's being brought to the Committee, and he had also objected to a deputation of that Committee waiting upon her at her own dwelling—Mr. Tyler's house*- An invitation had been subsequently sent to Miss Milgrew, to attend, a refusal to do which appeared in the letter received from her. As to Miss Milgrew's not coming on the former occasion he could not help that; now that young lady refused to come because she had been attacked in the Thames Advertiser —and the Committee could not help that. They had done all that lay in their power. But he had a stronger desire still that the enquiry should be made, and was anxious that Miss Milgrew should come there in'ofder that the matter might be cleared up, a« he was now in the possession of alleged facts. , Iv the meantime they coald proceed with the hearing of the evidence. liev. V. Lush: Does Mr. Hill mean facts, or alleged facts —wo cannot go on hearsay. Mr. Hill: I can enly give you what I knovr. ... . Mr. Power: I beg to propose for the comfort of all parties that Mr. Tyler's explanation be accepted-. Mr. Macnab: Mr. Power is out of order. Mr. Mellhone said Mr. Tyler had labored hard to convince the Committee that he was not a fit person to sit there; but as the tirade of abuse which had been been levelled at him (Mr. Mellhone) could only emanate, from a mind similar to hi 3 own—

Chairman: Mr. Mcllhone, you must not speak like that; I trust you are not going to imitate the style of Mr. Tyler. Mr. Mcllhone said he had no intention of doir.g so. He was merely about to remark that it had been alleged that Miss Milgrew had been tampered with, and she had been sent for to ascertain the truth or falsehood of such an allegation ; but as the had refused to come, they had no power to bring her there, and so must proceed with the evidence. Astowh at had been said by Mr. Tyler, he held it am immaterial, inasmuch as that gentleman had not succeeded in getting any of the members to agree with him. Mr. Tyler said it was far from right that the investigation against himself should stand over. He could not answer the charge, as Mr. Hill had not the courtesy or generosity to say what the alleged facts were. The question was how long wan it to stand over.

Mr. Eenshaw said Mr. Tyler should take no notice of any imputation that might be made. . Mr. Tyler said : I cannot fail to take notice of a question affecting my honor, especially when I know that I am innocent.

Mr. Eenshaw said one thing appeared io be overlooked. It hadbeen determined that only the parties who wrote the letter complaining of the inaccuracy of their evidence, should be examined. They had the evidence of Miss Milgrew, and therefore it was not neceisary that she should be brought up again. .Besides, he thought they should study the feelings of the young lady in the circumstances.

Mr' Hill said he understood it was the intention of the Committee that any witnesses should be brought up that could throw any light on the matter. ; Mr. Eenshaw said whrn he had asked that the investigation might be conducted de novo, two or three members had ob-

jected. ' Mr. Hill said that was true, but it was not understood that the investigation was to be confined to the evidence of the few who had objected. He h«d always intended that Miss Milgrew should bo called to give evidence.

It was here determined to proceed with the regular enquiry. Mr. Tyler said it now remained in his own mind what course he should pursue. Though the remarks of Mr. Hill might not show that charges had been brought againt himself, yet what had occurred subsequently (and Mr. Tyler here read an extract of the last meetings report)— what had occurred. subsequently showed that a charge of unfitness was been levelled at him—that he was alluded to there-could be no question about. Under i these circumstances, he could not take part in those proceedings; and he would ask Mr. Hill whether it was proper to place him in such a position—upon hearsay evidence to exclude him 1 from sitting on that Committße. Against himself a quasi criminal case had been made out, and it was only fair that the first op-. portunity should be given him of meeting the charges. Mr. Souter thbught it should be sufficient that what Mr. Tyler had said would be published. Mr. Hill said he had no desire to hinder any person from taking part in the proceedings so far as his inclination led him. No man was guilty until he was proved to be guilty. Many charges had been made against him (Mr. Hill), but he was not guilty until he was proved to be so. Mr. Tyler had a perfect right to sifc on the. committee, aud he felt quite convinced that the public would feel more confidence in the committee if Mr. Tyler with his legal ability were to assist. Mr. Benshaw said Mr. Tyler should rest on his own judgment as to his innor cence, and leave the charge to ba blown over by time. $ _ Mr. Lush: I would propose, Mr. President* that the Committee move a Vote of confidence in Mr. Tyler. ■■ • -■■■■••■- Mr. Tyler: The question is one of my fitness; it may be. that the committee will determine in the end that I am not fit. . \ Father Lonnergan: That is quite possible. Mr. Tyler appealed to the Chairman. The Chairman thought the remark of the rev. gentleman decidedly wrong. Mr. Sims: I think this committee, as at present constituted, is not fit to deal with the matter. I think it would be hotter to hand it over to some disinterested parties. (Several voices : Oh! No.) That is my impression—that we are unable to deal impartially with the'matter. The Chairman thought Mr. Sims wrong. He, ibr one, was quite unbiassed, and felt convinced that the rest of the committee were likewise. , Mr. Sims then said, as regarded himself, he had came there disinterested, and was now as perfectly free from bias. Mr. Hill then said he should, and he felt sure that all would regret it if Mr. Tyler left; and if he thought Miss Milgrow would not come he would at once Withdraw the charge, because he would not wish a man to remain under a charge, for ever ; but h& itfas strongly of opinion that Miss Milgi'ew would come, and that something would be elicited.

Mr. Tyler then made a statement as to what Miss Mil grew had said to him about coming. . Mr. Hill said he wished it to be understood that if the statement made by him was not proved he should withdraw fully and amply all that had been said. But he had no intention of letting such an imputation rest if it was not proved. JEjfe lived in hopes.

Mr. Tyler Lad previous to this risen from his seat, and was standing at the door, hat in hand. Ho now said, " Since that is the case, gentlemen, I must leave you to your own devices; and I wish you good evening.

It was then arranged to proceed with the enquiry, and Dr. Kilgour was the first called, His evidence did not occupy

long, and at the conclusion }):: O-ih-bridge wjis called, his evidt-nco nit ijciu^ compleii'd when the meeting nrljonsiod at 10 o'clock until f»uf torday.