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SCATTERGOOD VERSUS BENNETT.
to his
the defendant--who was a gentleman like him- is done to all. May I therefore beg, in your future proceedings He kept horses, against these people (and when you have found the truth of on X4000 or X5000 a year. sometimes five or six. (Laughter.) He (witness) did not insert what I will presently state), that my name may not be mixed advertisements and carry on a trade in toilet articles-he never up with their disgraceful proceedings. I once had the misfor. did. He had only been assistant, as he had stated, to Drs. Coul- tune to employ Wm. Bennett as my assistant for a few months, ston, Manfred, and Watters. He was never in business on his but I got rid of him nearly two years since. It is, therefore, false that he is in my service now, or that he resides at 22, own account; he found them the means, and he had lent them as much as £500, ;S600, and X800 at a time. (Laughter.) He Norland-square, and it is equally false that at any time he ever lent me X500 and £800, or that I allowed him a portion of was paid in return a commission on the proceeds of the business. He was a man of property. His property was in money, not my profits, as he also appears to have sworn. I do not think he ever had as many shillings to advance had I wished it. in land, which he considered better. (A laugh.) Your obedient servant, Mr. MAY.-Do you know where Dr. Watters and Mr. CoulHENRY S. COULSTON. ston are ? To J. Bowen May, Esq., Bolton House, Russell-square. Witness.-’ cannot say where Dr. Watters is, but I expected Mr. Coulston would have been in court. (Laughter.) Really, I expected him here (looking about). COMMISSION OF OYER AND TERMINER, The witness further stated, in cross-examination, that he had lived in Wick-lane, Kingston. He had heard of LoughDUBLIN. He borough-street, Kennington; his brother had lived there. did not know anything about the advertisement " Bloom of OBTAINING A DIPLOMA UNDER FALSE PRETENCES. Health." He still adhered to the statement that Miss ScatterAT above Commission, John Edward Protheroe and Dr. good never paid one halfpenny, and that she was a gratis pa- CharlestheEvans Reeves were indicted for an attempt to obtain, tient. Mr. Coulston received all the money that was taken. Mr. MAY.-And you were to get as much out of a patient under false pretences, a diploma from the King and Queen’s College of Physicians in Ireland. as you could ? ’I he SOLICITOR-GENERAL (Mr. George, Q. C.) stated that the Witness.-Yes ; as much as could be got. Crown had agreed that the case should be settled as the counMr. MAY.-And vou followed this out closely? Witness (in a confidential manner). -That, of course, was sel for the prisoners had stated. Though a diploma or degree had been obtained under false pretences, yet it should be reo between ourselves. (Laughter.) membered that this could be of no possible use to the prisoners, had means of his which brother own Mr. HAINES.—His By enabled him to keep horses; and he always paid twenty shil- and that it was at present in the hands of the police, by whom it would be restored to the College. Under these circumstances, tings in the pound. (A laugh.) The name of Samuel Coulston, otherwise Dr. Coulston, was and although the Crown were ready to prove the case, they called out several times in Court, and created much laughter, thought that, considering the length of time during which Mr. Protheroe and Dr. Reeves had been in custody, and the injury though no response followed. A young man named William Allen was next called, on the done to their prospects and character by the charge, they had been sufficiently punished, and it was accordingly agreed not part of the defendant, to show that he had no connexion with the firms of "Dr. Coulston" or "Dr. Watters;" but the evi- to press for severe punishment, but to permit the prisoners, dence was unimportant and of an unsatisfactory character, upon pleading guilty, to be discharged, having entered into to appear for judgment when called on. He through the absence in propria persona of the" Doctors" Coul- recognizances thought that the counsel for the defence had shown a wise disston and Watters. Mr. MAY, addressing his Honour, observed that he assumed cretion in advising this plea of "guilty." He hoped such an offence would not again be committed. A new Act had lately ample and conclusive evidence had been given for the defendant come into operation in which the status of the King and to be indicted or committed for perjury ? Queen’s College of Physicians was recognised, and in which His HONOUR replied that he intended to adopt that course. There could be no doubt that a fraud had been committed. The stringent punishments were provided to be inflicted on any ,evidence of the plaintiff, Miss Scattergood, was very conclu- party who should cause false registration or obtain a diploma sive on the point of identification, as was the evidence of the under false pretences. On these grounds, and as the College other witnesses, Sanger, Wallen, and Rossiter; and then the authorities seemed to believe that the character of the College letters produced and sworn to pointed to the defendant in the would be sufficiently respected, and justice vindicated, by the There could be no course it was proposed to adopt in this case, he agreed that names of Dr. Luders and Dr. Singleton. the prisoners should be discharged from custody. under all these of a doubt, circumstances, conspiracy and fraud Baron RICHARDS said that as the Crown had agreed to the been and the a while giving committed; plaintiff verhaving dict for the amount claimed, he would commit the defendant arrangement of the case, he would not question the propriety of the course which had been adopted, and he must say that for forty days. he believed the prisoners had been very well advised. The Mr. MAY asked if his Honour could commit both the defenoffence which had been committed he considered to be one of dant and his brother on the charge of fraud ? His HONOUR replied that he could only deal with the de- a very serious nature. Judge BALL hoped that it would be remembered that the fendant. The defendant was then immediately arrested by the officers responsibility of arranging the case rested with the Crown, and that the Court was not to be considered as any party to - of the Court, and the proceedings terminated. the arrangement.
brother,
self,-he lived
.
