The inquiry ordered by Mr. Villiers into the death of
Richard Gibson, the pauper who rotted to death in St. Giles's Workhouse under the eyes of the doctors and nurses, ended on Thursday. Some days must elapse before the decision, but it is clear that all the officials concerned except the master must be dismissed with ignominy. The evidence of the doctor, Mr. Craig, was of it kind not often heard from a member of his profession. He admitted plainly that he had stood by Gib-son's bed-side day after day and given him no help, that he did not know what diet he got, that he thought his bel an unfit one, might have ordered another but "did not," and that when Magee remonstrated he told him to mind his own business. In fact if Gibson had left either wife or child a criminal action would lie against Mr. Craig. Just before his evidence a curious little explosion of class feeling occurred in court. A guardian actually requested that Magee's questions should pass through him, so that a parish officer might not be humiliated by cross-examination from a pauper. Lazarus disgraces Dives by asking him questions tending to bring out truth ! There spoke the true spirit of parish Bumbledom, and we trust that Guardian will henceforth be known to his friends as the "Parish Filter." We must add that Magee acquitted the master, who was deceived, and that he is reported to us by persons who know every workhouse mastd in London as one of the best and most humane of their number.
