Forgotten Fortunes.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5338, 16 August 1895, Page 3

Forgotten Fortunes.

♦ — To say that there mast be at leaat £500,000 lying in London banks which has .been forgotten, or is awaiting claims from relatives, is no exaggeration at al), laid a bank manager to the representative of a London paper. If an investigation could be made, he went on, it would moat likely be found that thia unclaimed sum was nearer £1,000,000 than £500,000. A moat curious case was that of a wealthy merchant in Leadenhall Street, whose forgetfulneßS waß a by- word. Ten years ago he placed £10,000 in his bank, to his private account, and immediately forgot all about it, having neglected to fill up the counterfoil in his de-posit-book. A few months ago, while tearing up some old papers, he came acroßß a pencilled note bearing the words, "Bank £10,000," and a date he was unable to decipher. He made inquiries into the matter, and found that he was wealthier than be thought by £10,000 with interest. How he overlooked the amount it is difficult to say. He is still noted for the haphazard way in which he keeps his private accounts. The old woman who forgot the existence of a legacy of £200 a year from her master was another instance of carelessness. Here the' old lady, a one-time housekeeper could hardly read w write. When she received a letter from her late master's solicitors to the effect that the legaoy would be paid quarterly on application at a oity bank, the lucky woman for a fortnight was none the wiser. The important look of the soal on the envelope, and the fine note-paper, caused her to make inquiries, and a friendly neighbour, after much effort, spelt through the letter. The old lady, who was in poor circumstances, could not believe the good news, and so, without going to the bank, she decided that the letter was a hoax. Five years passed away, when her only son — a soldier— returned from India. One day he accidentally came across the letter, jead it, and asked his old mother the particulars. Bat her mind was a complete blank on the subject. However, the son made inquiries, and the result was that his mother and he found £1000 awaiting them at the bank and the promise of £200 a year during the forgetful old lady's lifetime. Old misers who have amassed small fortunes ' have more than once destroyed their bank books and all evidence showing that they were possessed of money, and in this way one well-known bank once benefited to the extent of £8000. None of the relatives of the old man knew of bis fortune, and such thingß are never the concern of the bank. The money was kept in the depositor's name for five years, when it passed into the bank's own account. No doubt, if a claimant came forward, the bank would give up the money, but they would probably fiercely fight the case if the evidence on the other side Bhowed any weak loopholes. At present there is money in different banks in the Metropolis which never will be claimed, for naturally a bank is not inclined to go to great trouble in finding rightful owners if they fail to come forward of their own accord.