RAG-PICKER'S WEALTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21136, 19 March 1932, Page 14

RAG-PICKER'S WEALTH.

MONEY HIDDEN IN ROOM.

NOTES FOUND IN A BOOT. DISCOVERY AFTER MAN'S DEATH. A secret hoard, amounting to £2lO in notes, lias been discovered in the room occupied by an elderly rag-picker, Henry Lawson, who dropped dead in Newmarket on February 13. The man was believed to have been penniless, and was cared for by the Salvation Army at its industrial home at. Epsom. Lawson had been given accommodation by the Salvation Army for several years and earned a precarious livelihood collecting rags. He appeared to have enjoyed better days, but his mode of living while under the care of the Army's officials indicated the utmost poverty. On February 13 Lawson was seen walking along the footpath in Broadway, Newmarket-, when ho placed his hand to his head and collapsed. The police made their usual inquiries in the case of sudden death, and upon looking through his private effects £SO in notes were found in an old sock, which had been jammed into a boot, £IOO in notes were contained in the pocket of ail old threadbare overcoat, and 12 £5 notes were found concealed in other parts of the room,

The relatives of deceased have not been traced, and pending a claim being made upon the money it is being held by the Public Trustee.