The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-13
The Tricks OF Misers to Conceal Their
Money.

About forty years ago the custom of
concealing money in an out-of-the-way
place, unknown to all but its possessor,
was greatly practiced. This was occa-
stoned at that time by the very uncer-
tain condition of the savings banks and
people could not be blamed for lack
OF confidence in those rickety institu-
tions Although the danger of failing
banks is, to large extent thing Cd
the past, the practice of hiding money
prevails in greater degree than the
general public imagine. Often if the
owner of the hidden treasure should
suddenly die without revealing the
whereabouts of his money, it would be
likely to occasion great anxiety and
CONSERVATION among the relatives 1t
would be then that the service of detec-
tives or other shrewd men would be
called into requisition, in the hope that
they might solve the mystery of the
hiding-piace OF the money
In the northeastern pant of the city a
case OF this nature occurred not very
many years ago. An old nfan who
lived in very frugal manner. but who
was reputed to be the possessor of a
large amount OF money, was run over
at railroad crossing and killed instant
". He had several relatives through
out the State, who. although they were
somewhat dif1ident about acknowledge
| ing the tie previous to the old mans
| unexpected death, were very eager to
proclaim it as soon as they heard he had
| left behind him considerable store of
gold. The house in which the old man
had lived was a large. shaky old struc-
ture. full of old hooks and crevices
which would seem to be the very place
| that a miser would select as boarding
places for the money. The house was
ransacked from cellar to garnet, every
crack and crews was explored, and the
furniture was taken to pieces, but all in
I vain, for at the end of two weeks vigil
liant searching the treasure-hunters were
no nearer the object Of their search than
when they began. A consultation was
held to see whether it was worth while
to continue the search, since the task of
hunting for the money seemed hope
less one. After some discussion, how
ever, it was decided to continue the
work by proxy, aud well-known
private detective was engaged
This person looked over the premises,
and found everything that would be
! likely to contain the money TUNED in
side ont, so thoroughly had the anxious
relatives done their work. Now the
| question for the professional searches to
| decide was whe. her the old man would
have been likely to conceal his wealth
by burying it. To learn thi~, it WIS
necessary to ascertain the habits OF thu
deceased, and to determine in what par
tlcular part of the grounds surrounding
the house he was most in the habit of
| walking, for it is an established fact
that person who has every thought
| concentrated upon q certain place will
be very likely to visit it as often as pos
sible. The deceased had kept one ser
want, q very deaf old woman, who had
| been with him number of Years, and
she was questioned about the habits OF
| her late master She said that he rare
| " left the house, but would sit all day
long in his library, large room on the
4 ground floor containing q fair assort-
\ ment of books. This upset the theory
| of the money being buried, and the
detective returned, rather Disconnected,
| to take fresh inventory of the library.
The relatives had given their attention
to this room at an early stage of the
search The bookcases had beer
moved out from the wall. every volume
had been opened and every drawer in
speetad, so that no fresh place OF con
cealment suggested itself to the detec
tive. Pondering upon the mysterious
matter he fixed his eyes abstractedly
upon the ceiling, where he saw some