The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-18 00:00:00

a charity for collecting moneys to purchase them, and
that Mrs. Johnstcne's annuity was not paid to her by my hands,
offices but by the secretary, at the of the institu-
tion ; but as I have taken some interest in her, I have
occasionally assisted her, at her own request, by advancing
a portion of her annuity before it became due, she autho-
rising me to receive it from the office. In these eases I re-
ceived the money I had advanced, and left the remainder
for herself to take. The present non -payment of the an-
nuities rests, not with the charity, but the Anglo-Austra-
lian Assurance Company, in which they were secured and
by which they were paid. That company subsequently
amalgamated with the British Provident, in Chatham-
place. Not being a shareholder, or in any way connected
with either of these offices, I am not aware of the precise
conditions of the amalgamation ; but the directors of the
British Provident gave the charity offices free of charge, as
the Anglo-Australian had previously done, and both they
and their secretary otherwise acknowledged and acted on
the agreement between the charity and the latter company.
But when the annuities became due, one cause after another
was assigned for deferring the payment till the committee
of tire charity saw no alternative but to recover the several
amounts by legal process. They consulted counsel and were
advised that as they were not parties to the amalgamation,
their only course would be to proceed against the Anglo-
Australian, and when they had obtained judgment, they
might then recover from the British Provident. This course
was therefore adopted. But, as I understand from the
solicitors, the proceedings arc constantly hindered by the
defendants raising technical obstructions. In the mean-
time, the British Provident has amalgamated with the
British Nation, which, though I believe a strong office,
places another obstruction in the way of a speedy settle-
ment. As life donors to a certain amount obtain, in addi-
tion to their votes for life, the right to nominate a recipient,
for whom an annuity shall be purchased, and subscribers
are entitled to vote for the year in proportion to their sub-
scriptions, it has been considered questionable how far
donations and subscriptions should be collected, as long as
there is the prospect of an election. Hence the charity has
no income, and therefore no means of defraying the expenses
of an office and working staff, but every information can be
obtained of Messrs. Tucker, Greville, and Tucker of 28,
St. Swithin's-lane, the solicitors, who are conducting the
law business, and to whom I always refer any one who
wishes to obtain fuller details than I am myself able to
give.
" I have the honour to rennin, Sir, your obedient ser-
vant,
"F. PEARCE Pococx.
"Henry Selfe Selfe, Esq."
Mr. Selfe also communicated with the iarl of
Shaftesbury and the Bishop of Oxford, who were
represented in the printed book containing the
rules, regulations, and list of subscribers, to be the
patrons of the United Kingdom Benevolent An-
, unity Fund. Both informed the magistrate that
their names had been used without thir sanction
and authority, and they had no recollection of ever
hearing of the society. The Bishop of Oxford had
also called upon the Rev. F. Pearce Pocock, to ex-
plain,if he can, how his name came to be used. The
chairman of the society was represented to be the
Rev. Ralph Buckmaster, 8.A., and the Vice-Presi-
dents to be the Rev. George Pocock, LL.B. incum-
bent of St. Paul's, Marylebone, and Sir Fitzroy
Kelly, M.P., and others. Then followed a long list
of noble and titled ladies as patronesses. The Rev.
Mr. Buckmaster, of No. 16, Holland-street, Ken-
sington, in a letter, dated June 4, 1860, acknow-
ledged he was chairman, and that he lent £lOO in
order to the formation of the charity, which, with
the exception of what may have been recovered in
votes, has been lost ; that the annuities, when
obtained, were purchased in the United Kingdom
Insurance Society; but as he never was in the
direction of that company, nor was ever connected
with any except the charitable part, he knew
nothing of the proceedings. The rev. gentleman
added, " that he resigned his poet as chairman soon
after he heard of the defalcations as to the payment
of the annuitants." Some other correspondence
took place between the Rev. Mr. Buekmaster and
Selfe. The magistrate was not at all satisfied
with the Rev. Mr. Buckinaster's explanation, and in
a letter to him, dated June 9, 1860, stated that the
" United Kingdom Mutual Annuity Society" is a
mere swindle and a sham, set in motion by and
worked by the same parties who got up the United
Kingdom Benevolent Annuity Fund. I cannot find
that they ever granted any annuities, at all events,
not more than one or two, or transacted any business
whatever, except the annuities which they granted
in exchange for the moneys handed over to them
from the United Kingdom Benevolent Annuity
Fund. I have reason to believe that all the moseys
so paid to the society by the Fund had disappeared,
and that the United Kingdom Mutual Annuity
Society had no funds whatever; indeed, as I gather
from the bankers the ' Society' and the Fund' were
one and the same thing under different names."
In another part of the same letter Mr. Selfe wrote
as follows :—" The annuitants- have a right to look
to the committee of the fund for justice. I cannot
admit that there were no defalcations prior to the
time when you (Mr. Buckmaster) sent in your re-
signation, in April, 1857, or that all was justly*
done' during your time, because, by means which I
will not at present characterise, funds were found
to continue payment of the annuities up to 1858."
The magistrate corresponded and had personal in-
terviews, and eventually, on Tuesday last, he an-
nounced that he had made a most satisfactory
arrangement, and a pledge had been given that the
whole of the annuitants should be paid. A state-
ment would be made at two o'clock on Thursday
afternoon, at which time he wished the annuitants
to be present. At the appointed hour Mr. Tucker,
solicitor, of the firm of Tucker, Greville, and
Tucker, of No. 28, St. Swithin's-lane, attended.
There were several of the poor annuitants, who were
labouring under great mental anxiety, present.
In the course of a lengthened discussion,
Mr. Tucker would not pledge himself that the
award to be made by a legal gentleman of high re-
putation, to be appointed by the magistrate, would
be acted upon, and wished for a further postpone-
ment, more particularly as legal proceedings were
pending,
Mr. Selfe declined to postpone the revelations he
was bound to make, unless the arrears were paid to
the poor annuitants. That must be the first thing
done.

