A Remarkable Discovery Of Bank Notes.

Evening Star, Issue 7188, 16 April 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

A Remarkable Discovery Of Bank Notes.

A misleading. and inaccurate story of the finding of a number of bank notes in Darlington having appeared, the ‘Northern Echo ’ publishes an authentic account of the afiair. Mr J. Barrass, of Darlington, bought a cabinet at Mr R. A. Meaoock’s sale rooms, about two years ago, for ss. “Just about the time I bought it,” he says, “ I wa ® thrown from a trap, and suffered from concussion of the brain, have been ill since. The cabinet, after 1 bought it, was put on one side unexamined, and owing to my illness and other causes remained there until January of this year. In January of this year a gentleman came to me and was anxious to buy a cabinet of the kind. I agreed to sell it to him for 10s, and afterwards took it out of the corner where it had been standing, in order to dust it. I pulled but a drawer and discovered that it was shorter than the hole into which it fitted, and there was a bundle of what I at first took to be L 5 notes inside. On taking them out I found there were two bundles, one containing fourteen LIOO notes, and the other twenty-six LIOO notes, aU<on the National Provincial Bank. I did not know what to do with them for the best, and at last thought I would take pne to the National Provincial Bank, where I had not an account, and where, in fact, I bad never been before. They asked me if I wished to change the note, and 1 said ‘ No; I wish to leave it for a few days.’ That was on Tuesday last, and it remained there until Thursday night, when Mr Henderson, of Stockton, came to my house and asked if I had banked a note on Tuesday, and if I had any more. He then produced a diary belonging to a Mr Benson, of London, which contained the numbers of fourteen notes lost twenty years ago. We compared them with the smaller roll of notes I bad, and found they were the same. Of the other twenty-six be said be knew nothing. Mr Henderson then asked me to keep them till next day. On the Friday morning the bank sent for me, and told me the note was stopped. I told them I expected as much; and on my way home I met Mr Henderson. We went to Mr Watson’s office, and I handed over the fourteen LIOO notes and also the twenty-six LIOO notes. Mr Henderson then gave me a cheque for LlO. I did not ask him for anything, bat he ashed me what I would have. I told him that was for him to decide. We struck no bargain, as stated. I handed him the notes unconditionally.”