The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-22 00:00:00

PROVIDENT CLERKS' MUTUAL LIFE AS

SURANCE.

Last night the ninth annul meeting of the Provi-
dent Clerks' Association was held at the London Tavern.
Mr. R. H. Jonas in the chair.
The report stated Mat a considerable Increase had taken
place during the past year, both in tre number of policies
taken oat and in the amount of assurances effected. In the
last year 668 policies were issued for 115,8661., the
enamel premiums upon which amount to 3,2421. There
were 67 proposals for assurance declined and 62 were
deterred, witbaraws, and waiting for eurtner information.
The business of the emaciation for 1849 had greatly exceeded
that of any year aim:site tormation; and there was an increale
of 134 policies for 30,7551. over this prosperous year ot 1848.
The annual premiums payable in respect ot policies in
existenoe, together with the dividends on invested capital,
now amounted to 11,6261. During the year 1849 the board
purchased 6,0001. stock, and the total amount in the names
01 the trustees on the 31et December last was 20,0001. Three.
and-a-Half per Coate. The total amount ot aeons arising
tram 25 cleanse, curing the past year was 3,8601. Toe mortality
amongst the smarted daring the past year, was augmented
by four deaths, owing to etagere and diarrncea. IQ the course
of last year a deputauon from the board of management has
rimed Biroungnam, Manchester' Liverpool, and Glasgow,
on the subject ot agencies. The depu Anions were most c. t-
otally received by the principals ot many ot the leading
houses, and the bus.nesa had since considerably increagea,
The accounts for the year exhibited receipts to tne amount
of 11,621:. 3s. 84., and a balance 01 4,944/. 9s. 11d. in favour
of the saseci•tion.

Los ClitelitHAN congratulated the meeting in the pro-
gress made uy the association during toe past year. He said
that they had received proposals to extend the society to
Ireland, and he had himself gone to Dublin to make inquiries
respectiog toe expediency ot that step ; but, Irons the con•
diming statements tnat had been made to Men, he came to
the opinion that it would net be desirable to do so.
Tim report and balance sheet were enanimously adopted.
Mr. DuiLANTIaII proposed, and Mr. SHAM seconded a
motion for awszeiog a awn ot 6001. to the board ot nsanagm
merit, for the great attention bestowed by them to toe
interests ot the society ' • but at the request ot toe chairman,
who was sapported by the other members of the board, the
sum wes reduced to 4001.

A vote of wanks was passed in favour of the press, for the
support woicli a had given to the snociatton during the
put year.
Mr. SCOTT suggested that the accumulation on the
assurance mad should be lent out on goon security.
Tne CHAIRMAN said that the truster. 11.4 considered
it prudent that they should have tirst accumulated 20,00U1.
lie was happy to say that they ha, done so, and the sugges-
hen of Mr. bOott wou.d, he had no down, be taken tutu
conaiderati :a.

Neon. R. Bell, J. Hooper, and E. Coleman were elected
&suitors, and some odic, formal business having been
cranium/ the rautiag separated.

THE

MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS.
SUPPOSED MURDER AND SUICIDE BY A

MFACELLNT.

MAPICHESTER, JAN. 21.
A painful sensation we. created here this morning
by a rumour that Mr. Alexander Novelli, merchant, and
his late brother's widow, both residing at Lower Broughton,
had been found dead a: their own house, under very myste-
rious circumstances. Mrs. Novelli was the widow of Mr.
Louis Nowell, of Prestwich, near Manchester, and the
daughter of Mr. Hall, bleacher, of Prestwich. Mr. Louis
Novell died soon alter returning from Doncaster races about
sixteen months ago, and left his widow and two young
children very handsomely provided for. His father, Judi ed,
who is sell living in the neighbourhood of London, retired
from business in Manchester not many years ago in very
effluent circumstances. Mr. Alex. Novell, upon his
brother's death, was appointed one of the executors
to his estate, and from that time hes lived with his
brother's widow and the two children. A few weeks back
they took up their abode at Clid Mound, a genteel residence
purchased in the name of the children, at Lower Broughton.
They appeared to live together on good terms, employing a
man servant and two maid servants in the house. If
day (Sunday) they appeared to be in the enjoyment of their
ordinary health, and attended divine service at St. Clement's
Church, Broughton. The fervent' retired to bed at the
usual hour, leaving Mr. Alex. Novelli and Mn. Novelli in
the sitting room, and had ao reason to suspect that anything
unusual was kbout to take place. The man-servant was
horror-stricken to find, however, on descending to the sitting
room this morning at 8 o'clock, that Mrs. Novelli was dead.
Site was found reclining on a sofa partially undressed. Her
body was quits cold, and it is supposed she had been dead
many hours. Mr. Alexander Noveili was then sought, that
tidings of the death of his sister-in-law might be taken to
him, but oa entering his room his dead body was found
hanging from the ceiling. Then was warmth about the
region of the heart, and it was supposed that he had not
been dead more than a couple of hours,
The exact circumstances of the death of Mrs. Novell and
her brother-in-law will probably for ever remain a secret.
At the moment I am writing these particular', an inquest is
about to be held before William Smalley Rutter, Esq., the
county coroner; but so far as I can learn there
is very little evidence to lay before the jury.
Mr. d. Bower Harrison, surgeon, with two ether
professional men, are making a post mortem examina-
tion of the bouies with a view to ascertaining the cause of
death, though there is not much room to doubt that Mrs.
Novell ht' died nom poison. Mr. Novell's d,ath may pro-
bably be attributed to suicide. It is hardly to be supposed,
however, that Mrs. Nose% would be likely to commit self-
destruction. She always displayed great affection for her
two children, who are both at home. There is too much
reason to fear that she has fallen by the hand of her
brother-in law, through the instrumentality of some quick
and deadly poison, administered at supper or after the.
Santa had retired to rest