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| Folios 389-397. Draft letter from the Poor Law Commission to William Ashton, Clerk to the Guardians of the Basford Poor Law Union. They refer to their letter of the 26 February 1766/B/1841, relating to the death of John Parks in the workhouse. The verdict of the inquest stated that he died of exhaustion and exposure to cold while suffering from [Erysipelas]. Mr Davidson, Medical Officer and Mr Gill, Overseer were charged with neglect and the jury stated Parks did not receive the care, diet or attention he required in the workhouse. The Commissioners did not comment on the conduct of the officers as they believed that they were about to be prosecuted for their supposed neglect. They have since learnt that the grand jury threw out the bill of indictment. In their letter of 26 February the Commissioners commented on the conduct of Mr Johnson, Workhouse Master, who they considered to have been inattentive and Mr Morley, Medical Officer of the workhouse who said the guardians had prevented him for ordering 'nutritious stimulants' for Parks. The Commissioners believe though that this was a misapprehension of the guardians as to their duties. The Commissioners received a letter from the guardians with a copy of 15 resolutions denying the existence of any rule or order restricting the medical officer from directing, or the master from supplying stimulants to sick paupers. Mr Senior [Edward Senior, Assistant Poor Law Commissioner], was sent to examine Morley and require him to produce written instructions from the guardians relative to supplying stimulants. He was unable to do this. Senior also examined Johnson, Mr Riley, Auditor and Mr Bailey, Guardian. They transmit copies of depositions of these witnesses and a further report from Senior [not included]. Another letter was received from the guardians where they again denied having given directions restricting the giving of stimulants to the sick paupers. The Commissioners have also contacted Henry Smith, late Chairman of the Guardians on the subject. They state that they cannot arrive at any clear conclusion on the matter but they point out that the dietary order issued to the union prescribes that the sick shall be dieted according to the direction of the medical officer. He can order any article of diet, including wine, ale or stimulants as the cases require. Neither the workhouse master nor guardians should interfere in this. However, the union officers would be responsible to the guardians and accountable to the auditor for any waste or unnecessary consumption. Copies of evidence taken by Mr Senior are enclosed from [not included]: S P Johnstone, William Robinson, Mr Morley, Samuel Parks, [Robert Jessam] or [Robert Jenner], [William Gill], [Richard Salver], William Straw, William Maltby, W R J Davidson, William Ashton, Mr Potter, George Benjamin Moreley, George Chamberlain, John Mitchell Davidson, M D, Mr Johnson, Charlotte Johnson, Robert Allen, Richard Jamison, Paper Number: 1766/B/1841, 3193/B/1841, 2378/B/1841, 2660/B/1841, 3194/B/1841, 3250/B/1841, 3948/B/1841, 4282/B/1841, 4622/B/1841. Poor Law Union Number 334. Counties: Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. |
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