“BLIND GEORGE’S”HOARD

Evening Star, Issue 14966, 28 August 1912, Page 3

“BLIND GEORGE’S”HOARD

DISCOVERED IN A BOX, Tho death of George Johnston, better known as “Blind George” (says a Launceston exchange), has brought to light an instance of the result of years of hoarding up of money. It was thought that the deceased had property or money of no small value, but few imagined that ho was worth the amount which was discovered in the house in which he lived, No. 23a Wellington street. A search of the building by Constable Court showed that there was very little of any but the weight of a wooden box beneath the bed was enough to cause some speculation as to the nature of its contents. This box was the only thing worth removing from the house, and it taxed the strength -of two men to convey it to the police station. Various were the conjectures as to what the box contained, but no one ventured to forecast what an examination of the interior did reveal. The box was locked, and the key could not be found, but a key in the possession of the police enabled it to be opened. Constable Court and Trooper Dixon were ret the task of counting the money, and the work occupied them from 10 a-.m. until 2 p.m. The box was a wooden one, 3ft long, lift wide, and lit deep. A quantity of old clothing occupied the major portion of the interior, while in one comer was stacked the accumulation. The monev « wrapped in paper in 10s and 20s lots. No particular variety of paper was used, and the assumption is that on the deceased returning from bis daily task he generally counted his coins and placed them in whatever paper he first came in contact with. What wonderful instinct a blind man possesses! His is a power which is not given to those who enjoy their eyesight. The old man can ha pictured separating ths coins, knowing from their feel what the, value of each ono is, and. tying them up in lots to suit himself. The coins in each parcel were mixed, the only exception bring that of tho gold, which was in a brown paper bag. There wore two old purses, which had evidently lain there full for years. Their sides wre buking out, and mouidincss had taken charge of the exterior of each. They were well wont too. a sign that they had probably been carried about for some considerable time. Some of tho paper used had become well-nigh decayed, and the contents exposed to view. A larve’sum was contained in a cloth bag, winch, although dirty, was well preserved. A. curious fact is that no pennies had been kept, and as the deceased earned his living bv selling match's, it is assumed that he used any copper money which came into his possession for tho purpose of providing for himself. , - , , When tbe first count of the money had been completed the total was £4-27 19s 6d. mad© up as follows; 4-9 half-crowns ~ £9 2 6 553 florins ... ~ .•• 2,660 shillings 133 0 C 1,182 sixpences 29 11 0 1280 threepences 16 0 0 Gold _ 183 10 0 Tho gold wos composed mostly of sovereigns, but there were also about 25 halfsovereigns. Some of the coins showed signs of old age, and on two of these (shillings) bein'* erxvruined it was found that one boro the ‘tlato 1813, whilo the other was a King George dragon coin. Those who should know stato that tha deceased has been blind and has followed his calling for over 30 years.. It i* not known whether the deceased bad any relations, aa inquiries have failed to reveal them. It to thought, however, that he was at «n« tims married, and that his wife died. The money has Wen retained by the police until full investigation* bar* beer, mad-. If those fail to discover any relations ths amount will fe into th« enters of ti» QotwmpssW ■ • -