THE HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1789, 26 September 1874, Page 2

THE HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Hospital Committee, to proceed with the enquiry into the case of Maurice Power's treatment while an inmate of the hospital, was held yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock. There were present —Mr. W. Eowe (President); Eevs. James Hill, V. Lush, and; Father Lonnergan.; Messrs. Sims, Souter, Benshaw, Hudson, Macnab, Kennan, Power, Gudgeon, McDonald, Cox, McCullough, Mcllhone, and Frater.

The real business of the meeting was proceeded with immediately upon the minutes having been read—the continuation of Dr. Lethbridge's evidence being taken, and comparisons instituted between it and the notes of the Sub-Committee, the Secretary, according to pre-arrange-ment, taking down the objections in the evidence and the notes of the Sub-Com-mittee upon which such evidence bore ; while Mr. Berry took down the whole of the discussion as it occurred. Dr. Payne was also examined before the cross-exami-nation of Dr. Lethbridge was entered upon, as the former gentleman leaves the Thames for a short period. At the conclusion of the evidence Mr. Sims brought forward a matter that he had introduced during the course of the evidence, but which the chairman had ruled to near after the evidence was completed. Mr. Sims said the absence of Miss Milgrew was the cause of the absence of a very efficient member of that Committee. At the last meeting Mr. Hill had saiu if he could not secure the presence of Miss Milgrew he would make ample reparation, or words to that effectHe (Mr. Sims) wanted to know what had been done by Mr. Hill: either steps should be taken to bring Miss Milgrew or the imputation should be withdrawn. Mr. Hill said he had stated at last meeting that he hoped Miss Milgrew would come. He still hoped so. He had taken steps for that end. Mr. Sims : I would ask another question—Will »he be present shortly? Mr. Hill: I cannot answer that.

Mr. Sims: Because it is monstrous that Mr. Tyler should be kept away with the bare hope that some person would come there. (Several penons here said Mr. Tyler was not kept away.) Mr. Sims : Yes he is. Mr. Hill is very jealous of his honor, and Mr. Mcllhoneis very jealous of his honor; and I think Mr. Hill should take immediate steps to procure the young lady's presence, or to publicly retract all that has been imputed to Mr. Tyler. i Mr. Gudgeon said he thought entirely different to Mr. Sims. It was Mr. Tyler's own fault that he was absent. He (Mr. Gudgeon) had said so at the time of hia going away. Mr. Tyler had refused to allow Miss Milgrew to come, and he would not permit a deputation of gentleman to go to the young lady. Mr. Kennan : And gave good reasons. Mr. Sims begged to correct Mr. Gudgeon : Mr. Tyler had^ stated that he used every means m his power to induce the girl to come there. He thought Mr. Hill was not doing his duty, and was bound to make immediate enquiry. Mr. Hill: How does Mr. Sims know I am not doing my duty.

Mr. Lush said Mr. Hill might go on doing his duty until the enquiry terminated.

Mr. Power aßked how it was that Mr. Sims had woke up so suddenly to the injustice which was being done Mr. Tyler. He (Mr. Power) had moved at the tim» of Mr. Tyler's going that his explanation should be accepted, and no one could be found to second his motion.

Mr. Mcllhone maintained that Mr. Hill had gone as far as he was expected. Supposing the lady never turned up, how could Mr. Hill'or any member say whether Mr. Tyler was guilty or not—what guarantee could they have after he had been onco charged. Mr. Sims : Mr. Tyler's word as a gentleman should be accepted.

Mr. Power : We did accept it. Mr. Mcllhone : I did not for one ; and I still believe Mr. Tyler tampered with the girl. Mr. Lush said Mr. Hill might go on failing to the end, and it was unfair to shut Mr. Tyler but in consequence. Father Lonnergan : Miss Milgrew is in the employ of Mr. Tyler. Supp sing that she has given notice to leave (I do not say she has), she would be enabled to appear long before this enquiry is likely to terminate. Then would bs the time to decide; and we shoi^d see whether such is the case before we attack Mr. Hill.

Mr. Lush: Then I would wait until the girl—young woman, I beg her pardon —can come.

Mr. Macnab said he was sorry that this discussion had. arisen, as it was not creditable. He had been sorry to see Mr. Tyler leave that Committee, and considered him short of his duty in doing so. He had gone away from his duty on the Committee. No imputation, had been made, and he (Mr. Macnab) maintained that Mr. Tyler should have stopped. Had Mr. Tyler been appointed, as many of them ha<i been by the Committee, he might have considered himself at the mercy of the Committee. But such was not the case with him: he had been elected at the annual meeting, and he should haye 1 remained in the interests of those who elected him.

