The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-27 00:00:00

THE EXTENSIVE FRAUDS UPON THE ISLE
OF WIGHT SAVINGS BANK.

EXAMINATION OF MR. YELP FOR FORGERY AND

EMBEZZLEMENT.

NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT, Tuesday. The Mayor
and other magistrates of this borough were engaged
nearly the whole of yesterday, at the Town-hall, investi-
gating a series of charges, forgery, embezzlement, and
other frauds, against Mr. William Wheeler Yelf, actuary
of the Isle of Wight Savings Bank, whose defalcations
amount to the large sum of 8,2761., the deposits exceed-
ing 60,0001. The prisoner was generally much respected
on the island ; for many years he was the distributor of
stamps, had a large printing establishment, and was a
Wesleyan preacher. As may be imagined the suspen-
sion of the bank has produced much sensation, and the
Town-hall was -crowded by the depositors to hear the
proceedings.
Mr. Eldridge appeared to prosecute, and Mr. Bick-
ingsall attended for the accused, who seemed to feel his
situation most keenly. In consequence of his delicate
state of health he was allowed a chair.

Mc. Eldridge, in opening the case, expressed his regret
at being placed in the distressing position of being
Obliged to bring charges of so serious a character against
the prisoner, who had held an important office in the
society, and enjoyed the confidence of the directors and
trustees ; and although he (Mr. E.) would ai oid everything
vindictive, he must say that the cases were marked
with an enormity which removed them from the general
class of off,:nces. This was not a case where, under
powerful temptation, a man had fallen into the commis-
sion of crime, but it. was carried on for a great number
of years„ and even the sacred name of religion
had been prostituted to enable him the better to
carry on a system of forgery and embezzlement.
Mr. E. then explained the system pursued at the
Isle of Wight Savings Bank, and the way cheques
were signed and handed to the prisoner for parties
who might appear to have given notice for withdrawing
some of their deposits. The first case of forgery he
should go into was a cheque which had been drawn in
favour of George Vine, when no such person had an
account at the bank. It was drawn as though Vine
belong6d to the Ityde district, and on examining the
Ryde cheque-book, it was found that a cheque had been
cut out between the counterfoils of the trustees of widow
Towles and Martha Damp, the amount for which it was
drawn being 761. 12s. 2d. The name was altogether
fictitious ; there was no such person, and he would call
witnesses who would establish a clear case of forgery.
Mr. George Kirkpatrick deposed, that he was one of
the trustees of the Isle of Wight Savings Bank, and the
prisoner had been actuary of the bank for many years.
On the morning of the 16th instant he received the
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" Saturday Morning, April 16, 1853.
"tir,—An unsupportable and daily-increasing weight
of anguish compels me at length to reveal a secret that has
destroyed my health, and is, I feel, cutting short my days.
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" The awful fact is, that the unbounded confidence placed
in me was, many years ago, in a moment of sudden and
great pecuniary embarrassment, abused, and the boundaries
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that the only thing I can do is, by a disclosure, to prevent
the evil spreading further, and beg of you and the other
trustees at once to take possession o all I have on behalf of
the sufferers ; and I do voluntarily place myself in the
hands of the trustees, to receive that punishment which I
deserve, as the only means I have left to prove my siticere
repentance of the crimes I have committed.
It will be the more necessary for prompt and imme-
diate action, as I fear _ hourly a distraint from the Crown,
which your possession may prevent.
" Before you receive this I shall have broken the terrible
secret to my unfortunate and innocent wife and son, and,
may God support them under the awful trial; and I sin-
cerely hope they will experience that merciful consideration
and pity from your hands, and the hands of the trustees,
which I dare not hope for,_ and do not deserve.
"I am, Sir, your unfaithful, but truly penitent servant,
• W. W. Y."
Witness afterwards saw the prisoner, who explained the
manner in which the frauds were committed. He said
it was by getting false cheques signed by the trustees,
and by abstracting the cash that ought to have been
taken to the bank afterwards altering figures, and falsi-
fying the accounts. He stated that the sum deficient
was 8,2761., that it commenced in 1839, and continued
until 1849. Prisoner had since placed in witness's
hands a paper, which he said was a true statement
of the abstractions. It was as follows :—ln 1839,
210/. ; 1840, 6:10/. ; 1841, 735/. ; 1842, 1791. ; 1843,
450/. ; 1844, 430/. ; 1845, 558/. ; 1846, 501. ; 1847,
7601. ; 1848 and 1849, 1901. There was neither
promise nor threat used in his making the statement.
Mr. Kirkpatrick then deposed that the notice produced
purported to be the claim of George Vine, of Ryde. It
was in the custody of the prisoner. The account should
appear in the Ryde books. The numbers appropriated
to that town were from 5,000 to 7,000. Notices from
Ryde were sent by the secretary of that branch every
week, and laid on the table with the cheque-book. It
was the prisoner's duty to prepare the cheques which
were signed by the acting director. The prisoner re-
ceived the notices from Hyde. The filling up of the
blank in the cheque produced was in his handwriting.
The cheque was ,drawn to pay 761. 12s. 2d. Had
examined the index of the Hyde ledger, and could not find
the name of George Vine. In the book of counterfoils
of the Hyde cheque-book, produced between those of
the trustees of the widow Towles and Martha Damp,
ono had been cut out. Had looked through the coun-
terfoils, and there was not one for the cheque drawn in
the mine of Vine. He produced the Newport ledger,
and showed that under an old number, 4,633, 17th
August, 1846, was the name of George Vine, labourer,
Neweburch. The account was in the handwriting of
the prisoner.
Mr. Monett, manager of the National and Provincial
Bank, Newport, and treasurer of the Isle of Wight
Savings Bank, produced a cheque for 761. 12s. 2(1. • it
was signed W. W. Yelf, actuary, and Joseph Maude,
director. The blank was filled up in the prisoner's hand-
writing. He was in the habit of paying into the Na-
tional and Provincial Bank the money received at the
Savings Bank. On the 9th of July, 1849, he paid in
the cheque produced, with coin, to the credit of the di-
rectors; he produced the slip with the items, they
amounted to 2551. No cheque was cancelled by the late
Mr. James Cowdery. The money and cheque, tied in
a bag, were in the custody of the prisoner.
Mr. Eldridge then proceeded with another case, which
occurred on the same day, the 9th of July, 1849, in
which by changing a 5 into a 3, a fraud of 201. had been
effected. It appeared a Hyde remittance of 531. 7s. had
been altered to 331. 75., which was clearly proved in
evidence.

