Working Man's Emigration Society; & manager Richard Coltman Soper

A 'Friendly Society' of London, founded 1852, to send families to South Australia. Members committed to pay 2s 6d per week into the society, which entered them into a monthly lottery for tickets to Australia. Winners then loaned £20 for the balance of a ticket. It would relied on a large flow of new members able to pay-in every week but not travel for years. It ran out of money by 1854. In court 1855, but was still active 1857 : [Richard Coltman Soper m.Elizabeth Arnsby 1854 Westminster]

RULE BOOK of The WMES (part quoted in 1845 letter below)
Rule 1; The object of the society shall be to raise a fund by the voluntary subscriptions of the members, for the purpose of enabling each member to emigrate
ENTRANCE FEES & SUBSCRIPTIONS
Rule 4; Every member on entering the society shall pay an entrance fee of 2s 6d and a subscription of 2s 6d weekly - such weekly subscription to continue until the member hs obtained his order, as hereinafter provided, to embark on board some vessel; provided that a member having subscribed as much as £20 may cease to subscribe without being considered to be in arrear
Rule 5; As soon as a member has received an order to embark, his weekly subscription shall cease and the unpaid balance of the amount advanced to him under Rule 14; shall be paid by quarterly installments of £5 - the first installment to be due four months after he shall have arrived at the port of his destination
Rule 10; When a member has paid up an amount pf not less than £1 2s 6d he shall be eligible to become an applicant for an order to embark
MEMBERS' PASS-BOOK
Rule 11; Every member shall be furnished on entry with a pass-book containing a copy of these rules in which the account of his subscriptions shall also be kept
Rule 12; Any member losing his pass-book shall give notice thereof to the secretary immediately after such a loss and on payment of 1s to the society shall furnish with a duplicate
Rule 13; No payments shall be made out of the funds of the society except by order of the board and all payments shall be made by cheque upon the bankers, signed by not less than two trustees, and countersigned by the secretary
EMPLOYMENT OF FUNDS
Rule 14; As soon as a sufficient sum has been subscribed, such portion of the money in hand as the board shall think fit shall be employed in advance to every member, who shall not be in debt to the society, the amount necessary to provide for his passage, in such order as shall be determind by the board
Rule 16; Any member being unable to continue his subscriptions, may, on giving one month's notice in writing to the secretary, receive back his subscriptions, subject to such deductions as the board may deem reasonable for the working expences of the society
MANAGEMENT
Rule 20; The board shall have full power and absolute discretion to conduct and manage the affairs of the society in all things, subject only to theses rules
Rule 21; One-forth in number of the directors shall retire annually, and the vacancies shall be supplied by the members at the annual general meeting &c.
MANAGER
Rule 25; Mr R C Soper shall be the first and present manager. The manager shall, if required, attend all board meetings, shall see that the arrangements made with shipowners are properly carried out, and shall attend to the comforts and management of the society's emigrants &c.

Richard Coltman Soper (1821-1888) manager of the WMES; The entries below were taken from a Soper surname site, so give rather a 'Sopercentric' impression. However a 1854 letter below says 'he was the society', being manager, treasure, secretary & director & it was run from his house. But Soper said in Nov 1854 that a Mr Walter was the society's first secretary who died Sept 1853 & seemed in charge at the Aug 1852 meeting. Of the 2 of the 3 trustees (the minimum number required) seem figure heads 1, an London JP (as required by Friendly Soc Regulations), Robert Tubbs; 2 Sir John Villiers Shelly, MP (not involved at inception & apparently just philanthropically helping working men), so what was the involvement of the 3rd Richard Frankum esq? The directors who had ultimate control were voted in by the members & third elected each year & by 1855 Soper was no longer a director, but he seemed to have retained control. [a brief biog of Richard is here]

Was it a scam? It seem not set-up as one, though it was described as a possible swindle by a ticket competitor below. It did send several hundred people to Australia; The flaws in it's business plan were highlighted at it's 1st meeting below & meant it was unlikely to survive, it might be put down to business amateurism. Like a pyramid scheme, it required a flow of new members prepared to pay-in £6 10s every year in weekly installments, while being patient enough for some not to emigrating for many years & to accept that they may never get a ticket. It's rules were not written with a scam in mind, (though it would have been restricted by the rules to set up a Friendly Society [a savings & loan group for poor people, run by & for the members]). For instance, it did not even appear to charge interest on its £20 loans.

