The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-15 00:00:00

UNION WORKHOUSES.

A considerable sensation has been created within the
last few days in the town of Croydon in consequence of
certain facts that have transpired in reference to the
treatment of a casual pauper in the Union Workhouse at
that place. The following account of the occurrence has
been, obtained by .one of our Correspondents, and its
correctness may be relied upon.
On the Morning of Monday, the Bth instant, a man ap-
plied to the police station at Croydon for the assistance
of the police. He appeared to be very excited, his nose
and face were cut and bruised, his clothes were hanging
in shreds about his person, And it was evident that he had
been treated with very great violence from the character
of the complaint he made. Collier, the Inspector on
duty, advised him to go at once to the Town-hall, as a
Magistrate was then sitting, and make the complaint to
him, and take his advice upon the subject. Ile accord-
ingly went, accompanied by the Inspector, to the Town-
hall, where lie made a statement to the following effect,
to the presiding Magistrate, Mr. Currie.
The man said that being on his road home lie had
made application as a casual pauper to the workhouse,
and he was admitted and placed in the usual ward ap-
propriated for the reception of casual paupers, and re-
ceived the allowance of food with the others. In the
morning, shortly before he was about to leave the work-
house to proceed on his journey, he was told that before
he left the !tense he must have his hair cut off. He
objected to this being done, when lie was told that it was
of no use to make any objection, for that it was a regu-
lation of the workhouse that it .should be done, and that
they would- do it by force if he did not consent. He
again begged them to allow' him to leav4 the house, but
they refused, and, he: was at length seized by some
personi belonging to the workhouse, who forced him into
a chair, and; in spite of his resistance, his hair was cut,
and he was then turned out. During the struggle his
nose was cut, his face was burned, and his clothes were
torn nearly off his back, It wasst aunnedeerotrhetsheecistricaugmis:
soughtredres s
foror the as
assault the si
and ill usage he
htsrtallAnte l"cre.teesCotihuovrabedrttiehi en
asked the applicant, whether, when he
was admitted into the workhouse on the over-night, any-
thing was said to him about having his hair cut ?
The man replied that nothing was said to him upon the
subject ; and it was only in the morning, shortly before
he was going to leave, that he was told his hair must
be cut.

In answer to further questions, it appeared that the
been
ae sn nut‘l,
working
rk iwhatng niiilatyi
ebe termed a regular vagrant. lle
manhad
home, where he was 1.
b‘a.vec.oetrakbeciiriNoii:t h masters who country, and was on his way
being fearful that if his übitlatlbifeoorreemxeprelyctation of obtaining
gao., that they employed him, and
cropped
performed.
ma ed . 1 the appearance_of having
would scruple to give
tinil employment, he was induced the more to resist the
Mr. CURRIE, having heard the man's statement, and
made further inquiries, expressed his opinion that the
matter was a fit subject for further inquiry • and if the
story told by the applicant was correct, he had been very
improperly treated, and he directed that amessage should
be sent to the master of the workhouse requesting his
attendance, in order that he might give some explanation
of the conduct that had beenpursued towards the applicant.
Accordingly, soon afterwards Mr. Andrews, the Clerk
to the Board of Guardians,
accompanied by some of the
guardians and the master of the workhouse, came to
the Town-hall, and the nature of the complaint made by
the applicant was stated to them.
In answer to the statement, the explanationgiven
was, that it was one of the regulations of the work-
house that, for the preservation of cleanliness in the
workhouse, all casual paupers admitt for a night shoul
have their hair cut, but, owing tedo its being 6undayd
evening when this man. was let in, the party who
generally performed the office was not in attend-
ance, and, in consequence, the man was placed in the
usual ward without his hair being cut, and when

ROM

MO RNINa` SUN

he was told' hi the morning that he must submit to the
operation,- in accordance with the regulations of the
workhouse, he became very violent, and drew a knife,
and threatened to stab any one who laid hold of him,
and it was necessary to use violence, but no more was
exercised than was required to enable the parties to per-
form the operation ; and the applicant received the in-
juries of which he complained in consequence of his own
violence. The master of the workhouse said that some-
times a great number of paupers were admitted of a
night, and it was absolutely necessary that the regulation
referred to should be put in force.
Mr. CURIAE inquired whether the regulation referred
to was not to the effect that the hair should be cut upon
the admission of the party.
It was admitted that the regulation was to that effect.
Mr. CURRIE then observed, that he could very well
'understand why the operation should be performed
when a pauper was admitted to the workhouse, but it
was a very different thing to do it by force on the
morning, and he thought such a proceeding was very
improper. The man had been taken into the workhouse
and in order for the regulation to have been of any avail,
that was the time at which it should have been put in
force, and it was quite useless after the man had been all
night in the workhouse, and when he was about to leave
it, to carry it into effect, especially in such a violent
manner.
After some further discussion the parties retired, and
the Magistrate intimated that he should feel it his duty
to bring the matter before the Board of Guardians ; and
here the matter rests for the present, but it is understood
that some further proceedings will be taken in reference
1 to it.