Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-20

With Theodore Swift, 10 conducting the case
for the heirs at law, cunningly asked his OPP
ponent, Ex-Governor Chamberlain, of South
Carolina, if he had any objections to the
witness he was about to call, and was
answered in the negative. Chickering then
lifted up a big bundle. which be had been
jealousy guarding on his knees, and walked
up to be sworn. Putting the bundle down
beside him, in response to Russell's bidding to
tell what he had, he began his tale as follows:
81 knew James Henry Paine for years be-
fore he died l was brought into communi-
cation with him through his love for music.
He was an expert musical critic and this poor
old miser had at his tongues end wealth of
inexhaustIble information. But though
had heard that he was popUlarly supposed to
have money hidden away, | never really
knew anything about it. One dav he came
into nv Office with bundle in his hand.
This is the bundle" pointing to the package
beside him. st was about foot long and
six or eight inches wide. 1t was wrapped
up in an Ordinary brown paper and tied with
an ordinary string. 90 the outside was care
fully bound an old green handkerchief He
asked if he could leave it in nv possession
and answered. yes told him | would put
it in my safe. He objected to this, and asked
me if had a private safe at home which
yes again, and he carlessy replied that he
would like me to place it there.
II took the bundle and locked it up, scarce
Nv ever giving the matter thought again.
Once, years afterward, / met him IN the
street, and we were talking about Won Bulow,
the pianist, who had recently arrived in the
country. Suddenly he interrupted me and
asked me if that bundle was all right said
yes and he didn't alude to it again. In
fact. think he never spoke of it again during
his life
WHAT THE GREEN BUNDLE CONTAINED.
The little old green bundle remained hidden
in the safe gathering dust and forgotten for
years. After the old man. death Mr. Chick
ering remembered the package, and took it
out of its place one day to see if it contained
anything worth keeping. 81 had supposed it
contained nothing more than some old must.
cal papers," continued he, ''and carelessly
united the string Tearing open one corner
caught sight of roll of bank bills. 1t
seemed to me in the hasty glimpse | caught
that they must amount to many thousands
of dollars. tied the handkerchief
together quickly and took the next
train for Boston to see Robert Treat Paine,
whom thought was the nearest living rela.
tive. He said that there were nearer heirs
On the LIST of marchin the presence of Sum-
ner and Charlie Clsggett, and my attorney,
we opened the packet. Gold and silver dol
lars, bank notes by the thousand, certificates
of stock and script rolled out upon the table
The little old green handkerchief for nearly
twenty years had closely guarded treasure
amounting to over 100000. About Sl4 900
has become outlawed. The $4,000 which
the certificates represented has been paid up
to me as administrator by the Metropolitan
Bank. The remainder of the property is
worth its full face value. There Is more
property which is not yet collected"
Much more testimony was taken during
the day, including that of X. B. T. Wood.
who for thirty wears was employed in the
Metropolitan Bank He remembered, he
said, as far back as 1861. when Paine had
made special deposit in the bank of S40.-
900 nd had received the certificates that
we're afterwards found in the handkerchief.
Thy had been made payable TO one of the
officers OF the bank, as Paine did not wish
his name to appear. Ex-Gov. Chamberlain
then said that in view of the days disclosure
he would apply to the court for an increased
bond on the part of the administrators COM
meusurare with the estate itself. The adj
have given bonds to the amount
of $1,000 only. The case was then adjourned
Till Monday.