A VALUABLE DEAD MONKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 230, 26 September 1903, Page 5 (Supplement)

A VALUABLE DEAD MONKEY.

An old sailor named Kerjec, who had been In receipt of poor relief lor some years, was found dead in his room in Paris one day at the beginning of last month, with a stufled monkey clasped in his arms. The animal when alive used to answer to the name of "FUiue," and was its master's only companion. Since its death a few months ago Kerlec had beeu much depressed. The old: sailor was buried, and after the funeral a neighbour was examining the dead monkey out of curiosity, and discovered a silt'in the skin, from which he drew a piece of paper bearing a few words written by Kerlec asking pardou of those who had given him money, and stating that he was in no want, out was afraid of burglars, and preferred to pass as a beggar. He added that he had no relatives, and did not care what became of his money. This moved everyone present to lay individual claim to the dead monkey, from whose interior they drew 5000 francs in bank notes. They became impatient to see what else poor Fifine contained, and nearly tore it in half in their eagerness. This time they were rewarded with a bundle of securities worth 25,000 francs.