SCATTERGOOD VERSUS BENNETT. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-I see by your journal of last week that you purpose giving a report of this trial, so important to the public as well as the medical profession. I have received a letter from Mr. Coulston, which I enclose, as it tends to confirm the evidence given on the trial, and to show how little reliance can be placed on the oaths of the interested. I have had many applications from other victims of the Bennetts, and expect your .columns will again be called on to help to purify the profession them. Yours very obediently, J. BOWEN J. BOWEN MAY. Bolton House, Russell-square, Feb. 1859.
by recording proceedings against
(COPY.) 21, Norland-square, Notting-hill. your duty to your client in so successfully prosecuting your suit against the "Bennett gang," (as they are termed,) you have done me serious injury by assuming that " Mr. Coulston was a myth," and connected with these Bennetts. I learn that you are very strict in seeing that rin:ht
SiR,-In the discharge of
198
POOR-LAW MEDICAL REFORM. AT
a
Union, to the
meeting
of the medical officers of the
held Jan.
Bromsgrove
28th, the following resolutions, in reference suggested Medical Relief Scheme, were unanimously
adopted :-
1. That it would be
unjust
to the
present medical
determine, without their individual consent, the present existing.
officers to contracts at
2. That it is most undesirable to appoint two medical officers for the same district or parish, as it would lead to rivalry of an unpleasant character, and tend to the increase of pauperism. 3. That grave objections exist to the giving orders for medical relief by each guardian. By virtue of his office as a member of the Board, each guardian has judicial duties to perform; amongst others, that of allowing or disallowing the medical or other relief given by the relieving officer. It would follow that the medical orders given by the guardian would be brought in comparison with those of the officer; and, as a consequence, the authority and control of the Board over such officer would badbe
the defendant--who was a gentleman like him- is done to all. May I therefore beg, in your future proceedings He kept horses, against these people (and when you have found the truth of on X4000 or X5000 a year. sometimes five or six. (Laughter.) He (witness) did not insert what I will presently state), that my name may not be mixed advertisements and carry on a trade in toilet articles-he never up with their disgraceful proceedings. I once had the misfor. did. He had only been assistant, as he had stated, to Drs. Coul- tune to employ Wm. Bennett as my assistant for a few months, ston, Manfred, and Watters. He was never in business on his but I got rid of him nearly two years since. It is, therefore, false that he is in my service now, or that he resides at 22, own account; he found them the means, and he had lent them as much as £500, ;S600, and X800 at a time. (Laughter.) He Norland-square, and it is equally false that at any time he ever lent me X500 and £800, or that I allowed him a portion of was paid in return a commission on the proceeds of the business. He was a man of property. His property was in money, not my profits, as he also appears to have sworn. I do not think he ever had as many shillings to advance had I wished it. in land, which he considered better. (A laugh.) Your obedient servant, Mr. MAY.-Do you know where Dr. Watters and Mr. CoulHENRY S. COULSTON. ston are ? To J. Bowen May, Esq., Bolton House, Russell-square. Witness.-’ cannot say where Dr. Watters is, but I expected Mr. Coulston would have been in court. (Laughter.) Really, I expected him here (looking about). COMMISSION OF OYER AND TERMINER, The witness further stated, in cross-examination, that he had lived in Wick-lane, Kingston. He had heard of LoughDUBLIN. He borough-street, Kennington; his brother had lived there. did not know anything about the advertisement " Bloom of OBTAINING A DIPLOMA UNDER FALSE PRETENCES. Health." He still adhered to the statement that Miss ScatterAT above Commission, John Edward Protheroe and Dr. good never paid one halfpenny, and that she was a gratis pa- CharlestheEvans Reeves were indicted for an attempt to obtain, tient. Mr. Coulston received all the money that was taken. Mr. MAY.-And you were to get as much out of a patient under false pretences, a diploma from the King and Queen’s College of Physicians in Ireland. as you could ? ’I he SOLICITOR-GENERAL (Mr. George, Q. C.) stated that the Witness.-Yes ; as much as could be got. Crown had agreed that the case should be settled as the counMr. MAY.-And vou followed this out closely? Witness (in a confidential manner). -That, of course, was sel for the prisoners had stated. Though a diploma or degree had been obtained under false pretences, yet it should be reo between ourselves. (Laughter.) membered that this could be of no possible use to the prisoners, had means of his which brother own Mr. HAINES.