Mr Soper spoke at full public meeting at National Hall, Holborn, proposing a "Great Working Man's Co-operative Emigration Society: The meeting's Chairman was B B Cabbell MP. Secretary, Mr Walter the proposed society's secretary read a very long printed prospectus proposed the company raise £50,000 in £1 shares, each share guaranteed a free ticket to Australia. £50,000 would allow 2,000 shareholders free passages straight away (the 1 in 25 ballot winners). Mr Harris disagreed, & said once the money was used, if it took 2 years to replace, it would take 50 years to buy the 1st members their guaranteed tickets [cheers & uproar]. Also how could 'Capitalists' get a return on investment if it is proposed to spend all the capital [ah ah]. He thought it a gross deception, what humbug, what absurdity & proposed a vote that operations simply linking Australian employers to emigrants (like his 'Emigrant Registration Office') was a better system to this possible swindle [immense applause]. His motion carried amidst delight. Chairman Mr Cabbell MP gave credit to the promoter's intentions, but he'd bow to the vote.; in 'Morning Chronicle' 17 Aug 1852, from news.bl.uk : scan : (apologies for absence read from Donald Nicholl, Earl of Harrowby, Apsley Pettatt & Sir J Duke [these names don't appear again; speculate prospective trustees? as Sir Shelly was invited at a later date])

A Prospectus of The Working Man's Emigration Society, 'pub.London 1850-51?' [but founded 1852 above] is held in an Australian reference library from see, a 1 leaf book

R C Soper, manager of 'Working Man's Emigration Society'. 1st general meeting held at the board room 5 Hart St, Bloomsbury, 24 Jan 8pm. Prospectuses can be obtained by letter enclosing 2 postage stamps; Bankers, Currie & Co; Solicitors, William Shaw 8 Bedford Row; Advert in 'Lloyd's Weekly' 16 Jan 1853, from newspapers.bl.uk; scan

R C Soper, manager of WMES 3rd monthly meeting at 5 Hart St, Bloomsbury 30 Mar 1853, Cornellius Varley in the chair. Soper reported 9 passages allotted at last meeting (besides those paying £15), 3 on way, 7 sailing 6th Apr & 2 on 9th making 12. 2 on Feb allocation granted more time to complete their securities. A resolution carried that members unable to obtain security to pay 3d pw towards a security fund. Passages allocated to 9 more members [ballot].; in 'Daily News' 1 Apr, from news.bl.uk; scan

R C Soper, manager of 'Working Man's Emigration Society' a moved from Hart St, Bloomsbury to 18 Bedford St, Red Lion Sq, Holborn; Advert in 'Lloyd's Weekly' 11 Sep 1853, from newspapers.bl.uk; scan : [perhaps the move resulting from death of secretary Mr Walter Sept 1853]

R C Soper addressed a numerously attended public meeting at Horn's Tavern, Bermondsey Sq the 'Working Man's Emigration Society' had been registered as a Friendly Society Sept 1852 to give advice & protection to people wanting to emigrate Sir John Villiers Shelly an MP for the City a trustee; They send abt 30 persons pm to Australia; their 500 members pay 2s 6d to join & minimum of 2s 6d per week, they are eligible to apply for passage on reaching £1 2s 6d. They must the raise £5, the society advancing the rest on security (max 75%) The loan to be repaid after 4 months ('no doubt a working man can earn £6pw in Melborne'). Several joined at the end of the meeting; in 'Reynolds's Newspaper' 16 Oct 1853, from newspapers.bl.uk; scan

