One legend is extant to show the trouble which the nominators would take, in order to procure a person on which they could safely invest their money.
An eccentric, simple old man, an amateur angler in the streams which adorn the dales of Cumberland and Westmoreland, gave rise to the following attempt to procure him:—This man, named John Wilson, had not been born in the dales, but had come at an early age to take his lot among the single-minded people who dwell there. He had bought a small farm, on the produce of which, tilled by his sons and grandsons, he lived. He was soon found out by the agents of the speculators; but for some reason, known only to himself, refused to be speculated on, and as the secret of his birthplace was confined to his own breast, no register of his age could be procured without his consent. At ninety he would have passed for seventy. He would wander for whole days with only his fishing-rod and basket among the lakes and rivers of his adopted home. For a week together he would be away from his dwelling, lodging, when the night came, wherever he could procure a bed. In vain was he tempted with presents of fishing-rods; in vain the choicest London-made fly was offered; he turned away with an air of indifference and defied the temptation.
There came to reside in the village, apparently on account of his health, a young gentleman who took John’s fancy, for he was fond of fishing and had never asked the old man where he was born. To him he showed his choicest retreats for casting the fly, told him stories of wonderful throws he had made, and wonderful fish he had caught, and pleasant were the long summer days passed by these two in the deep recesses of the hills, following the course of rivers, and tracing streams to their rise. It never entered into the old man’s thoughts, that one of those who were interested in knowing his birthplace was becoming a bosom friend. But so it was. The invalid had only sought the neighbourhood for that purpose, and when he had thoroughly gained his confidence, he turned the conversation very cautiously to the old man’s early history. The latter showed no symptoms of anxiety, and the Londoner went yet further: still there was no alarm apparent. But the next question, which, if answered, would have settled the point, was too abruptly put. The ancient angler wheeled round, faced his companion sorrowfully, and merely saying—“Eh! man, the ways of the world, the ways of the world!” shouldered his rod, and disappeared down a ravine close by, leaving his companion to find his way home as best he could, and far too much annoyed to remain any longer in the neighbourhood where he had been so unsuccessful.
When schemes like these were resorted to, and this is only one of many[19], it is obvious that the expected gain must have been great. One house alone entered into contracts on the lives of men similar to those described, for thousands, and the first to open a contract was the Marquis of Hertford, whose attention was probably drawn to the speculation by Mr. Croker. Philip Courtenay, Queen’s Counsel and Member for Bridgewater, was another. He availed himself of his tour on the Northern Circuit to seek out old and healthy lives. Just at this time the House of Lords refused so resolutely to pass the Reform Bill, that the monarch was expected to force them into compliance. The mind of the people was greatly excited; and, unable to account for Mr. Courtenay’s avidity, a Yorkshire paper gravely asserted that Earl Grey, being determined to carry the Reform Bill, had employed the Member for Bridgewater to choose a sufficient number of aged persons to receive the honour of peerage, the prime minister being determined to swamp the Upper House with nonogenarians rather than fail in his purpose.
One firm alone, that of Benjamin and Mark Boyd of the Stock Exchange, took three-fourths of the entire contracts for their friends; and as the lives chosen by them were good, it is probable that their constituents averaged a profit of 100 per cent. The desire to speculate on nonogenarian lives soon became a mania. Barristers with a few thousands,—ladies with a small capital,—noblemen with cash at their bankers, availed themselves of the mistake. It is difficult to say to what extent it would have proceeded, had not Mr. Goulburn availed himself of a clause in the act, to cease granting annuities which might prove unfavourable to government.
CHAP. XIII.
FRAUD IN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANIES—ITS EXTENT—ITS REMARKABLE AND ROMANTIC CHARACTER.—JANUS WEATHERCOCK.—HELEN ABERCROMBIE—HER DEATH.—FORGERY OF WAINWRIGHT—HIS ABSENCE FROM ENGLAND—HIS RETURN, CAPTURE, AND DEATH.—INDEPENDENT AND WEST MIDDLESEX—ITS RISE, PROGRESS, AND RUIN OF ALL CONCERNED.
In 1830, two ladies, both young and both attractive, were in the habit of visiting various offices, with proposals to insure the life of the younger and unmarried one. The visits of these persons became at last a somewhat pleasing feature in the monotony of business, and were often made a topic of conversation. No sooner was a policy effected with one company than a visit was paid to another, with the same purpose. From the Hope to the Provident, from the Alliance to the Pelican, and from the Eagle to the Imperial, did these strange visitors pass almost daily. Surprise was naturally excited at two of the gentler sex appearing so often alone in places of business resort, and it was a nine days’ wonder.