DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0253
CRUELTY OF COUNTRY PARISH OFFICERS. 223
crime little short of murder; but 1 am afraid not punishable
as such.
A gaoler is guilty of wilful murder, that suffers a pri-
soner to die through duress: can an officer of a parish be
guilty of a less crime, that withholds necessary relief from
a pauper, whom it is his duty to provide with all necessaries
proper for his case ?
I never did hear of a similar instance to that under your
consideration •, and by making a public example, the like
may be prevented.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
John §earancke.
As soon as it was known, or believed I was gone to
London, the coroner was written to, who gave immediate
direction to the parish officers to summon a jury, to as-
semble the next morning ; and upon my seeing the con-
stable of this parish, he informed me^ his directions were
to summon seven parishioners, but that he did not know
where to find them ; when I again repeated what I had
said the day before. But he told me, honestly, that he
had orders to the contrary; and the. church-warden did,
on his examination upon oath, acknowledge that he did
give such orders to the constable ; and as orders were given
by the church-warden that I should not be upon the j ury,
it is neither unreasonable, nor improbable, to suppose,
that the same person might give him orders likewise who
should. Certain it is, that I was foreman of a jury, com-
posed of the most illiterate part of the parish, while many
substantial farmers were within reach : and I think, they
all were, or all who spoke were, of a different opinion with
myself. For I could not, nor would agree with them, that
the persons in question did not die owing to want of care,
attendance, provisions, or a habitable house : and that
crime little short of murder; but 1 am afraid not punishable
as such.
A gaoler is guilty of wilful murder, that suffers a pri-
soner to die through duress: can an officer of a parish be
guilty of a less crime, that withholds necessary relief from
a pauper, whom it is his duty to provide with all necessaries
proper for his case ?
I never did hear of a similar instance to that under your
consideration •, and by making a public example, the like
may be prevented.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
John §earancke.
As soon as it was known, or believed I was gone to
London, the coroner was written to, who gave immediate
direction to the parish officers to summon a jury, to as-
semble the next morning ; and upon my seeing the con-
stable of this parish, he informed me^ his directions were
to summon seven parishioners, but that he did not know
where to find them ; when I again repeated what I had
said the day before. But he told me, honestly, that he
had orders to the contrary; and the. church-warden did,
on his examination upon oath, acknowledge that he did
give such orders to the constable ; and as orders were given
by the church-warden that I should not be upon the j ury,
it is neither unreasonable, nor improbable, to suppose,
that the same person might give him orders likewise who
should. Certain it is, that I was foreman of a jury, com-
posed of the most illiterate part of the parish, while many
substantial farmers were within reach : and I think, they
all were, or all who spoke were, of a different opinion with
myself. For I could not, nor would agree with them, that
the persons in question did not die owing to want of care,
attendance, provisions, or a habitable house : and that