Soper, the manager of 'Working Man's Emigration Society' forwarded letter by G Harrison RN of Melbourne, saying builders are wanted, untrained men will suffer particularly if drawn by gold & thinks no employer (unless from UK) will pay passage in return for a worker's bond; Government road workers get min 10s per day mechanics 20-25s ; in 'Lloyd's Weekly' 20 Nov 1853, from news.bl.uk; scan

R C Soper, manager of 'Working Man's Emigration Society'. A general meeting for the allotment of passages held at 18 Bedford St, Holborn 30 Nov 8pm; Advert in 'Reynolds's Newspaper' 27 Nov 1853, from newspapers.bl.uk : scan

R C Soper, manager WMES, Robert Tubbs of 23 Harlry St, Cavendish Sq, county magistrate; Richard Frankum of 4 Burlington Gardens & Sir John Villiers Sheller MP summoned to appear before Judge Corrie; William Launder did not have his £16 2s 6d returned after giving 30 days notice. Argued Launder had entered 6 monthly ballots also law costs of £5-£6 also expenses costs. Agreed to to be paid after deductions & Soper paid £1 as part payment : Newspaper corrections 3d later; Court decided in favor of WMES & the £1 was not a part-repayment; in 'Daily News' 15 Dec 1853, from news.bl.uk; scan

Mr Soper, WMES --- Newspaper corrections 3d later; Court decided in favor of WMES & the £1 was not a part-repayment; in 'Standard' 20 Dec 1853, from news.bl.uk; scan

R C Soper, manager of 'The Working Man's Emigration Society', Registered pursuant to act of Parliament; established to give advice, assistance & protection to persons desirous of emigrating. Send letter & 2 stamps; Trustees Robert Tubbs esq JP, Richard Frankum esq & Sir John Villiers Shelly, Bart, MP; in 'Reynolds's Newspaper' (pub.) 25 Dec 1853, from newspapers.bl.uk : scan

Mr Soper, manager & secretary of WMES, 18 Bedford St, Red Lion Sq, Holborn, took £15 from Samuel Croft a young casemaker in return for working his passage to S.Aust on The Ouderkirk in 2 days. Samuel had paid 2s 6d then £1 2s 6d, but the 2 securities for a normal £20 passage were ultimately refused by WMES. When he was not sent out he asked for the money back, then complained to court. Soper attended & said they'd send him for £20. Judge said 'You've great names attached to your society, Sir John Shelly & Mr Tubbs who said there was not sufficient funds. Judge said they must make written agreements with their poor & uneducated customers, Soper replied 'I'm not authorized by our rules'.Judge said he recommends Croft to go to County Court & warned Soper if a case with a little better evidence came to him, he'd take it up with the one who received the money : William Henry Leigh Soper b.20 June 1854 at 18 Bedford Street; in 'Daily News' 2 Aug 1854, from news.bl.uk; scan : & from The Times 2 Aug; A Clerkenwell Court judge advised money be paid back & condemned hocus pocus amongst poor & ignorant people by such societies. Soper said he couldn't. Judge suggested case goes to County Court

Mr Soper, of WMES, Commander Lean RN, HM Emigration Officer port of London, applied for a Judicial investigation : Only the Colonial Land & Emigration Commissioners or agents can act as a passenger broker out of Europe. Only they can sell tickets; Agents must pay a £500 bond to Her Majesty. Mr Corrie said several WMES complaints have been made to the court every day. Capt Lean had a long interview with Mr Soper & a director the previous day & they maintained it was a 'friendly society', so 'The Passenger Act' did not apply. He referred to James Turner who lost money [& was back in court 11 Aug]; in 'Morning Post' 7 Aug 1854, from news.bl.uk; scan

