Mayors Tricked

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 267, 12 November 1945, Page 2

Mayors Tricked

TRUSTED SECRETARY LONDON. Twenty-two successive mayors of East Ham “absolutely trusted” their secretary, Bertram Allan Wilson. Several who had no banking accounts, according to Wilson, handed their personal allowances to him to be paid into his account. When the war brought increased work—Wilson was appointed billeting and rehousing officer—lie sought relaxation outside East Ham. He became friendly with a woman in the West End. He spent big sums on her—over £6O in one week, it was estimated. There was no check on his work. He had absolute control of the various funds held by successive mayors. So Bertram Allan Wilson, of High Street South, East Ham, £474-a-year mayor’s secretary, found himself at the Old Bailey pleading guilty to charges of converting to his own use money entrusted to him by mayors. There were ten charges, seven concerning fraudulent conversion, involving an alleged deficiency of £8769 though Wilson admitted only £I4OO. When arrested he had only 2s 3d left. He was sent to four years * penal servitude. 1