—His By enabled him to keep horses; and he always paid twenty shil- and that it was at present in the hands of the police, by whom it would be restored to the College. Under these circumstances, tings in the pound. (A laugh.) The name of Samuel Coulston, otherwise Dr. Coulston, was and although the Crown were ready to prove the case, they called out several times in Court, and created much laughter, thought that, considering the length of time during which Mr. Protheroe and Dr. Reeves had been in custody, and the injury though no response followed. A young man named William Allen was next called, on the done to their prospects and character by the charge, they had been sufficiently punished, and it was accordingly agreed not part of the defendant, to show that he had no connexion with the firms of "Dr. Coulston" or "Dr. Watters;" but the evi- to press for severe punishment, but to permit the prisoners, dence was unimportant and of an unsatisfactory character, upon pleading guilty, to be discharged, having entered into to appear for judgment when called on. He through the absence in propria persona of the" Doctors" Coul- recognizances thought that the counsel for the defence had shown a wise disston and Watters. Mr. MAY, addressing his Honour, observed that he assumed cretion in advising this plea of "guilty." He hoped such an offence would not again be committed. A new Act had lately ample and conclusive evidence had been given for the defendant come into operation in which the status of the King and to be indicted or committed for perjury ? Queen’s College of Physicians was recognised, and in which His HONOUR replied that he intended to adopt that course. There could be no doubt that a fraud had been committed. The stringent punishments were provided to be inflicted on any ,evidence of the plaintiff, Miss Scattergood, was very conclu- party who should cause false registration or obtain a diploma sive on the point of identification, as was the evidence of the under false pretences. On these grounds, and as the College other witnesses, Sanger, Wallen, and Rossiter; and then the authorities seemed to believe that the character of the College letters produced and sworn to pointed to the defendant in the would be sufficiently respected, and justice vindicated, by the There could be no course it was proposed to adopt in this case, he agreed that names of Dr. Luders and Dr. Singleton. the prisoners should be discharged from custody. under all these of a doubt, circumstances, conspiracy and fraud Baron RICHARDS said that as the Crown had agreed to the been and the a while giving committed; plaintiff verhaving dict for the amount claimed, he would commit the defendant arrangement of the case, he would not question the propriety of the course which had been adopted, and he must say that for forty days. he believed the prisoners had been very well advised. The Mr. MAY asked if his Honour could commit both the defenoffence which had been committed he considered to be one of dant and his brother on the charge of fraud ? His HONOUR replied that he could only deal with the de- a very serious nature. Judge BALL hoped that it would be remembered that the fendant. The defendant was then immediately arrested by the officers responsibility of arranging the case rested with the Crown, and that the Court was not to be considered as any party to - of the Court, and the proceedings terminated. the arrangement.
brother,
self,-he lived
.
SCATTERGOOD VERSUS BENNETT. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-I see by your journal of last week that you purpose giving a report of this trial, so important to the public as well as the medical profession. I have received a letter from Mr. Coulston, which I enclose, as it tends to confirm the evidence given on the trial, and to show how little reliance can be placed on the oaths of the interested. I have had many applications from other victims of the Bennetts, and expect your .columns will again be called on to help to purify the profession them. Yours very obediently, J. BOWEN J. BOWEN MAY. Bolton House, Russell-square, Feb. 1859.
by recording proceedings against
(COPY.) 21, Norland-square, Notting-hill. your duty to your client in so successfully prosecuting your suit against the "Bennett gang," (as they are termed,) you have done me serious injury by assuming that " Mr. Coulston was a myth," and connected with these Bennetts. I learn that you are very strict in seeing that rin:ht
SiR,-In the discharge of
198
POOR-LAW MEDICAL REFORM. AT
a
Union, to the
meeting
of the medical officers of the
held Jan.
Bromsgrove
28th, the following resolutions, in reference suggested Medical Relief Scheme, were unanimously
adopted :-
1. That it would be
unjust
to the
present medical
determine, without their individual consent, the present existing.
officers to contracts at
2. That it is most undesirable to appoint two medical officers for the same district or parish, as it would lead to rivalry of an unpleasant character, and tend to the increase of pauperism. 3. That grave objections exist to the giving orders for medical relief by each guardian. By virtue of his office as a member of the Board, each guardian has judicial duties to perform; amongst others, that of allowing or disallowing the medical or other relief given by the relieving officer. It would follow that the medical orders given by the guardian would be brought in comparison with those of the officer; and, as a consequence, the authority and control of the Board over such officer would badbe