Mr Soper, was out at Reading when Capt Lean at Clerkenwell Police Court as a foreigner named Nozebi paid Soper £15 but got no passage. Mr Jeffs attended ' I'm a clerk & director of WMES. Judge Corrie gave summons against Mr Jeffs & Mr Tubbs a trustee & Judge asked if Sir J Shelly another trustee was in town. Lean said trustees acted laudably & charitably to assist the poor & he did not attribute fraud to the society, but judicial investigation needed into clauses of The Passenger Act ; in 'Daily News' 8 Aug 1854, from news.bl.uk; scan

Mr Soper, was paid £15 10s by James Turner & told to transfer himself & his luggage to The Vesta. but they or the boat's ticket broker had never heard of him. Commander Lean RN Chief emigration officer to city, went to Clerkenwell court. Morning post gives editorial that James is one of many & said thousands of families had an interest; in 'Morning Post' 8 Aug 1854, from news.bl.uk; scan

Mr Soper, manager of WMES represented by barrister Sleigh & Mr Tubbs Jp & Sir Shelly MP attended voluntarily despite the house sitting & was anxious for a thorough investigation. Camberwell Court very crowded Capt Lean brought the example of James Turner who lost £15 10d 6d & had several others similar. Sleigh said Soper of the Vasta had broke faith with him. Judge Corrie decided Mr Soper was not liable to penalties under Passenger Act & dismissed both summonses. Soper's barrister said the societies rules would be altered in an effort that ignorant people understand them & the complainants to attend the office 8pm Fri 'everything right would be done'; in 'Daily News' 11 Aug 1854, from news.bl.uk; scan

Mr Soper, said William Garrett paid 2s membership & £1 2s 6d to become eligible, & then paid £5 but couldn't get security agreed for balance so paid another £5 for a working passage as steward & 5s life insurance. He called several times at the house but Soper said all Government vessels sent to war & asked for £3 more. He gave 1 month's notice but his money was not returned, WMES said rule16 would meant he'd be due nothing, he then went to Clerkenwell Court [Their 2nd WMES case that day]. Officer sent to WMES with threat to summons Soper & they agreed to look at it. Same article headlined 'A Caution To Immigrants' in Reynolds Paper 20 Aug; in 'Morning Post' 15 Aug 1854, from news.bl.uk; scan

Mr Soper manager WMES in Clerkenwell Police Court. A respectable young man paid him money to go to S.Aus. Soper agreed to pay him yesterday & he'd come up to town, but was not, Soper said he'd have been paid if he waited & he'd be paid 6-8pm Wednesday, Soper claimed 951 members were in Australia & owed WMES money. Magistrate Tyrwhite compared WMRS to a bank who'd not pay savers as they'd got borrowers. Soper said following news reports £100 was re-paid & people had applied to withdraw £200 & suggested WMRS rules changed to allow part-payments.; in 'Morning Post' 7 Sep 1854, from news.bl.uk; scan

'Francis Coltman Soper'*, landlord of 18 Bedford St, Red Lion Sq, [Now Sandland St, assume 4 story town house, SE of the sq; see 1859 map] to accused of violently & indecently assaulting Mrs Eliza Skinner, 'a handsome young woman' & tenant in top part of his house. On Friday last in the wash house he took hold of me. He asked me to kiss him, I told him of his brutal conduct & cruelty the previous Monday. He said I don't remember & what dirty petticoats you have on, he pulled me about & broke my wooden stay & bruised me. My child (8) in the yard screamed & he ran away to his office. My husband saw Soper ill-using our child & Spoke to Soper who said it was an attempt to extort money. Mr Skinner told court Soper was a bad man. James Stockeld clerk of WMES said Soper was out the house at the time & said he saw Soper kiss Mrs Skinner earlier in the drawing room, she'd not resist but begged him not to repeat it, Judge; 'Is it not odd you were in the room?'. Witness; with sang froid 'Why Yes'. Judge thought it equally odd that Mr Jeffs director of WMRS also saw them kissing & said their evidence would avail him nothing. Soper said he'd get more witnesses. Judge gave Eliza credit for the manner of her evidence & remanded the case. [in 1835 J.Ballantine hosier & linen wholesaler there & Asher & Co 1891] Shortly before Mr Soper was placed at the bar for the above assault case; a poor working man applied to Mr Tyrwhitt, Clerkenwell Police Court about money not returned by WMES after news reports. After 30d written notice he should get his money less deductions the WMES considers reasonable for expenses, Mr Soper refused & jeered at him. Tyrwhitt said the WMES's arbitration rule ment there's little doubt they'd try & dodge out of paying & he'd send an officer [1km SW] to get Soper to attend.; in 'Morning Chronicle' 13 Sep 1854, from news.bl.uk; scan: [*assumed misprint of Richard Coltman Soper, surely he couldn't use alias, as this court knew very him well, even saying below the accused was WMES's manager - other papers repeat name. Perhaps just copying?]

