Alleged Frauds by “Lord Hinton”

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4070, 28 April 1886, Page 3

Alleged Frauds by “Lord Hinton”

Last summer a gentleman calling himself Lord Hinton took Grove House, Whitby, Yorkshire, and has since lived there in grand style. On February 19, however, Inspector Roots, of Scotland Yard, arrested Lord Hinton and two others, and seized some cartloads of goods of all sorts, which were obtained by false pretences for his Lordship’s country seats from firms in Scotland, Liverpool, Manchester, Wolverhampton, - and York. On February 21, Inspector Roots of Scotland Yard, and Superintendent Spence, of Pickering, were continning their investigations into the extraordinary frauds alleged to have been committed by Lord Hinton or bis agents in North Yorkshire. Soma singular disclosures have been made, and the whole district is excited by the apprehension of bis Lordship and bis confederates. It is believed that the scheme of fraud bad been prepared with great astuteness. Some months ago a lithographed plan and circular were put forth suggesting the formation of a large hydropathic or health establishment at Needles Eye, Newton Dale. This was brought oat with a flourish. The bait not taking readily, the estate was bought by Mrs Riddell, of Kildsy Castle and the seller then purchased the adjoining property of Grove House. Levisham, of the York Union Banking Company, ostensibly a country seat for Lord Hinton. Confidence having been established, a large famishing order was given to Messrs Rowntiee, of Scarborough, and the place was sumptuously fitted up. Two ladies went down to occupy it, accompanied by men servants, etc. Meanwhile goods of all kinds kept arriving at the Levisham Station, for “ Lord Hinton’s seat, and in each case the consignment note was signed by his Lordship’s resident agent.” No suspicion was aroused (notwithstanding the peculiarity of some of the goods sent) until the recent proceedings against Lord Hinton in London and the arrival at Pickering of Inspector Roots, of Scotland Yard. Then the local police seized some tons of galvanised iron roofing, iron gates, posts, rails, etc., and furnishing of the house. To these, however, Mr Rountrees, of Scarborough, put in an immediate claim, not having been paid for the goods. They also produced a written agreement satisfactory to the metropolitan detective, and their men have dismantled “ Lord Hinton's country seat,” and removed their furniture back to Scarborough. Some of the goods sent to Levisham on Lord Hinton’s order has been sold, Mr Yates, ironfounder, of Malton, having been “ let in” in this direction. It is stated that large firms in Stirling, Manchester, Hull, Bradford, and York have been victimised, and other arrests will be made when the right parties can be found. An impression seems to be abroad that the person in custody in connection with the obtaining of goods by false pretences is a pretender who baa taken the name of Lord Hinton. This, however, is not so as, according to the London police authorities, the person they have in their charge is William Turner Thomas, Viscount Hinton, and son of Earl Poulett, of Hinton St, George, Somersetshire. He was first arrested in London on another charge. The metropolitan police give a singular account of his doings and of bis residence in London, Burk’s “Peerage" makes no mention of a Lord Hinton,bat “ Debrett ” says that the individual in question was “ some time engaged as a clown and professional pantoipimist at the Surrey Theatre and elsewhere, under the nom de guerre of Mr Coatuan.” He was born in 1849 (bis father having married a pilot's daughter at Portsmouth), and he himself married a ballet dancer named Sbippey, by whom he bad two children.