Mr. Sims said in regard to no imputation having been made, supposing every member in that room wore black hats, and he (Mr. Sims) woj?e a whi^e one, and a charge were directed at a man with a white hat, there would not be much.question as to who was meant.

Mr.; Mcllhone asked if what Mr. Tyler had said of Mr. Hill and himself (Mr. Mcllhone) was not infinitely worse than anything said by him (Mr. Mcllhone) of Mr. Tyler. . The Chairman thought Mi. Bilishould be allowed a fair time to bring Miss Mil-

grew to the Committee. As to the charges against Mr. Tyler, he thought it was Mr. Tyler's own fault that he remained absent, and as no resolution had been passed charging him with tampering, he thought they could not adopt Mr. Sims' suggestion. Many of them had been charged. He (the Chairman) had been charged with impartiality, but he took no notice of that while he was conscious of his own innocence.

The matter was then left where it begun.

ANOTHEE DISCUSSION,

In the course of the evening Dr. Kilgour asked Dr. Lethbridge whether, at the time of the enquiry, he had objected to the course adopted, by the sub-committee in permitting Mr. McCullough to examine the witnesses without an opportunity being given of his rebutting the evidence. Dr. Lethbridge: Yts. Dr. Kilgour then asked Dr. Lethbridge if he had requested permission to crossexamine the witnesses examined by Mr. McCullough. Dr. Lethbridge said he bad stated that he presumed he should be permitted to call and examine witnesses—he spoke more particularly to Mr. Eenshaw. Mr. Eenshaw said they would see about it, aad the other members gave no aaswer. The Chairman asked whether he had made a direct request. Dr. Lethbridge had considered it a direct request—he considered he had a right to it. He had purposely held aloof from the enquiry, and did not go until he was called. ;" Mr. Hill said he had a distinct recollection of what took place at the time. Dr. Lethbridge did object to Mr. McCullough examining him, and the Committee had tried to show the doctor that it was the course they thought best. The SubCommittee thought Mr. McCullough was the best person to put a few questions at first, as he knew more about the circumstances of the case. The doctor made no direct request. He (Mr. Hill) knew what Dr. Lethbridge did say, regarding the dressing of the arm, when he was being examined. It was : "I do not know what witnesses have been examined, and should like to see a report first." Dr. Lethbridge : I know I held strong opinions upon that point, because Mr. McCullough only brought such witnesses as he thought proper, and only such evidence was obtained as he (Mr. McCullough) or the Sub-Committee elicited. He held it to be contrary to the practice in any court of law.

The Chairman asked the Sub-Com-mittee whether the doctor had made a direct request. They all replied that no direct request was made, but Mr. Eenshow and Mr. Souter considered it an implied one. Mr. Power: Did you consider this Committee's report final. Dr. Lethbridge : No ; I did not consider it was a final investigation. Mr. Power : Then why did you ask the public in a letter to the press to suspend their judgement. Dr. Lethbridge : Because I thought it necessary.

This gave rise to a discussion. Mr. Sims said the report had been adopted by the General Committee.

The Chairman said thero wa3 not a shade of truth about the statement of Mr. Sims. The Committee had never passed an opinion on it. Mr. McCullough here said he wished to draw the President's attention to a matter affecting himself, namely, the reference which had been, made to him in the question of Dr. Kilgour. (The secretary referred to the minutes he had taken.) Mr. McCullough considered that what appeared, in connection with the remarks that fell from Dr. Lethbridge was liable to place him in a wrong light. Dr. Lethbridge said he didjiot impute any bias. The Chairman and several members thought Mr. McCullough should wave the point for the present. Mr. McCullough declined, especially as he had been accused of bringing his own witnesses to the enquiry, and, in fact, conducting the whole affair. He had not done so. In the first place he would deny that he brought the witnesses ;. and in the second place he denied having put such questions only as pointed to one conclusion, and he asked the members of the sub-committee to bear him out.

Mr. Souter: That is correct,

Dr. Lethbridge : I only said the procedure was faulty. Mr. McCullough's intention may have been the best in the world; but only such witnesses as he thought of were brought, and he only put snch questions as he thought of. Questions were put which went to prove 000 thing, which, had I been here to put some questions, might have been materially modified.

Mr. Souter said certain questions put by Mr. McCullough had elicited answers strongly in favor of the hospital management, and he read aome extracts from his notes.

This terminated the discussion.