'Francis Coltman Soper'*, accused of assault at Clerkenwell Court (case from previous day after considerable interest aroused). Soper's solicitor (not retained the day before) asked Mrs Skinner if you ever suffered Soper to indulge in familiarities? Emphatically No. Did Mr Jeffs (the director) ever kiss you? 'No'; I was in the wash house with a young lady lodging on 2nd floor [?seems Soper's wife**], when Jeffs came to wash his hands. Mr Soper said 'Here's your chance, you kiss one, I'll kiss the other. I resisted Jeff's attempt to kiss me. I told my husband (shoemaker) that Soper was always bringing men into the house & I'd not stop there. I didn't report it as we were leaving & it was hard to find lodgings who'd accept 5 children. On Monday after tea Soper assaulted me, pulling me into his office & shutting the door. The 2nd floor lady** (married 3 months), said not to mind, he, like his father, was always & would whistle at anyone & push 'em with his finger [a laugh]. So Soper is what you'd call 'a funny man'? Yes, he broke the wooden bone of my stays when he pulled up my clothes & we struggled. I was much hurt & went to bed, so did not report it then. Defence called Frederick Church & Mrs Mary Atkins brother & sister-in-law to Mr Soper who said he was away from the house. Judge Tywhitt said whatever his private opinion of the defendant [through the WMES] after such alibis he couldn't send to jury trial & Soper discharged. Mrs Skinner could indict, but it was evident, looseness went on in the house. [William Henry Leigh Soper b.20 Jun 1854 at 18 Bedford St to Richard Coltman Soper & Elizabeth Arnsby source could 2nd floor woman be Miss Arnsby?] : [1st child b.Bloomsbury, Holborn Nov 1852 later children b.Holborn 1856-64, so stayed in house or area] : [no Arnsby/Church/Atkins/Soper m vis bmd perhaps fictitious names? wife's father John Arnsby so she was not nee Church or Atkins; of Richards 7 siblings no Church/Atkins m.vis]; in 'Daily News' 14 Sep 1854, from news.bl.uk; scan : [**was Mrs Soper in The Times. He m.Elizabeth Arnsby 2m later; son b.3m earlier (son born & died registered Jul>Sep 1854), seems wife saying she m.then]

Mr Soper accused again; Mrs Skinner who's complaint of Friday's assault was dismissed the day before returned said she had witnesses to prove he assualted her the previous Monday. Judge Tyrwhitt said the case was closed & she thanked him & left : Next case a poor woman accused Mr Soper of not returning her WMES money after written request. Tyrwhitt said would there never be an end of such applications? It was out of magistrate's jurisdiction as the WMES had an arbitration clause. He advised people with lost money to join & get legal advise. "What with kissing women & constant applications for lost money, magistrates will have nothing else to do but hear cases against Mr Soper & the WMES"*; in 'Daily News' 15 Sep 1854 scan The complaints against the Working Man's Emigration Society have become so frequent, that Mr Corrie, the Clerkenwell Magistrate, advised some of the complainants to file a bill in Chancery against the trustees. The poor people say that though they pay money in, they can neither recover it, nor get a passage The Spectator, 14 Oct 1854 scan

