ROBBED AND RUINED

Evening Star, Issue 21822, 11 September 1934, Page 5

ROBBED AND RUINED

WIDOW'S MONEY LOST FRAUDS BY SOLICITOR. Remarking that the man had betrayed the trust placed in the profession and had robbed and ruined at least one widow. Mr Justice Lawrence, at the Derbyshire Assizes, lately sentenced Benskin Thomas Winterbotton, aged sixty-four, of Chesterfield, to three years’ penal servitude. Winterbottom admitted charges of fraudulent conversion of clients’ money to the total amount of £2,444. It was said by prosecuting counsel that up to the time of the discovery of the present offences Winterbottom had a high character and was held in high esteem.

For thirty-three years he served as clerk to a firm of solicitors at Chesterfield. He was given his articles, and in 1919, at fifty years of age ho was admitted a solicitor.

In April, 1933, he was made bankrupt of the petition of a creditor with gross liabilities of £26,413, or more, and assets which were not expected to realise above £250. In one of the cases a man named Whiston left his life savings of £3,000 to his widow. Winterbottom had that, and not one penny remained. On Winterbottom’s behalf it was urged that he had been dogged by misfortune in both domestic and business affairs. He had very little capital of his own when ho started as a solicitor owing to his wife being an invalid, his eldest son having a serious illness, his daughter breaking down in health when training as a nurse, and his infant son having an illness which left him physically and mentally defective. It was added that to bring himself business Winterbottom financed a contractor who eventually went into ’’ouidation owing him £3. WO, and Winterbottom did not receive a penny. ' nothor client also went bankrupt.

In passing sentence, the iudo-e remarked that Winterbottom had embezzled large sums which came into bis hands through wills.