The Press.
London, England, 1856-09-06 00:00:00

LIFE ASSURANCES.

INDISPUTABLE POLICIES appear to give rise to much
litigation. Resistance to payment or an attempt at
compromise would seem the ordinary course pur-
sued by Indisputable Policy Societies whenever op
portunity offered. There have lately been one or two
doubtful if not discreditable cases of illegal resist•
ance to legal payment by such Societies, which strive
for and only attain public patronage through the
understanding that all claims, with certain stated
exceptions, are " indisputable." It has remained,
however, for the " Unity General Assurance Associa
cion " to obtain the acme of notoriety for " sharp
practice." It appears that Mr. B‘YLTS, the manager
of this Association, having quarrelled with the Board
of Directors, has resigned his situation, and
published a pamphlet in which is detailed the fol-
low' ir.
In the early part of the year, a gentleman living
at Glasgow insured his wife's life for 2,0001. The
lady was in delicate health, and the medical officer
of the society, Dr. Lloyd, recommended that the life
should only be taken on adding six years to the age.
The policy on these terms, and in the lady's name,
was effected, forwarded and handed over to the in-
sured in January '56. In April, the lady's husband
discovering that in event of her death the proceeds
of this insurance would be paid to trustees according
to previous settlement, inquired of the Society's
agent at Glasgow, a Mr. WIELAND, whether the
policy could not he so altered as to make hint the
insitrer, and, if not declining to continue the policy
as it stood. The Unity Board at once consented to
cancel the original awl issue a new one. A fresh
policy was made out, and on the 15th of June was
forwarded to Mr. WIELAND for delivery to the insurer.
But Mr. WIELAND discovering that the lady was
" very ill," put the policy in his desk, and on the 17th
wrote to Mr. BAYLIS a private and confidential letter,
announcing the lady's severe illness and suggesting
" improper measures, having for their object the
recovery of the 2,0001. policy," and thus, in the event
of the lady's deatn, clearing the Society of all
liability. To this Mr. BAYLIS replies, that if any
suppression as to the true state of the lady's health
has taken place, to establish the fact at once,
return the premiums and leave Mr. " to seek
his remedy." An " indefinite something" still weighed
upon the conscientious Mr. WIELAND'S mind, and he
kept the policy in his desk. On the Ist of July the
lady died, and then commenced the second act of
this charming little domestic drama. That active
agent WIELAND telegraphed the news at once, asked
for Dr. LLOYD, and added, " I have not given up the
policy." Dr. LLOYD sets off by mail train for Glas-
gow, and on arrival, WIELAND " opens his mind," the
result of which frankness was, that Dr. LLOYD tele-
graphed to town to know if he might " compromise
the affair for 7501." Dr. LLOYD then saw both the
medical men who attended Mrs. —, made them
admit that " they could not exactly point out the
cause of death," "drew out " Mr. to a consi-
derable length without finding any proof of foul play
against Mrs. —, and finally, " to test him to the
lest," made every arrangement for a post-mortem
examination. "At this," writes WIELAND, "we were
in much perplexity, for the post-mortem examination
could prove nothing and would cause scandal." He
continues:—

I then suggested that under all the circumstances, per.
haps would come to a compromise; but the doctor
saw great difficulties in making him an offer, and he
enjoined me not to do so for fear of compromising the
office. After consideration. however, and with many in-
junctions, he consented to let me try to bring it about, but
not on any account for the offer to emanate from me. He
suggested that now was the time to effect it or never, and I
started by first train, having an appointment with him at
night. How the delicate mission was performed, it is not
for me to say ; suffice it to tell that at twelve that night,
Mr. offered to compromise the matter for 1.000/., and
I consented to carry this suggestion to Dr. Lloyd, but
begged him to name 5001. as the amoutit.
The result however was, that Mr. —, though
having received an acknowledgment from Dr. Lunn)
that Mrs. —'s death was quite satisfactory, yet
not being in possession of the new policy, compro-
mised the affair for 7501., and the next day found