Mr. Tucker dared to say that would be done,
but he could not pledge himself that it should be
done.
Mr. Selfe asked if he was to understand that, if
the gentleman he was to appoint to investigate
the accounts decided that the arrears were to be
paid, and also made an award which was fair and
honourable, that his decisions would be carried out.
Mr. Tucker could not go to that extent, and
appeared desirous that further time should be
granted.
Mr. Selfe said that arrears were due to the an-
nuitants varying from one and a half to seven
years, and a grievous wrong had been done. The
benevolent and personal friends of candidates had
subscribed funds for the purchase of thirty annui-
ties of £lO each, and the fends had disappeared. It
was scandalous and cruel. The personal friends of
a poor woman, named Willis, had subscribed £llO,
and she was elected an annuitant. The money was
squandered, wasted, lost, and the society was two
years in arrear. The misery inflicted upon many
poor women was heartrending. He had been mis-
directed and played with. He had been given fully
to understand that the just claims of the annuitants
would be satisfied, and he was now met with
evasions, and delay was sought for. He meant no
disrespect to the highly-respectable solicitor before
him, for he was only following his instructions, but
he would not allow any more shutting. He would
not be played with. He would not be put off
again, unless he had a distinct understanding that
the arrears would be paid, and that the just claims
of the suffering parties would be conceded in a fair
and honourable manner. If some assurance of that
kind was not given, he should put all the documents
before him in the hands of those who would make
them public.
Mr. Tucker said if that were done it would be
unfortunate for the annuitants, and ex parte state-
ments would go forth to the world.
Mr. Selfe said the statements would not be ex
parte. He had heard, corresponded with, and
seen all parties. He had no hesitation in say-
ing a gross fraud had been perpetrated. The
names of noble and distinguished persons had
been paraded without authority, and thousands
of pounds had been subscribed in consequence.
The whole of that money was gone. There
were thirty annuitants of £lO each, and they
were two years in arrear. One lady had sub-
scribed £l5O, to secure an annuity for a destitute
woman. That was gone. He held in his hand
letters from Lord Shaftesbury and the Bishop of
Oxford repudiating the society, and stating that
their names were used without their authority.
Every member of the committee was bound in
honour to see that justice was rendered to all the
annuitants. He was not quite sure that he had
not neglected his duty in postponing an exposure
of the parties.
Mr. Tucker asked for a fortnights delay, and said
he had no objection to make an advance to the ani-
nuitants without takingit as a payment on accoun
of the arrears.

Mr. Selfe—One gentleman, a member of the com-
mittee, who waited upon me, said he could pay the
whole amount due an not miss it.
Mr. Tucker said he was only authorised to go to
a certain extent. He believed if the matter was post-
poned all would be satisfactorily settled. Although
not pledging himself to anything, he believed his
clients would act justly.
The conversation was prolonged for some time,
and the magistrate in vain attempted to obtain some
decided pledge from Mr. Tucker to bind his clients.
At length a delay of two days was granted, and the
magistrate requested Mr. Tucker to take a copy of
the following proposal, and return an answer on
Saturday :

"In the matter of the United Kingdom Benevolent An-
nuity Fund. Mr. Tucker undertakes, 071 behalf of his
clients, that all shall be done for the annuitants to Which
are in hon
Mr. Dire,
ourb ato end app inted
good faith by the magistrate,
shall say they

On Saturday Mr. S3lfe stated that four of the
annuitants (Mrs. Fisher), Mrs. O'Connor, Mrs.,