BURIED PARIS TREASURE
LEGAL BATTLE WILL SWALLOW UP FORTUNE (Special—By Air Mall) LONDON, May 13. A legal battle is now raging in Paris over the destiny of a hoard of gold which for nearly 200 years had lain in a poor quarter of the town. The treasure, which comprises 3555 gold pieces, was found by workmen who were demolishing houses last year. When they unearthed the first pieces the workmen hailed the event as a windfall, because, according to French law, the hoard would be equally divided between the finders and the owners of the property on which it was found. But as gold was unearthed with every brick turned over, five faded parchment wills were also revealed. All these wills are said to be in favour of Anne, the daughter of Louis Nivelle, who held a post in the Royal Court in 1755. When the news was published claims flowed in from Anne Nivelle’s many living descendants, of which there are now almost as many as gold pieces. One of the claimants is an assistant governor of the Bank of France. As the number of claimants to the gold hoard increases nearly every day, it is likely that when the legal battle is over there will be very little left of the Nivelle “Fortune” to be divided among the winners.
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Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21361, 2 June 1939, Page 13
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221BURIED PARIS TREASURE Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21361, 2 June 1939, Page 13
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