843

that his wife had revoked her former will and I?ft
him everything, so that he had lost a clear 1,..250/.
by the transaction. At this, writes WIELAND, "he
was much chagrined." Dr. LLOYD, who appears,
from WIELAND'S description, to have been a grea, re-
inforcement to that altive gentleman, having
"cleverly managed" his brother medicos "to their
"mutual satisfaction," and mesmerised one or two
disaffected shareholders to Mr. WIELAND'S high ap-
proval, came off to town to accept the thanks of the
Board for his " clever" tact, whereby he saved them
1,2501. The Doctor, however, appears to have taken
" all the credit" to himself, and to have ignored the
conscientious WIELAND, who, expecting to receive a
handsome bonus for his share in the business, and
hearing nothing, on the 15th of July wrote to Mr.
BAYLIS, pointing out that the notion of the compro-
mise was his, not Dr. LLOYD'S ; that although he
did not look for any " pecuniary recompense," he did
expect the thanks and approval of the Board for
what he had undergone. Perhaps he adds, with
charming naiveti :
Dr. Lloyd forgot to tell you that the man
wanted me to sell the company by making a more
liberal arrangement with him, and accept of a portion
of the proceeds. I did not to him express myself so
forcibly as I felt inclined to do, lest it might break off
the compromise which was so advantageous to the
company ; but, in simply declining, I swallowed the insult
on that account, though I felt it all the =ore deeply.
Poor Mr. WIELAND ! how tender must his feelings
be! and to be neglected by the Board after such an
insult! It was too much for him, and so he threatens
to send in his little bill for commission. Mr.
Barns by this time having become acquainted with
the true nature of the transaction, says he protested,
at the next Board day, against the compromise
effected, and declared that the balance of 1,2501.
should be paid fur several reasons, the principal
being that Mr. could recover by law the whole
amount. The Board of Directors, he asserts,
throught proper to approve the compromise, and Mr.
Bwitus resigned.
As yet we have only Mr. BAYLIS'S statement
of the Board's conduct in this disreputable affair.
The Board meet on the 11th instant, and then we
may expect to hear their statement of Mr. BAYLIS'.
Mr. BAYLIS'S point is that he did not read WIELAND'S
letter of the 9th, and having left the whole affair to
Dr. LLOYD'S discretion, knew nothing of the details
except by D:. LLOYD'S verbal statement before the
Board. What that statement was does not appear,
but it does not seem to have affected Mr. BAYLIS, for
he says he only came to the conclusion that the affair
was discreditable when and not before he had heard
WIELAND'S letter of the 9th read.

It now only remains for the Board of Directors, Sir
W. C. DALYELL, Sir W. G. FELL, Major MULKERN, Dr.
LLOYD, and Messrs. JACKSON, TAYLOE, BRADLEY,
GARLAND, and VAUGHAN LO exculpate themselves, to
disavow their agent's acts, pay the 1,250/., which they
will assuredly have to do very shortly, or to prove Mr.
BAYms a gross detractor.

LDRD STANLEY, in a recent letter to the Liverpool
Financial Reform Association, says, upon the subjects
of taxatio.i and financial reform :

I agree in the preferability of direct over indirect taxa-
tion, if two conditions he conceded; the first, that of
equality between classes, which by the capitalisation theory
seems attainable; the second, that of accurate knowledge
by Government of the amount of private incomes, which
I know no means of obtaining. It is this latter difficulty
more than the former, which prevents many public men
from acceding to the principle of a large extension of
direct taxation. With regard to economy in the adminis-
tration of the national funds, most reasoning persons are
agreed up to a certain point.
In reference ti military and naval expenditure, the
Association have it in their power to do good service, by
showing that a large force is not necessarily an efficient
one, nor an efficient force necessarily a large one; that the
chief colonies are capable of contributing more largely
than they do to their own defence in time of peace ; that
a militia may at all times furnish, at small co,t, a large
reserve for the army ; and that a smaller number of officers
may do the duty now performed by a larger number, if they
be made to learn their profession, and if mere idlers be ex-
cluded. In the civil service I believe the reform moat
wanted is to open it to competition, which will enable
Government to dispense with a considerable proportion of
those employed, and to pay the rest suitably.

THE PRINCE OF ORANGE suddenly lost week ar-
rived off Kirkwall in a Dutch man-of-war steamer.
The Prince landed early in the morning, and spent
the day visiting the many local antiquities and beau-
tiful scenery Kirkwall boasts of. Before leaving the
Prince was conducted to the Town-hail, and pre-
sented with the freedom of the burgh.
THE AVERAGE Numwra of persons annually
poisoned, according to the Registrar-General's re-
turns, is 536, or some 10 every week. Mr. Wilson*
in a letter to the Times, suggests the issue of an-
nual licences for the sale of all poisons.