OLD MAN’S HOARD

Evening Star, Issue 22975, 4 June 1938, Page 13

OLD MAN’S HOARD

£5,000. UNDER BED FOUND ILL AND STARVING Among rags and old newspapers under the bed, on which Sidney Pollard, aged 67, was found lying starving and ill from pneumonia, over his second-hand shop in Priory Place, Camden Town, London, Scotland Yard detectives found jewellery and bank notes worth £S,OUU. Pollard was taken to St. Pnncras Hospital with a police guard. The hoard, including a necklace of 18U graduated pearls, valued at several thousand pounds, was also taken over by the police. Mischievous boys throwing stones through the shop windows brought to light this story of a man living in apparent poverty, yet surrounded by riches. Their escapade attracted attention to the shop. Mr R. M'Cowan, a London Transport bus driver, living nearby, called a police sergeant and helped to break down the door. “ Pollard was lying oh the floor with two mailbags covering him,” he stated afterwards. SURPRISE FOR POLICE. “ He was conscious, though he could not have eaten a decent meal for a fortnight. Old boxes, tins, antiques, and rags were piled everywhere.” It was while the police were searching lor papers which might help them to trace Pollard’s relatives that the jewels and money were found. Detectives moved tons of lumber in their search. Polls of bank notes were found in odd corners and valuable jewellery among a large collection of cheap trinkets. Mr George Stagg, one of the few who have known Pollard well since he arrived in Camden Town 10 years ago, said: “He was a strange being, who led a strange existence.” LOVER OF FLOWERS. “ Unkempt and unshaven, he appeared emaciated, almost tramp-like. A stepson frequently visited him up to a year ago, but we have not seen him recently. Pollard had a great love for flowers, strangely enough, and grew the most beautiful dahlias 1 have ever seen in his backyard. “ I believe he owned an orchard or allotment near Hartford, where he was planning to build himself a home. He bought flowers in the London markets for 7-esale. On Derby Day he sold racecards at Epsom. “ Some time ago neighbours complained of cars driving up to the sfiop at all hours of the night, stopping a few minutes, then roaring away at speed, waking everyone up. “ Pollard was such a stranger to most of us that we did not know his real name until this happened.”