“TRAINING” AGENCY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23693, 28 December 1938, Page 9

“TRAINING” AGENCY

CAPTAIN IN COURT WOMEN ALLEGE FRAUD (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON. Nov. 24. An allegation that women who had paid premiums to be trained to manage employment agencies lived in “ dreadful circumstances ” in a house in St. John’s road, Tunbridge Wells, was made by a witness at Tunbridge Wells. Captain Fred Russell, proprietor of a Hove domestic agency, formerly of St. John’s road, Tunbridge Wells, again appeared with Mary Hanson and Kathleen Martin, on a charge of conspiracy to defraud. At the last hearing Mr Christmas Humphreys, prosecuting, said that for three years at least 50 people—mostly women—gave Russell money, generally £SO. This amount was to be repaid in wages of £3 a week, and was repayable in any event at the termination of the agreement. They paid £1 a week for board and lodging. Most of them would say that after paying the £SO they got no training and did not get their premiums back. LENT £SO Mrs Mary Ann Barden, widow and qualified nurse, of Woodside, Plymouth, said that Russell offered her employment in Hove. She paid a premium of £SO and went to Tunbridge Wells to be taught. She stayed there three months. She was paid £24, representing eight weeks’ wages, and paid £1 a week for board. Later she lent Russell £SO. “ I said I would go if he would give me the money I had lent him,” Mrs Barden said. “ I could not stay in the circumstances in which we were living. It was something dreadful. There was very poor food for one thing, there was hardly any fire, and there was no light.” Mrs Hilda May Shaw, of Foley street, Maidstone, said that in August, 1936, Russell gave her and her husband employment in a concern called Multiple Domestic Agencies. Her husband paid Russell £IOO. “We were supposed to be taught by Captain Russell and Miss Hanson, who was there,” Mrs Shaw said. “ I did not receive any tuition.” GAS CUT OFF Mrs Shaw added that for three weeks she and her husband received their wages and were given their food. Afterwards, for three of four days, they had to get their food outside the office, because the gas and electricity were cut off. They then left. When her husband asked for the premium back Russell said: “Do you think I am a fool standing here with £IOO in my pocket? When you once join, you never leave me.” Russell called a meeting of about 20 people, and said he was going to take a case against a newspaper. He invited them to stand by him as witnesses, and said that those who would not do so would have to pay him a sum of money, something like £2O. She and her husband refused.

Five other women gave evidence that they paid premiums to Russell and did not receive them back in full. The accused were remanded until December 5, bail being continued.