OLD WOMAN'S HOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21118, 27 February 1932, Page 8

OLD WOMAN'S HOARD.

poverty disproved;

SUM OF £lB9 IN BEDROOM* FOUR CATS FOR COMPANY. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] MELBOUKNE, Feb. 18. With four' cats'as her only companions, an 80-year-old woman was found by the police in a house at Richmond, Melbourne, on Monday, living under destitute conditions.

The woman, who insisted that she "had nothing," was removed to a home. In steel boxes in her bedroom, which was searched later, the police found 40 sovereigns, £l2? in silver and £2l in £1 notes—a total of £lB9.

Two years ago a complaint was received by the police regarding the poor conditions under which the woman was living. Women police interviewed her, but she said she would not shift to another house. On Monday sympathisers informed the police that the woman was now living in another house and was practically starving. They made inquiries and found that; the woman was being given broth and other food by members of a neighbouring family, who were on sustenance themselves. The woman told these people that she was destitute. Both doors of her house were barred and when the police entered the woman protested that she did not want to leave the premises, for which, she said, she was paying 10s a week. It was ascertained that she was drawing the old-age pension. She said, however, that she could not pay the taxi fare to the home, as she had only 4s and would not collect her pension until Thursday. On top of the money in the steel boxes were pieces of broken metal, screwdrivers and other articles, which were wrapped in pieces of paper. It is thought that these articles were packed on top to deceive burglars.

Two" years ago, when the police called at the woman's house, she had 10 cats in her bedroom with her. - This time there were only four in the house. She had named them- Margaret, Mary, Gloria and Alice. As Alice was named after herself she was allowed to take it away with her All of the money found was wrapped in paper and had apparently been hoarded for years. Some of the silver coins were English. The woman is believed to have lived in Australia all her life.