HIDDEN GOLD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12063, 18 July 1917, Page 3

HIDDEN GOLD.

MJSEKS AND THE! 11 SECHET r HOARDS. ("Tit-Hits.") When a man was carrying upstairs an old chest of drawers lor two elderly sisters who had just moved from AYatford to Brighton, ho suggested taking out some of the drawers to lighten Jus burden. This was done, and on a ledgo inside were found a number of Jitilo packets, the paper wrapping being yellow with age. These parcels were iound to contain sovereigns and half sovereigns to the amount- of .1:21)0. The coins must have been placed there by the ladies' mother, who died intestate many vears before.

After the death of a well-known moneylender and miser of San Sfcfnno, a largo sum of money was found hidden away in his house. In a cupboard which was'stuffe<l with rags were found large, bundles of bank-notes of considerable value, and in an old chair and sofa were coins totalling nearly £ 12.000 and Government stock representing a further .sum of £12.000. Bank-notes and money were also found in every conceivable hiding place-in old boots and old clothes. The miser's hoard is stated to lie several million lire la lire equals about The millionaire-miser lived on a frugal diet of potatoes and salad and drank- only water. £IOO IN A BOMB.

A Liverpool chimney-sweep a few weeks ago cleuivd up a very painiul family mystery by bringing from the back of ilie flue a' bag containing £4O in coin. The owner of the coin lost all recollection of the hiding-place, and years ago had accused her son of stealing the money, with the result that he left the house never to return.

Looked upon in his lifetime as a dangerous Anarchist, a labourer announced on his deathbed thatJie would leave a '•pleasant surprise"' for his heirsAfter his demise an iron bomb was found prominently placed on a table. Expert artificers came to remove the infernal machine, which was opened, after having been laid in a pail of water. In it were found £IOO in notes anrl gold. There was. sour;- years since, an old man in Shropshire, who lived in a tumbledown cottage; he had never once been known to eat anything but bread for twenty years, although in possession of a, large sum of money. A hen he died a. long search -for his wealth was entirely in vain. After months ot anxious-inquiry the relatives as ii-ual in such ciiH-s, there wore no lack" oi numbers—-wore almost in despair, when one. day a youngster pulled out- from the dust-bin an old hat which the miser had worn. The m< ney, nearly £IO,OOO in notes, had been lixed in the hat. mostly between the silk and the rim. £7OOO IX BAXK-XOTKS. A very eccentric lady ilied in Cotml.v ]Meatb. After the lady's death no will could lie found, and it was thought she had died intestate. The solicitor for the person believed to be next-of-kin spent about forty days in the house going through the most, accumulation of papers, documents and valuable property that filled the rooms in the house and even the hall. Not only every room, but yery corridor was piled high with loose papers:, books, and parcels of all sizes and'descriptions, and the litter on the stairs was almost knee-deep. Various sums of money \vovi\ found in very peculiar and unlikely places, in rubbish on the floors, in band-boxes, and in a purse, and two bank-notes lor £l. were actually found ohied to the floor. The lawyers recovered an immense amount of property, including £7OOO in bank-notes and securities of every kind. They also discovered the lady's will, under which various charities much benefited.