The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-15 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

THE PARISH AUTHORITIES OP ST. GEORGE'S, HANG-
VER.-SQUARE, AND THE CASUAL POOR.-Mr. Rogers, one
of the officers of St. George's, Hanover-square, attended
this morning, at the request of Mr. Knox, in consequence
of some complaints made by persons, charged before him
yesterday morning with breaking windows, that they could
not get admission to the casual ward of the workhouse.

Mr. Knox having mentioned the particulars of the case,
Mr. Rogers said the Poor Board of St. George's had
every desire to take their fair share of such cases as those
mentioned, and some time since the question, which was a
vexed one, was before them, and a committee was appointed
to consider the same, and after considerable deliberation
and inquiry, they found that such cases were most un-
equally dealt with by the various parishes in the metropolis,
some having wards for the reception of large numbers of
casual poor, some for small numbers, while others had none
at all. A deputation waited upon the Poor Law Board with
the view that the commissioners would deal with the mat er,
and propose some scheme that would be fair to all parishes
and such class of poor, but the commissioners were unpre-
pared to offer a plan to carry out such an equitable view.
At the time in question they were in the habit of taking in
three hundred or four hundred casual poor a week, but the
board came to the conclusion that the ward should be
shut, except to persons brought to the workhouse by the
police, and those admitted at the discretion of the master
and the porter. It was found that a vast number of the
persons applying were beggars about London and not
strangers, and that system of admission had gone on ever
since. The auth)rities of the parish were most anxious to
do their duty; every person who was brought to the house
eick was taken in and kept in the house, and any sugges-
tion that might be made by his worship would be at.
tended to.

Mr. Knox said that on the previous day the porter said
the casual ward would only hold 25 persons, but that 50
could be squeezed in. Surely accommodation for only 25
persons in this inclement weather showed a very deficient
state of things, and a place that would only hold 25 per-
sons was not proper for 50.
Mr. Rogers said that suppose they extended their num-
ber and took in 50, and there was a surplus—what was to
be done with the surplus. The board felt that such oases
ought to be looked to, and that some provision ought to
be made. It was thought the Poor Law Board should
take the matter in hand.

Mr. Knox said he was quite aware that if there was not
some regulation the workhouses would become barracks
for all the beggars about London. 'When persons came
before him for breaking windows they ought to be punished,
but he did vot think that taking in 25 or 30 persons was
providing sufficient accommodation in inclement weather.

Mr. Rogers said—Some days when the ward was open,
persons used to congregate at the doors in large numbers,
the undeserving got there first and got admitted, while the
more deserving, who did not get there in time, were not
admitted.

Mr. Knox said he would advise the authorities with the
view of putting themseves right with the public, to have
larger accommodation.

The matter then dropped,

WESTMINSTER.

CAUGHT AT LAST.--Henry Griffiths, a young man, was
placed at the bar charged with loitering about Belgravia
last night with intent to commit robbery.
William Ralph, 244 B, said that a little before 12 last
night he was on duty in Chester-street, Grosvenor •place
and there observed the prisoner and another man looking
down some areas. He determined to watch them closely,
as their conduct was very suspicious, but they suddenly
caught sight of him and then abruptly separated, and pri-
soner went into Ranelagh-street, where witness stopped
him and inquired where he lived. The prisoner replied
" Only two or three doors eff, in Ranelagh-place," at the
same time pointing to the house. Witness, believing this
statement, let the prisoner go, but to his surprise, he ten
minutes afterwards found him again making his
way to Grosvenor-place. Prisoner caught sight of
witness, and hid himself in a doorway in Milton street,
and on witness again meeting him and inquiring what he
was lurking about there for, the accused denied that he had
seen him, or had any conversation with him that night, and
he was then taken to the station.

Mr. Paynter asked what account he had given of him-
self.

Witness replied none that could be called satisfactory.
Prisoner said he was a tailor, and had been to Marl-
borough-street to endeavour to obtain employment.
The constable observed that he last night said he was a
butcher.

Mr. Paynter asked if his place of abode had been ascer-
tained.

Inspector Rolls said he denied now that he lived in Rane-
lagh-place, and admitted that he was lodging with a woman
of ill repute in Old Pye-street, Westminster.
Prisoner was remanded.