The, next case gone into was another of forgery in tho
name of Robert Lock, for 741. 4s. 2d., which was esta-
blished. The evidence of the Rev. Joseph Maude, who
signed the cheques as one of the directors, being neces-
sary, and that gentleman being daily expected from
Wales, the further examination of the prisoner was ad-
journed for a few days, in order that the above case might
be completed.

Mr. hldridge remarked that he had one more charge to
bring forward, and if in the examination then going on,
anything material amongst the many instances should
strike attention, he would submit them to the court.
The prisoner was then removed.
It is anticipated that little of Yelf's estate will be al-
lowed to go against the loss sustained by the depositors.
A distraint for 1,500'. has been put in by the Crown
for arrears in the prise cr's stamp account, and it appears
that an execution was previously in.
The trustees and directors of the bank have requested
the depositors to leave their pass-books for examination
by the London accountant, who is now engaged investi-
gating the affair.

SAMARITAN FREE HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN AND
CIIILDREN.-The annual dinner in aid of the funds of
this excellent institution will take place at the London
Tavern, on SLtarday. Few charities are mord largely
or deservedly patronised than this valuable hospital,
which gratuitously supplies, without letters of rtc.nn;
mendation, medicines and attendance to sick women
and children in all cases of disease. It is a very com-
mendable feature in this institution, that foreigners
in distress, of whatever country, are equally en-
titled to its benefits. The practical working of the
by
obtainth e
a building large enough for the accommodation of 200
charity during the six years it has been in existent e
shows the number of cases tmated up to the . pre-
sent the pis
intended,uroso, 0 t
saei(nitotfimsueffitcoiearllntocuonntttroibu436,ooonos.for
in-patients, which would prove a most beneficial pro-
) a numerous vision for the humbleafilictedthaemwoenlgi-ktnhoewtl
abilities
dustriousth
there
will
lf
b thee opliar tl
poor.
a\nvde
tthreusgtreathtatatttheen
present as on all former occasions
at-
tendance—when from
skilful caterers—
entrusted with the prcliminar
as the potential claims of the charity,y arrangements, as well
feel well assured of being ratifie the visitors may
g
and for once at least mingling th
d in every particular,
ful with the very agreeable. e unqueEConably use-
BRITISH REFORMATION
ra iS
annual meeting of this society
tOcrETY. —Yesterday the
square Rooms ; Mr. Noel Hoare in the chair. The chair-
man in opening the proceedings
proceedings of the Popeia referred to the recent
ment has acted with iber Holland, where the govern-
ment
proof of the actively liberality to the Romish clergy, as
aggressive spirit of the Roman
Catholic Church. A. report stated that the appeals which
have been made from time
to time to the liberality of the
British Protestants had met with an unprecedented re-
sponse. During the year meetings had been held and
lectures delivered, or
sermonsenumperraetaedm
ehediadt an thilarge num-
ber of places which were
period free grants of books and tracts had bleenneraClaemtee
clergymen and others engaged in d's;eminating the Pro-
testant faith in Great Britain and Ireland. The 'total
number of books sold by the society within the year,
amounted to 799 volumes of controversial works, and
20,666 tracts; whilst the number gratuitously distri-
buted was 78 volumes, and 46,430 tracts. The accounts
for the year ending March 31, 1853, showed receipts
4,3801. 19s. lid., and expenditure 3,6151. 9s. 4d., leav-
ing a balance in hand of 765/. 10s. 7d. The report was
adopted, and various resolutions were passed iii further-
ance of the objects of the society.
- PROSPERITY AND ADVERSITY.—TaIk of the love that
outlives adversity !—the love that remains with prospe-
rity is a thousand times more rare. The one is the keen
ten
but bracing north wind of oxis ce that invigorates and
nerves for exertion ; the other is the enervating , hot-
breath of summer, which sicklies and weakens OUT, best
resolves--making us feverish, captious, and suspicious
even of those we love best.—Kidcks On hum/.