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Government expected very di fferent medical attendance on assigned
servants , and that Sadler's life was sacrificed for \vant of proper
assistance. His final words were a challenge to the Government .
I trust His Excellency will take such steps in this case, as
will be a \varning not only to the Messrs Synnott but to Masters
throughout the colony how they trifle with the lives of their
assigned servants , a practice I regret to admit which is by
no means uncommon.
However , the Government was not prepared to accept such a challenge.
Clarke, when asked to give his opinion on the written evidence, claimed
that Hall had not succeeded' in proving many of his charges ;
doubtless
there would not have been a fatal result if Hal l had been called in, and
doubtless Hall's case \vas difficult to prove when so many witnesses were
assigned servants .
question altogether.
to the Chief Police Magistrate:
The Chi ef Police Magistrate tactfully evaded the
On August 5 the official verdict was despatched
After a careful perusal of the ev idence taken by the Assistant
Police Magistrate in the course of his enqui ry, the Lieutenant­
Governor has arrived at the conclusion that the allegations made
by Mr Hall have not been sustained with the exception of the
facts admitted by the Messrs Synnott themselves, that they did
not procure the early regular attendance of a professional man
and that they had treated the sick man according to their own
judgment .
In other respects, His Exce llency is of opinion that the
evidence tends to show that Sadler received from the Messrs
Synnott that degree of cure and attention which his situation
demanded and you will convey to Dr Hall the expression of the
Lieutenant-Governor 's regret that he should have preferred such
charges, indicative , His Excel lency fears , of a spirit calculated
most materi ally to diminish his usefulness in the public service. 39
Because the Government openly refused to support him in the care
of its prisoners and the Synnotts labelled him a "malicious and practised
slanderer" , Hall was now far less popu lar, a situation which accentuated
his difficult position as the District Assistant Surgeon whose lot \vas not
a happy one at the best of times . Appointed at a small salary ( £100. 7.6
per annum) to carry out certain specified duties, mainly the care of all
prisoners in the area, he \vas both permitted and expected to engage in
private practice where possible, both to supply the need of the area for
medical care and to augment his own income, provided such practice did
not interfere with his offi cial duti es .
In reality, the private practice
was essential , especially if there was a large fami ly for the doctor to
support. Often the surgeon found himself on the horns of a dilemma .
.. ·
39 Colonial Times Oct . 12, 1841 .
March 22, 29, 1842.