The Express.
London, England, 1866-10-03 00:00:00

MORE WORKHOUSE MALADMINISTRATION.

Yesterday afternoon, at the weekly meeting of
the directors of the poor of St. Pancras, Mr. Church-
warden Ecsxrr in the chair, Mr. Moore, the assistant
clerk to the directors, read a communication from the
Poor-law Board, requesting their immediate investigation
and report on the ease to which their attention had been
directed in the subjoined letter :—" To the Poor-law
Board. Gentlemen,—Having lost a boy of light intellect,
about fifteen years of age, in the City-road, about six
o'clock on Tuesday evening, September 18, I went to the
police stations. From information I received I heard
he was found, and taken to Albany-street Police-
station. I went, and he had been taken to St. Pancras
Workhouse. I proceeded there, and the matron told me
Patter, the porter, had taken him home the day
before. He left him in Edward-street, Tottenham-court-
road, but he has nem been seen or heard of since, in con-
sequence of which I feel in great trouble. I shall be glad
if your honourable board will cause inquiry to be made,
and let me know the result.—Gentlemen, I remain your
humble servant (signed) Saxon, BAMWATB, 4, Reynolds-
terrace, Old Church-road, Stepney." Several members of
the board rose simultaneously and demanded that an im-
mediate and most searching investigation should take
place, and a resolution to that effect was unanimously
adopted. Mr. Morrison, the master of the workhouse ; a
pauper inmate named Fibula, who acts as his clerk ; the
gate porter, and a pauper named Poole, who, it came out,
had been instructed by the pauper assistant clerk to take
the boy " home," were severally called up area examined.
The porter produced his night book, in which there was
the following entry :—" Sept. 20, 1.25 a.m.—Brought in by
police-constable 300 8, of Albany-street station, a lost
boy. Gave his name as Thomas Samage, aged about 13
years. Can't tell where be lives, found in Harmoodatreet,
Kentish-town. Sent to receiviag-ward." In the master's
book, kept by Fauld, the clerk, there was an entry of de-
ceased's name, but it bad been struck out. Fauld said he
took upon himself to send the boy out on tho same day on
the morning of which he was admitted without consulting
the master or sending the boy before the discharge com-
mittee, and that was why he struck out the name in his
book. He intrusted him to a man named Poole, an in-
mate, who was usually employed to take wanderers to
their homes. Poole, on being called, said he took the boy
" home" by direction of Fauld. He first took him to Moe-
nington-croseent, but he said he did not live there. The
boy then said something about Edward-street, and he
took him to Edward-street, Hampstead-road. When they
got there he said that was not the place, and pointed to-
wards Tottenham-court-road. HP then took the boy up
as far as the corner of Howland-street, when he
said. he lived up that street, and he then left
him and told him to go home, and had not
seen or heard of him since. In cross-examination by
members of the board, Poole said, although the boy
appeared queer, he did not notice that he was "light-
minded." He did not think him an idiot. He had fre-
quently taken boys and girls home under Similar circum-
stances, and when he came back he reported where he
had left them at the lodge. He did not report this case.
Had taken girls home within three months. The last one
was to Bloomsbury, Bury-street ; but although he saw
the girl to the door he did not know the number. Mr.
Morrison, the master, expressed his ignorance of the pro-
ceeding. The man Fauld certainly acted for him whoa he
was away from his office. The boy had no right to be sent
out in the way he had been. The porter's book, containing
the application of the boy's father, was also presented and
read, and after some considerable further inquiry Mr. Ford
and Mr. Ilollingshead considered the case a most shameful
one on the part of their officials, and calculated to damage
the character of the board. The latter moved that the
clerk, as soon as the board was over, proceed to the resi-
dence of the boy's father, and ascertain if he had returned
home, and if no; that he get a correct description of him
and forthwith issue public placards, offering on the part
of the guardians a rewani of tive pounds to any one giving
information so as to find the boy. This being seconded,
Mr. J. H. Collins moved that they go further, inform the
l'oor Law Board what they had done, what facts they
had elicited, and express their regret at the shameful
carelessnvos and negligence on the part of their officers.
After some furtherand warm discussion, Mr.Hollingshead's
motion was carried, and Mr. Ford modified his to referring
the whole matter to the house committee to investigate
and report, and that au& report be forwarded to the Poor
Law Board.

GRIEVANCES OF NORTH LONDON RAILWAY PAS-
SENGEEs.—A deputation of passengers who reside in the
neighbourhood of the North London Railway attended
yesterday at the company's station at the Euston-square
terminus for the purpose of having an interview with the ,
directors respecting Dome alleged serious irregularities I
which the passengers experience in travelling between
Fenchurch-Itreet, Broad-street, and the north-west por-
tions of the line. Some twenty gentlemen holding season
tickets, and who have taken houses at a considerable ren-
tal on the line, were in attendance, but it was stated, on I
their being introduced to the amistant-secretary, Mr. ;
Newton, that, in consequence of some misunderstanding
that had taken place in the communications between the
board and the members of the deputation, the directors
would not be able to be present until Wednesday
(this day). The deputation was very courteously
received by the assistant secretary, and the complaints as
to the interruptions of the traffic and the inconvenience
suffered by the passengers were very temperately pre-
sented to Ur. Newton, who regretted exceedingly that
the misunderstanding that bad occurred had pre-
vented the presence of the directors, and of Mr. Maned,
tho secretary. The chief complaints on the part of the
passengers appeared to be the change of carriage, which
passengers have to suffer at Bow, and certainly the state-
ment, wade by several of the deputation quite justified
them in taking the present step. Mr. Newton assured them
that the question of the change of carriages at Bow
was under the serious consideration of the board, who
would meet this day, and no doubt they would come to a
conclusion which would be satisfactory to the members of
the deputation. They knew that it was impossible to run
through trains from all stations, but everything that could
be done the directors would endeavour to do. Several
minor complaints were made, the justice of which was ad-
mitted, and Mr. Newton said some of them were in course
of removal, and the others would be removed at the earliest
possible moment. If the deputation wished, the directors
would be happy to meet them this day (Wednesday) ; but
after a slight conversational discussion among the mem-
bers it was decided to leave the whole matter in the hands
of the directors. Mr. Newton stated that as far as the
directors had the power the cause of complaint would be
removed.
CRYSTAL PAULI'. —ORB Sifruziro DAL.—
TITSDAY, OCT. 2.—Admissions on payment, 3,544 ;
I ditto by season tickets, 1,052. Total visitors, 4,596.