Mesa free press., 1898-04-08
UNCLAIMED MONEY.
Facts About Fortunes in England
Waiting for Owners to Appear.

Wa1t1nG Tor OWnerS TO APPEAR
During the last parliamentary ses-
sion several important returns relating
to unclaimed funds in English Govern
ment departments have been issued by
order of the House Of Commons. a.
London lawyer has compiled the fol-
lowing interesting extracts from these
returns:
Funds in Chancery-The receipts and
transfers into the Supreme Court OF
Judicature (England) during the year
ending Feb. 20, 1896, were $76,916,2S5.
This sum, added to the balance IN
hand On March 1, 1895, makes grand
total of 1888, ,842,0S6. After payments
out of court to successful claimants
and others, amounting to S5,17S,24o,
there remained on hand in cash and Sc
curitles on Feb. 20, 1896, exclusive OF
the large item Under the head OF For
eign Securities. The proportion or
this balance, which may be classed as
unclaimed" Is not stated, but no less
than $11 ,639, ITO has been appropriated,
In the absence Of claimants, to various
objects. The consolidated fund Is liable
in respect of this appropriation In the
event Of legitimate heirs at any time
substantiating their claims. The num-
ber of 'Suitors' accounts" Is 1884, or
which some 5000 relate to funds un-
claimed between the years 1720-1S77
The funds in the Supreme Court OF
Indioo f1Iro Hro1ondN On Cnnt 20 1SiR.
were $26, 6,9O6,065. In the chancery di-
vision there Is large sum Of unclaim-
ed money, but the exact amount is not
stated. More than $1,25O,OO0, part OF
such unclaimed funds, has been appro-
rated toward building the Law Courts
and Law Library in Dublin. Unclaim-
ed dividends on Government stock due
and not demanded on April q 1896,
were 81, ,442, ,726; on July 2, $1,381, ,875;
on Oct. 2, $1,444, $50; and on Jan. 2
Last, 81 1,326,515. The greater portion OF
these sums was advanced to the Gov
ernment, pursuant to act Of parlia-
ment, til claimants appear. The total
amount Of accumulated unclaimed
Government stock dividends is about
25,000,0OO. The consolidated fund is
liable in respect of a sum Of S., 706,595,
part of the unclaimed money arising
from bankrupts' estates. The ex-
chequer is also liable in the sum Of
$198,936, interest on South Sea stock,
paid over to the Government between
the years 1862.
Intestates' estates in England to the
value of $238, ,275 fell to the crown dur
ing 1896 in the absence of heirs or by
reason Of illegitimacy. The balance In
hand at the comm mencement of the year
was $626,375, and, after payment of
the crowns share of estates, grants
next to kin, ETC., the balances on Dec.
81 last were $596,985. A similar return
relating to intestates' estates in Scot
land shows that on the same date the
Queens remembrancer had balances in
hand amounting to $2O1, ,585.
The balance of unclaimed army prize
mohey in hand on March 81, 1896, was
1886, 500. 1t is interesting to note that
during the year Immediately preceding
that date, only $67 was paid to soldiers
or their representatives, while $S, 100
was utilized toward the maintenance
Of Chelsea hospital and grounds.
The unclaimed effects of soldiers, ac-
cumulated since 1863, have reached the
large sum of $7O4,240. This fund has
been transferred to the patriotic fund
commissioners naval prize money.
The balance of unclaimed naval prize
money due to sailors or their represen-
statives on March 80, 1896, was $780,
600. There are also considerable sums
on hand arising from unclaimed wages
and effects of deceased seamen.
1t has been suggested that the state
should have custody of unclaimed
funds now in the hands of bankers and
others, but the Chancellor Of the Ex-
chequer found he could not approve
legislation which would direct these
funds to that channel-New York Sun.