under-ranger had reported this woman's case to
the police, and that information of her illness
had been forwarded to Naas, when the policeman
was told to apply to the relieving-officer at
Newbridge. On looking for him, the constable learnt
that the relieving-officer came only now
and then to Newbridge, and that to find him
he would have to go to Milltown. Thither the
kindly man did not grudge going, and there he
was told by the official that "he would see
about it." Next day, finding the poor wretch
still neglected, and sinking fast, he had her
conveyed in a car to the Naas workhouse, where
she died in a few hours after her admission.
The head-ranger of the Curragh, Mr. Brown, of
Upper Mount-street, Dublin, drew the attention
of the poor-law guardians to the neglect of
their subordinate, and demanded an inquiry into
the matter, for the life of a fellow-creature
seemed to have been sacrificed. The guardians
refused to inquire, and that in terms which
seemed to cast an imputation upon Mr. Brown's
veracity. That gentleman appealed to the
corroborating testimony of the police and others,
and again asked for an investigation, but in
vain. He then, mindful at least of his own
duty to his neighbour, applied to the poor-law
commissioners, and also informed the civil
authorities of the facts of the case.
The commissioners took no notice of his
representations until the Attorney-General issued an
order that the relieving-officer should be
prosecuted for manslaughter. Then the poor-law
commissioners dismissed him from the situation,
appointing another man to succeed him, on the
express condition, as it was believed, that he
should live at Newbridge, the most fitting and
central place of residence, and on the direct road
from Kildare and the Curragh to the workhouse.

But, on the 10th of September, a woman was
brought by the police before Mr. Brown on a
charge of drunkenness; it was also stated that
she was ill, that she had been obliged to be
brought in a car from the Curragh, and that
she could not possibly walk to Newbridge.
Mr. Brown saw her himself, ascertained that
she was very ill, and that neither a poor-law
guardian nor the relieving-officer was to be
found in Newbridge. Here was another case of
utter destitution and illness, which could not
receive the prompt attention it required because
of the absence of the official whose duty it was
to provide a conveyance to take her to the
workhouse. A guardian was at length found,
and the woman was conveyed to Naas.

On the same day, Mr. Brown reported to the
commissioners that their instructions had not
been carried into effect, the relieving-officer not
being a resident at Newbridge, and he again
asked for an inquiry. This course of proceeding
did not find favour in the eyes of the poor-
law guardians, the chairman stating to the
members that "this case was just a little bit of
officiousness on Mr. Brown's part," and in that
spirit they gave their version of the whole
affair to the commissioners, who had written
for an explanation.

On the 23rd of that month the commissioners
replied to the chief ranger's letter of
the 10th, when they stated that the relieving-
officer did reside in Newbridge, and that they
"could not find any subject deserving of
inquiry."Mr. Brown would not be satisfied
with this kind of reply to a representation of
such permanent importance to the poor wretches
for whose lives he was fighting, and so, on the
12th of October, he again wrote to the
commissioners a long letter, which appeared in the
"Irish Times," and contained the following
facts: "Three police stations are situated on
the Curragh. The constables in charge state, and
can show, that they frequently are obliged to go
to the relieving-officer as part of their duty.
They have invariably gone from the Curragh to
Milltown, a considerable round from the Curragh
to Naas poor-house. The constables stationed
in Milltown stated the relieving-officer resided
there. The constables at Newbridge make a
similar statement. The county surveyor, in
whose employment he is as a road contractor,
states that Fitzpatrick, the relieving-officer,
lives in Milltown. . . . Mr. Irwin, who is
contractor to the poor-law guardians, stated to
me in presence of a magistrate, a police-officer,
and another person, that his wife had let a bed
to Fitzpatrick, and that he took it immediately
after I reported him." Mr. Brown concludes
his humane appeal as follows: "Gentlemen,
permit me, when on the subject of the Curragh,
to ask you to draw the attention of the proper
authorities to the probable state of the squatters
thereon in the approaching winter. They sleep
in the open air, little covering over their bodies,
no shelter from wet or cold except that of
a furze bush. When snow falls they follow the
example of the Esquimaux, they lie with their
backs upwards, in order to form a temporary
support for snow to rest on, which, when
accumulated thereon assists to keep them partially
warm."

Thus they are exposed all the year round: if
it rains for a week they have to remain in it,
having the wet ground for a couch, and a few
wet rags for a covering. No refuge for them;
no pity; no succour. In England the publicans
will suffer them to remain by their firesides
while their money lasts; landlords will let them
rooms while they pay rent; shopkeepers will
supply them with goods while they can find
money for the articles: but here, in Ireland,
they are outcasts in the fullest sense of the
term, abandoned, persecuted, spurned. I am
well aware that these women are the dregs of
society, also that some mistaken Christians will
say that "any pity shown to them is at best
an encouragement of vice," while others, like
Scrooge, will inquire "whether the workhouse
and prisons are not still in operation?" To such
it is useless to make any appeal. But to those
who can feel for the poor and homeless, who, to
the best of their ability, attend to the Divine
commands to feed the hungry, clothe the naked,
visit the sick, and raise the fallen, I appeal for
at least a thought of Christian mercy towards