The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-03 00:00:00

AN OLD MISER.

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YARMOUTIL—The following story, the truth of which
we have satisfactorily ascertained, has within the last
few days excited the attention of some of our local au-
thorities. An old woman named Mutton, whose hus-
band is a coal carrier, residing in a Row on the quay, had
complained of being somewhat unwell for a few days
prior to the 12th ult., on which day her husband,
when he returned from the pursuit of his usual avocation,
found her to be so ill as, in his opinion, to need assist-
ance, and he offered to help her to bed, an offer she
gladly accepted, but which came too late, as she expired
before he could get her there. It had always been sus-
pected that she possessed money, but it could never be
ascertained with certainty. So soon, however, as the wife
was dead, the husband, whose cupidity, it seems, ex-
ceeded his grief, commenced a search for the recovery
of this hitherto imaginary wealth. Already golden
visions passed before him, and Californian riches seemed
to invite his acceptance. Apparently well aware of the
probable nature of the materials in which the hoards
would be secreted, and shrewdly suspicious that certain
places into which he had long been forbidden to pry,
were the depositories of the anticipated treasures, he
carefully examined sundry broken jugs, pieces of rag, and
other equally valuable relics of antiquity. Fully aware
that great riches like great merit are sometimes hidden
beneath rough and uninviting exteriors our hero did not
despise or turn away from the most repulsive collections.
And well, it seems, he was rewarded. Within the
multiplied folds of rags which had long ceased to serve
any other useful purpose, the portraits of the present
and preceding monarchs f these realms beamed fprth in
bold relief from gold and silver pieces, such as might'
excite the wishes of the covetous and gratify the desires
of the miser. But it was not suddenly nor at once that
the extent of his riches were developed. About forty
pounds is said to have been the proceeds of the first
search. Encouraged by this success, the husband, like
some patient miner, pursued his search. Every corner
of every cupboard was explored, and every likely article
was carefully examined. His success continued till it is
said some 160/. had been brought together, a sum of
large magnitude to one who, but a few hours before, was
wanting the common necessaries of life. The sudden
accession to such a fortune was not likely long to remain
a secret, and there were certain indications in the con-
duct of the husband at the funeral that new means had
been discovered for gratifying certain bacchanalian pro-
pensities. It soon became noised abroad that the wife
had starved herself to death to hoard up wealth, which
bade fair soon to be dissipated at the shrine of the jolly
god. The report reached, among others, a gentleman
whose peculiar duty it was to make some inquiries re-
specting the case, and it was soon ascertained that the
story about her sudden death was true; that a surgeon
was called in to see her, but life was extinct before his
arrival. Prior to a certificate of burial being issued, the
law required that some one present at the death should
certify as to the cause of death, but in this case, at-
tended as it was by circumstances that might be sup-
posed to demand some inquiry, a certificate of burial
was issued upon a note given by the surgeon, stating that
deceased was dead at the time of his arrival, and that he
could not say what was the cause of death. We believe
the registrar, who it seems erred from oversight, has so
had his attention called to the subject as will in future
prevent a similar occurrence passing unheeded.