DIRECTORS SENTENCED

Evening Star, Issue 17191, 5 November 1919, Page 8

DIRECTORS SENTENCED

COR ENGINEERING FRAUDS. After a six days’ hearing at Liverpool Assizes a jury on Saturday returned a verdict of guilty against the three directors of the Vulcan Motor and Engineering Works, Southport, who were accused of participating in frauds on the company. Thomas Hampson, managing director, last year’s Mayor and this year’s Deputy Mayor of Southport, was sentenced to I*2 months’ imprisonment in the second division, and two of his co-directors, David Purves and John Hamer, were sentenced, the former to five months and the latter to six months, also in the second division. The charges against Hampson were of applying to his own use sums of £22,266 5s Id and £3lB 10s 2d, the moneys of the company, and the other two defendants were charged with aiding and abetting in the fraud. The two sums represented the proceeds of the sale of “ swarf ” brass, and other metal scrap which was said to he an important by-product of the company’s business. It was part of the evidence for the prosecution that the money thus realised was paid into a separate banking account opened by the directors. When proceedings were originated, the whole of the money was refunded! Fraud was denied by the defendants, and it was said that the money was paid into the separate banking account, and was not operated with in order to provide for a purchase of £20,000 war bonds which Hampson had guaranteed during the Southport Tank Week. Besides the sentences recorded, the defendants were ordered to defray the cost of the prosecution at Assizes and Police Court.' The jury recommended Purves and Hamer to mercy, believing that they did not realise the full gravity and extent of the fraud in which they were assisting.