Robbing a Poorhouse.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 18, Issue 42, 24 May 1907, Page 5

Robbing a Poorhouse.

OFFICIALS FOUND GUILTY, London, May 21. The trial has concluded of the case arising out of the recent West Ham Workhouse scandals. The prisoners were: Lewis Hill, steward of the infirmary; Alfred Riches, infirmary storekeeper; Edward Hodgkin, master of the workhouse; and Richard Tarrant, George Crump, John Anderson, William Skinner, Frank Hill, and John Watts, members of the Board of Guardians. The charges against the prisoners were of conspiring with Harry Elijah Bond, a coal contractor, now undergoing imprisonment, to obtain money by false pretences. Tarrant was found not guilty and discharged. The others were convicted. Crump and Lewis Hill were each sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour, permanently disqualified from holding public office, and declared incapable of voting for a period of seven years. Hodgkin was sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment; Anderson and Skinner to fifteen months: Riches and Walts to nine months; Frank Hill and Baird to six months—all with civic disqualifications.

At the end of last year revelations were made of scandalous extravagance in connection with the management of West Ham Workhouse, and on investigation serious allegations of fraud were made against the officials and guardians. Several prosecutions followed, and.one guardian committed suicide. In connection with the charges mentioned in the foregoing cable message evidence was given by the man Bond, when convicted, that he had regularly paid to the prisoners sums varying from £5 to £ 100 out of the amounts paid to him on his coal contract. Arrangements were made by them for him to charge for fictitious deliveries. On one occasion he received a cheque for £3057, and on another money amounting to £1229 from the guardians. He had misrepresented the quality and quantity, and divided the plunder with the accused at their suggestion.