Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 07 April 1933
Former Club Secretary’s Embezzlement
Lax Management
A former secretary of the New Conisboro’ Labour Club, Dennis Hague, whose residence was given as London, was charged at Doncaster on Tuesday with having stolen, between December 31st, 1931, and August 24th, 1932, £21 2s., the funds of the women’s funeral society connected with the club.
Mr. A. S. Furniss, prosecuting, said Hague while acting as secretary of the club, also officiated as treasurer for the women’s society. The women held fortnightly meetings at which collections were made and the money was handed to Hague. The total sum, during the period stated in the charge. was £45, of which £.23 18s. was disbursed in claims. On August 9th Hague was called before a special meeting and asked to produce the society’s books and funds. He did not do so but promised to provide full information as to the state of the society at a further meeting. When that was called, Hague did not appear and later disappeared. A warrant was obtained, and Hague was arrested in London on March 28th. When the warrant was read over to him, he replied, “Yes, if they say it was that, I suppose it is right.” Hague, when charged at Doncaster made no reply.
Sarah Ann Plant, 23. Clifton Street, Denaby, who was secretary of the society during Hague’s time, said there were 120 members. She produced receipts showing that over £32 had been handed over to Hague,’ and admitted, in answer to Hague, that, on several occasions there had not been sufficient in the funds to meet claims. The members had not demanded a bank book during 1921. “I know either Hague or the club lent us money on several occasions.”
When riestiune4 by the magistrates, Mrs. Plant said the £21 had now been paid by a Mr. Shaw and distributed among the members.
Annie Gilmore, 26, Braithwell Street, Denaby, gave similar evidence, and Daniel Letts, 23, Strafforth Terrace, Denaby, formerly steward at the club, said he often received the society’s subscriptions and handed them on to Hague. “On occasions when there was not sufficient money meet claims I loaned money to Hague from the club funds, that is, from the till. On the next women’s meeting they would have a whip round and the money paid back.”
Letts then produced receipts of subscriptions amounting to £5 or so, and the assistant magistrates’ clerk (Mr. M. Preece) pointed out that the total was now only £37 16s 2d., and not £45 as Mr. Furniss had previously stated. The amount in the charge was thereupon reduced to £13 18s. 2d.
Hague, on oath, said it had been case of the club helping the women’s society and vice-versa. “The money I am charged with has been loaned to the club. I have certainly not taken a penny of it. ” He added that it would have been useless having a bankbook. Last April the society owed him’, £1 1s. 7d. On occasions he had lent money to the society.
Answering Mr. Furnisis, Hague said the women had never sanctioned loans from their funds to the club.
Mr. Preece: What is your defence? That you have lent this society money and not received it back or that you paid their money into the club funds?—That I paid it into the club accounts.
At this stage there was a hint from Mr. Furniss of further charges respecting the club accounts which last year were “hundreds of pounds down.”
Hague: The committee of the club have been grossly negligent of duty in leaving everything to me. Because of their neglect they were all dismissed from office. I spent a great amount of money and time to make this club go, and they left it in my hands. The magistrates said a case had been made out against Hague, and Inspector Redfern stated that he had been fined £10 previously for inflicting bodily harm.
The chaiirntin (Mr. R. E. Cock). committing Hague to prison for a month, remarked. “While you have been guilty, in the opinion of the magistrates, of stealing this money, the circumstances of the case and the lax management of the club and society make it difficult for us to deal with it adequately from the points of view of the amount of money involved.”