'Francis Colman Soper'* secretary the WMES, has been twice examined during the week on charge of roughly treating Mrs Skinner, employed in the establishment of the Society. The complainant alleged that Mr Soper had tried to....; Snippet from Durham County Advertiser 22 Sep 1854 [implies she was employed in house or Soc & not just a lodger?] [* 'Francis' must be Richard, but seems name is not mistyped, as repeated]

Soper's Working Man's Emigration Society, Bedford St is a rank bubble & his concoction has frequently been exposed at the police court in 'Reynolds's Newspaper' (newspaper answering a query from reader 'T J') 25 Oct 1854; scan

Mr Soper of WMES; Sir J V Shelly MP wrote long letter to paper about it's severe comments on his conduct. It quoted a letter to William Buskin, (a complaining member) which need the WMES rule book to understand [rules then repeated]. I other two trustees (1 who must be a JP of M.sx under Friendly Soc regs) appointed some time before I joined them. I did so from a desire to assist the industrious working man. I believe this to be the first emigration friendly society; in 'Morning Post' 27 Oct 1854, from news.bl.uk; scan

Soper's Working Man's Emigration Society, Bedford St is a rank bubble & it's concoctor Soper has frequently been exposed at the police court [paper's reply to a query of 'T J', a reader] in 'Reynolds's Newspaper' 29 Oct 1854 : scan :

Richard Coltman Soper of WMES; witness in Buskin v.Tubbs, Clerkenwell County Court 15 Nov before Sir Thomas Phillips; William Buskin, a carpenter of Birmingham, against Robert Tubbs, magistrate from M.sex (defended by barrister Sleigh) as trustee of WMES, to recover £16. He paid 2s 6d to join 27 Oct 1853, paid £3 the following month, making him eligible for the monthly ballot. After bad publicity, he applied for his money to be returned. Soper subpoenaed as witness, he said the society enrolled as a Friendly Society, Sep 1852, it's trustees Robert Tubbs, Richard Franckum & Sir J V Shelly MP. Soper acted as secretary since Nov 1852 after death of Mr Walter, secretary since formation of society previous Sept. He had not been appointed as secretary or treasurer which he fulfilled with sanction of the board. There was a book kept of notices of withdrawals, Buskin not paid as funds exhausted. He has paid £3,000-£4,000 to the WMES's bank account, there was presently £4. Furious reporting of Clerkenwell Police Court caused panic & £300 of notices of withdrawals made. 415 members embarked to Australia since formation, they owed £900, repaying £5 each per qtr & if paid £400 would remain. Buskin & his wife could buy tickets for £33 if the £16 were paid back. The judge said court had no jurisdiction, he complemented Sir Shelly on the purity of his motives [in becoming a trustee] & he was convinced the society carried on in a straightforward manner. .Plaintif nonsuited, without costs.; in 'Daily News' 16 Nov 1854, from news.bl.uk; scan

Mr Soper manager & secretary of the 'Working Man's Emigration Society' due at Clerkenwell Court for infringing the Passenger's Amendment Act. Mr Soper out of town at Reading when summons served. A foreign witness said he gave Mr Soper £15, Mr Jeff, a trustee, said it was banked. A summons issued & the parties released : from Courier (Hobart) Australia, 14 Dec 1854 : Oz Papers

Richard Coltman Soper, at WMES meeting to elect directors under their new rules. Only 14 members present inc 2 of the 10 directors (J Williams & W Jeffs), so meeting adjourned to Goldern Lion; Mr Winfield called to the chair; The rules changed at a meeting 20 Sep & certified 28 Nov; Soper read the rules &but members said they were not as agreed; Mr Goswell (recently taken WMES to court) had serious altercation with Soper. Soper said between 400 & 600 members, + in London, so given poor attendance, meeting adjourned a week.; in 'Reynolds's Newspaper' 31 Dec 1854, from news.bl.uk; scan

