THE CAMPBELL CASE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 125, 14 September 1876, Page 2

THE CAMPBELL CASE.

| TO THEEDITOR OF <■ THE EVENING MAIL. Sir, —Assuming .that the. report published "by you of * the special meeting held by the Hospital Committee yesterday morning. is correct (I have, no reason to suppose that it is not), I think that a majority of the readers of The Matt, will agree with me in saying that never before in Oamaru, or any where else, has a : question or case for inquiry been so well and completely " burked" as the Campbell expulsion inquiry. As we claim to be termed civilised British subjects, I consider thai it is, the duty . of, the Hospital Committee to state the reason why a patient of the Hospital—a poor miserable worrian, covered with unhealed, sores aiid gaping gjsars, was carted away from the Hospital after dark on a cold Saturday, night, and kept expbsed in an open earfc for nearly two hours in Thames-street. I venture to say that 33 octor Wait's statement will'not Satisfy any one. The miserable object that was exhibited by the Hospital Committee lash Saturday night in Thamesstreet could not be in a fit state to leave the Hospital at three o'clock p.m. on that day, although she had been sober; and being half-drunk; as Dr. Wait stated, I ask, how could it be" possible that this poor creature was in a fit state to ;be discharged from the Hospital? Can Dr. Wait or Dr. Garland say whether the woman was suffering from the effects of drunkenness, or. of drugs ? If -Dr. Wait ordered the woman to be discharged at three p.m., 'how is it that it was about eight p.m. before she arrived in Thamesstreet, escorted by Warder Moore 1 These are questions that the public, .are. entitled to ask the Committee to" answer.' In your your leading article you quote Uule No. 41, for to show that this woman was expelled upon legal grounds. If it can be proved that the-woman voluntarily broke hv infringed Uule No. 41, how is it that the man. Morrison is charged by the police for stealing from the Hospital the blanket that: was wrapt round the woman ? I think it must be admitted that, if the woman violated the rules of the Hospital, she ought to be charged with stealing the blanket also. All that has been "done by the Committee in the shape of inquiry ..pr__inr vjestigation means, in sporting parlance, '' drawing a red herring across the scent. " And Mr. Editor, I am sorry to see that' you have adopted a similar policy in -vrritirig your leading, article of last night's date. That a revolting -and inhuman act has been committed cannot be dieted, and the Hospital Committee of Management is responsible; therefore, I think it is .wrong ; to insinuate that unworthy motives 1 actuates any one who may take up the subject to expose the guilty; and takes such steps as shall prevent such revolting actions to take place in the future.—l am, &c, ; 14th Sept., 1876.