Archive and reference: MH 12/6845
Original reference: 3353/1847
Date of letter: 23 February 1847
Poor Law Union number: 430
Poor Law Union: Bethnal Green Poor Law Union
Union counties: Middlesex
CIRCUMTEXT:
It might be well to inform the Gndss that the Commrs. have heard, by an anonymous commcn. which being anonymous they attach but little weight that James Bates an inmate of the W.H. Has been improperly punished by, or at the instigation, of the Superintendent of Labour, and that they will be glad to receive any statement of recent misconduct or punishment of the sd James Bates that the Gns. may after Inquiry, make to them.
BH 1st March /47
TEXT:
London Feby 23 1847
Gent
We the Under sined have Eard to Day a Curcamstance of Brutal usage Comited in Bethnal Green Poor house on James Bates by the superintendance on Saturday the 13th of this month the Cais is as follows the superintendance Mr Tarent Came into the Steam Room to Order som of the able Boded Men to the Pump and seeing James Bates before Him said you Laysey Scoundral I am no Scoundral I am the Father of 8 Children Mr Tarant in <Public> said Can i put up with such Insolance a [****]you have but one Eye and I will shuve that out and he seazed hould of Bates and with his Staff Thrust it in Baites Eye wich Blacken^ed^ it wich as Remained Black Ever since and with in half an hour after Came and put him ^in^ to thir Prison and gave thim som Warter and at 8 Oclock lett him out of Prison now Gentlemen if this man had done Wrong he ought to have been taken before a Majstrait and thir Delt with as the Magstrait thought Proper and not to be beat by the superentendant Wich the Law do not alowe now Gentlemen we hope and trust you will take this Case in to your most seirous Consideration and Exersise your Power to put a stop ^to^ such Pettey thing unless you do We In tend to Put it in to the Times and Dispatch Newspapers as We do think such a Brute as the superintendant is not a fitt and Proper Felow to hold that sitavation turn over
So no more at Presant but Remain your Most Respectful Friends of
Humanety inhabatance of the Parish of Bethnal Green
Document 1 – Letter. Anonymous letter from the “Respectful Friends of Humanety inhabatance of the Parish of Bethnal Green”. Describes and alleged beating of James Bates, one of the pauper inmates, by Mr Tarent, the Superintendent of Labour.
What punishments does the pauper receive? James Bates was punched in the eye by the superintendent. He was then put in a prison cell with only a little water.
What does the evidence suggest about workhouse staff? Use violence against paupers.
What does the nature of the evidence reveal about the paupers? This is a letter sent on behalf of multiple paupers – shows you that they understand what is right and wrong with punishments and want to challenge wrongdoings. They are probably aware of the rules as rules were often displayed in the workhouse. They are prepared to write to the Guardians to challenge their treatment. However, they are writing anonymously, possibly because they fear further punishments (this links to Evidence 5, where a pauper claims he is punished further for issuing a complaint against workhouse staff).