DEAD MAN'S GOLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12401, 24 October 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

DEAD MAN'S GOLD.

STRANGE' STORY OF A CHEST OF 1000

SOVEREIGNS. A r.iCAiAEXAiiLE story of a chest of gold, supposed to have been left by an. East Dulwich resident, and opened by his housekeeper after his death, whs told at Lambeth Police Court recently.

The housekeeper, Agnes Annie Herbert, a neatly-dressed woman, forty years of age, was charged with stealing about £1000 in gold from a chest in the house of the late Mr. Henry Fox Wilson, in Belvoir Road, East Dulwich.

Miss Janet Wilson, of Gauden Road, Clapham, said that her brother, to whom Miss Herbert had acted as housekeeper, died last Saturday morning. She was told six years ago that her brother had money left to himNo will had been found.

Mr. Thomas Hughes, a contractor, of Regent's Road, Heme Hill, said that he was called by a plumber one Saturday morning recently to the house in Belvoir Road, where Mr. 'Wilson lay dead. At the request of Miss Herbert he opened a chest in. an cM lumber-room by taking off the lock. The chest contained, on a rough estimate, about £1000 in sovereigns, and some plate. He left Miss Herbert in possession, believing that she was the lady of the house. Subsequently, not feeling quite satisfied about the affair, he spoke to the police. Detective Gordon said that after seeing Mr. Northcote, a nephew of Mr. Fox, lie went to Belvoir Road with Inspector Page, and found in a large chest in a back room a silver-plated tray and a silver liqueur stand, but no money. When the officer saw Miss Herbert at her home iu Goodrich-street, he said, "I got the box opened lor some papers." At her sister's apartments some silver-plated articles were found. These, she said, she f.ud taken away for safety. She was remanded on £200 hail. Her solicitor stated that the had a perfect explanation to offer.