The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-11 00:00:00

THAMES.

DONALD THOMPSON, THE TROUBLESOME PAUPER.—
This extraordinary man, who has been for many years a
pauper chargeabl e to the City of London Union, was brought
before Mr. Woolrych, charged with refusing to perform
the work assigned to him in the -Union-house, Bow-road.
Donald Thompson is certainly a remarkable man, and has
given great trouble to the authorities. His correspondence
with the Poor-law Board, the Horne-office, the Lord Mayor,
aldermen, magistrates, and others, would fill as many
volumes as Hume and Smollett' s History of England. There
was, no doubt, in the early part of his career, and after he
first became chargeable to the City of London, some advan-
tage was taken of his excessive loquaciousness and obstinacy,
and that be was not so well treated as he ought to have
been. Mr. Yardley investigated his grievances with great
patience and kindness, and he was afterwards treated with
great indulgence. He took advantage of this, and after
preferring many unfounded complaints against the master
and officers of the union-house, and giving them a great deal
of trouble, he has for the last three years acted in a most
contumacious manner, and refused to do any work at all.
He obtained a good situation by the influence of persons
who took an interest in him, and believed he was more sinned
against than sinning. He kept this situation a short time
only, and has repeatedly attributed the loss of it to the
libellous reports and slanders of the Guardians of the City
of London Union—nothing can be more unfounded. He
has refused to do any work for a long time, medical evi-
dence has been given in opposition to his statements, the
" rules, orders, and regulations" of the Poor Law Board
have been produced by Mr. Bowring, clerk to the Guar-
dians, long speeches have been inflicted by the prisoner on
Mr. Ingham, Mr. Yardley, Mr. Selfe, Mr. Woolrych, and
Mi. Partridge, and the prisoner has made earnest appeals
to the press. Vanity and the love of hearing hsimelf talked
about seems to be his prevailing passion. He has been
afflicted with all the ills flesh is heir to, and after
exhausting all the complaints treated of by
Buchan in his "Domestic Medicine" has invented a new
one as an excuse for not picking oakum. Ho has been com-
mitted for 7, 14, 21 days, or a month, about 30 times.
Mr. Edwin liolland, labour master in the City of London
Union House, said the prisoner was last sentenced to 21
days' imprisonment and hard labour by Mr. Partridge, and
came out of the City prison, Holloway, on Saturday, re-
turned to his old quarters, and refused to do any work on
Monday and yesterday.
The prisoner said his head was bad. Ile regretted to
have taken up so much of the magistrate's valuable time on
former occasions. He would not do it now.
Mr. Woolrych—l am very glad to hear it, for we are very
busy here. Has he been ill since he has been in prison ?
Mr. Holland—No, sir.

The prisoner said he was put into a part of the work-
house where he could not remain. He ought t.) be in a
place set apart for the aged and infirm.
Mr. Holland—That is for people above 60 years of age.

Thompson—l shall be 63 on the 29th of next February,
Mr. Woolrych—Stop there and work till the 29th of
Feburary ; then you will be qualified for that part of the
workhouse which you prefer.
sir, I should bo qualified if no tricks
Thompson—Yes,
were played.
Mr. Woolrych—What tricks?
Thompson—They say I am only 20 years of age. (A
laugh.)
Mr. Woolrych—No surgeon or anybody else will say you
are only 20 years of age.
Thompson—l have only a birthday every four years—
Laughter.) You see I was born
they say lam only 20. (
in Leap Year.
Mr. Woolrych— No advantage will be taken of that.
Thompson—You don't know their schemes and tricks.
They say lam only 20—that I have only had 20 birthdays.
However, sir, not to trespass longer on your valuable time,
please to send me back to prison. I prefer going there.
Do not consign me to the tender mercies of the poor law
authorities.
Mr. Woolrych—You are sentenced to 14 days' imprison-
ment and hard labour.
Thompson—Thank you, sir, thank you. I will not write
to the Home Secretary about you, Mr. Woolrych, A. more
courteous gentlentan I never met Good day, air.