ENQUIRY.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3653, 10 September 1880, Page 2

ENQUIRY.

At ten o'clock Dr Skae took his seal; in the large room at the Old Men's Home, and commenced the enquiry by examining Mrs Power, who in her evidence recounted the charges against Mr Aitken she had made in the letter to the general committee.

Dr Skae said he would take the charges seriatim,- and at _once asked Mrs Power what evidence she had about washing the towels. She said Mr Aitken had compelled her to wash the kitchen towels, whereas before she came to the hospital these towels were given to the washerwoman. Cain the wardsman had to light the fires, but occasionally neglected to do so, and sometimes did light the fire but allowed it to go out again. In fact the officials had a down upon her because they wanted to get the billet for a friend. Mrs Tetley and one or two others were the only persons who complained of her cooking. She accused the dispenser of taking money for extracting teeth. Mr Thomas Aitken was examined, and stated that as dispenser of the Hospital he had never asked persons for 2s 6d for extracting teeth, but when he was asked the charge he stated that sum, and if it were offered him he took it and retained it.

Mrs Sarah Clarke, at the request of Mrs Power, was called in and stated that

three yeara ago Mr Aitken had demanded payment from her foi 1 extracting some teeth. Bhe had not the money to pay then, nor had she paid since. Mr Aitken continued—He did not know if it was his duty to extract teeth as dispenser, and his practice had never been questioned until lately. Rev. V. Lush stated that he had been upon the Committee for years, and knew that Mr Aitken had extracted teeth and received payment for so doing, Mr Aitken continued-~He denied having asked Mrs Power to give bread to his fowls. The stale bread was thrown into the yard, and his fowls eat what they liked of it. It was at one time taken away for pig food. The patients were given such food as they could eat. Mrs Power stated she at one time asked Mr Lush to look at the bread. Mr Lush refused, saying he was not on the House Committee.

Mr Aitken said when fowls were ordered by the surgeon he sometimes killed his own and gave them to the patients. The committee were aware that he kept fowls. Wm. Kirk said that he was an occasional nurse at the hospital, but could not say what became of the stale bread. John Smith, wardman, said he had seen a little bread given to the fowls, but he never knew of Mr Aitken giving instructions to have it soaked for his fowls. He had been 9 years about the hospital, and had several times heard Mr Aitken caution the servants about extravagence. William Halliday said that he was a patient when Mrs Power was cook, and had afterwards served as cook. All the stale bread was thrown out as it came from the wards. Mark Fitten also gave corroborative evidence, adding that some of tho refuse was sold.

Mr Aitken denied he had sold the vegetables and fruit grown in the hospital grounds, and kept the money himself. The money received was paid to the Committee, but only since 1879 had such been sold. He reported the amount of money received to the House committee at the ordinary meetings. Mrs Power here stated she could not get fruit for cooking purposes, which Mr Aitken denied. After lunch the enquiry proceeded, and many other witnesses were examined. £ Mr Brassey appeared on the scene about this time. There was nothing of interest elicited this afternoon, but the investigation will, continue to-morrow. "