Richard Coltman Soper, at WMES adjourned meeting Only 12-15 members there. Director Mr Man & ex director Rutter accused Soper of amending the new rules agreed 20th. Director Williams accused Soper of making statements prejudicial to the society, calling him a traitor to its interests. Mr Rutter had his letter read containing charges of a very serious nature against Soper, which for obvious reasons, we decline to reproduce. Soper had received 2½% commission on tickets, very angry words passed. 1 agent paid Soper £15 15s which Soper was obliged to repay. Soper invaded meeting to appoint committee to examine the spiteful charges against him. Soper accused of slandering late directors. Meeting elected directors; Farnham, Winfield, Edwards, Fucher, Tomlin, Lake, Wn Frankum, Jeffs & Pelham & adjourned 11:30pm; in 'Daily News' 4 Jan 1855, from news.bl.uk; scan

'R C Roper' sec of Working Man's Emigration Society. wrote to Mr Gosnell; I am instructed by the Directors to inform you there are not sufficient funds to send you, but the Directors are exerting themselves for that purpose as soon as possible, and will communicate with you; Edward Gosnell, of Vauxhall, applied for assistance 9 Oct. He joined WMES to go to S.Australia & paid regular subs & fees of £22, He'd been a respectable engineer for 20y & gave 2w notice expecting to go to Melbourne with wife & 6 children. He trudged between home & WMES's office, but failed to get his ship order or money back; The Courier 16 Jan 1855 source

Mr Soper did not return William Buskin's WMES contributions. An unemployed working man from Birmingham, had given the required notice, determined not to be humbugged further, he applied to Clerkenwell Magistrate Court for assistance. They gave some severe remarks & refered case to County Court; from Sydney Morning Herald; 'How the Poor are Victimised', 8 Mar 1855 trove.nla.gov.au

Richard Coltman Soper, of WMES; George Carter at Clerkenwell Police court for assistance, He joined more than 12m ago & paid 7s 6d pw for him & 2 adult family members; Soper told him if he paid half the passage he would give a bond for the remainder & he could embark. He sold his furniture & paid £15 10, but Soper said there was no funds & advised him to apply for passage from the government & accompanied him to their offices. He applied for his money back but after 30d Soper said there was no money. He was paid £5 back & 2 months ago another £5, leaving £5 10s owed. Last week a meeting of directors ordered £3 1s 6d paid but Mr Soper said he had no meny to hand. Carter's solicitor went to see Soper & asked 'Why don't you pay this poor man after being ordered' Soper said 'That's my business'. As Carter was a director solicitor said he could examine the books. He found £20 was in the bank & took books to court. Magistrate said 'I can't assist you, You are a director & ought to have the power to manage your affairs'. Carter said 'Mr Soper is manager, director, secretary & treasurer, in fact the whole body of the society, we are merely ciphers who pay in money'; in 'Daily News' 19 Apr 1855, from news.bl.uk; scan

R C Soper, manager 'Working Man's Emigration Society', 10 Featherstone Buildings Holborn, 5th AGM of members to be held 25 Feb; (3 trustees the same as in 1853); in 'Reynolds's Newspaper' (pub.Lon) 22 Feb 1857, from newspapers.bl.uk : scan

Richard Coltman Soper's younger brother Giles Ching Soper (1828-94) went to Australia, was in 1856 Melbourne census, as a resident, & visited Australia 1858 to 9. [Speculate traveled twice with WMES?]. Their sister Lucy Soper (1833-69) lost at sea returning from NZ 1869.

Soper seems not linked to WMES after. In 1861 census Richard 39 sales clerk at Holborn; 1865 an Old Bailey attorney's clerk; '71cen accountant; '81cen 59 retired machine operator in Hants; d.1888

'Working Man's Emigration Society' was united with 'The National Emigration Aid Society' 1870 to form 'The National Immigration Leaque', lead by The Duke of Manchester google books : [NIL agitation for government money 1870, end column source] : 'Working Man's Emigration Society worked almost exclusively with labourers connected with trade unions' source

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