SUSPECTED HOARD

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 28, 1 August 1942, Page 6

SUSPECTED HOARD

LARGE SUM RECOVERED

XP.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day. ' Bank-notes casually placed in old envelopes and thrown under a box in the corner of a bedroom, and totalling well over four figures, were discovered by officials connected with the administration of the estate of William Lbvett, who died at the Stratford Hospital,last week. He was reputed to be a wealthy man, as he had not married and had no relatives 'in New .Zealand. He died intestate". The estate, which is estimated to be worth over £20,000, was: taken over by the PUblic Trust. Office.l;

When the manager of the Stratford branch of the office, Mr. JVC. Robins, examined Mr. Lovett's house with the latter's solicitor. Mr. E. H. Young, and an old friend, Mr. H. Bishop, on Thursday they made the discovery. The deceased'had not operated to any extent on j his bank account for the past few years, and yet was known to have a considerable income. The existence of. a hoard was suspected, but the casual nature of the hiding-place was astonishing. Throughout Thursday and yesterday search was continued, the jwalls and floors being examined, the hearth-stones prised up, and all likely hiding-places closely scrutinised. Nothing more of value was found except a few silver and copper coins. Each envelope—there were dozens — contained several notes, and some of them many, of denominatidns ranging from 10s to £50, all Reserve Bank issues ' of. comparatively recent date. The house, which the deceased had occupied, for almost a quarter of a century, since the sale of the licence of the Club Hotel, was dilapidated, dirty, and dusty. There was only one electric light point—in the sitting-room— and the place was furnished with old and worn-out articles, the only modern touch being a radio set connected to the sitting-room light fitting.