New-York tribune., 1896-12-07
HIDDEN TREASURES FOUND.
REMARKABLE DISCOVERY IN SECRET
DRAWER OF AN OLD DESK.

WOMAN OF THE TENDERLoIN. IT IS SHOWN
TO CONTAIN JEWELS SECURITIES AND
PROPERTY DEEDS THAT MAYBE =.
WORTH HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS.
One OF the most remarkable and mysterious
discoveries Of hidden wealth in recent years was
made the other day in the home Of the we'll
known manufacturer. Brian G. Hughes, No. 40
East one hundred d-twenty- -sixth-st. Mr.
IIughess nine -year-old son Arthur was trying
about a week ago to shut drawer in desk
which his father had bought at auction when
he discovered a secret drawer which SIN down
in front Of him from the upper casing. ts bot
tom glttering with diamonds and gold. His dis
covery led to n further search by his father. and
still another secret drawer was found filled with
papers of great apparent value.
The desk which hid the treasure belonged at
one time to Mrs. John Eeknap Marcou. who was
Bessie Doand. of New-Orleans. and who had
lived life Of gayety before she was married to
the son of Professor Jules Marcou, ot Cambridge
She separated from her husband three years
ago. came 10 this city, and rapidly sank to
life OF dissipation She was found dead in her
fiat at No. 1872 West Thirty y-ffth-st. one Sep
tember day last year. her death being due to
morphine poisoning What property she had
did not seem to be of great value. and no helrs
appeared to claim it. The woman herself was
apparently Door She is said to have placed her
ring in pawn. and to have left her first quarters
owing six months rent. Her effects were sold.
by Public Administrator William NJ. Hoes ana.
brought only about 500. which went toward pay
ing her debts 1t was at the auction sale. which,
was held at No. ) Duane-st. shortly after Mrs
hot Mr.
desk a rather tall affair. we'll put together and
made of cherry with mahogany finish. He
bought It for $l4 1t has been in his home since
then, ard In constant use.
A week from yesterday little Arthur Hughes
had some trouble in putting back drawer H.
the desk. took ii completely out. and put MS
hand In to find what the obstacle was his
finger toucned projection, when ne pressed
small compartment descended before hiiil ana
he saw a quantity Of Jewelry. with dainty
ladys hunting case watch. lying in the bottom
He shouted for his father. and Mr.. Hughes went
running upstairs to find his little son stilI star
ing at the treasure. Mrs Hughes was sum-
moncd and after they had overcome their sur
prise the desk cleared Of all its known cor
tents and turned upside down, with view 10
finding any more hidden compartments that 1t
might contain. At last they heard some heavy
desk was moved. An investigation showed that
what appeared to be merely "A scaoped footrest
was the mask Of another mysterious drawer. of
the width OF the desk. protected by three up
right wooden pegs. set in the fooreSt The re-
moval Of the pegs unearthed the drawer. which
was quickly pulled out. filled with formidable
array Of documents What caused the noise
that led 70 tho second discovery was thckly
rolled manuscript. which proved 10 be the
abstract OF a title deed. The complete inventory
4 ,h, contents OF both drawers is as follows:
4 gold watch No s5J6 with number o$S bel
low il The inside 'ase IS marked Louis "uuiah"'
Pin ana earrings OF jet, set with gold and marked
\ diamond brcasipin in Tiffany e. co case.
! pair OF small diamond earrings. aud gold
''s c,s rncept for deposit In the name of'Mrs J.
certified check for sle O37 So dated May IS. 1898
lraan on the Bank OF Ncw-foIk 10 the ater 't
HowelI y o any s,h,.' -, ' ,,,c,oTtv Nos 12s and
6srae Of ,', 70 tns re- nn4 Srfa ls Mqeers @ i Of
ms .sascd sy 'nsrE e John IN " s McryerSau Nerve ~
one hundred shares western l Mon stock; certIi-
her - issi. Transferred to Bray'on Ives July D.
one hundred and nifty shares Magnetic Ore Mill
Ing Company West virginia. sold TO George y
b, the siaie Trust COMPANY. par value 80,
Nine hundred and ninety shares iahamnt
Icnsocchca. May -, lss1, transferred at Panama
Kaymon s"nto and Il . san SantG frdr 81 pomnSo iS
par value slc Tits company IL incorporated In
Thr,e thousand shares American Ice Machine
COMPANY certlncai" No. ss. sold 10 }. B. Marcou
Two p'' hundred shares Mountain Mining Company
sold to Abraham Pachner par yaiun $40 oa,,.
sold to J. B. Marcou March 7. 1891 incorporated
" Three i' 'i per cent gold oonl. Sioux Falls stock
ward Company certificate Nos. -. So and 49,
dated July H. 1892. par value So" each.
Lett tor
Zenon de- Lcdochowski. of Iasalle. Ind. num-
Title deed. Mary clark. o' BROOKLYN. to Katie
Miller. Of Biooklyn. 800 acres in Johnson county;
To- r Miller. T. o. BOX No 30. this city.
Title deed Mary clark to william H. .'. DE- Groo,'
. 80 acres Floyd County. Ky. dated August ~ |
Ti!e decd TheSaorc b. De Groo' oIn %Ta Emma m.
city 5000 acres in R9sSel Kan%%ah isss nsa Law
'"IiT ritlc Ieed Mary clark to Emma NJ DE faittre.
. opD acres In Lawrence County. ky. being one one
fourth of the grant 20 Alexander Wdico't' Oh June
H. riii" iig deed Emma NJ De LaItre to Nathaniel
In, I'nwrrnce enc County Ky, dated October ;, s7o
Title deed Emma u. DE l.aittre 10 r. C. Bailly.
OF 9o,,n,, Mes' d"ted October 80. ISL
Tile d,cd. Emma DE I-"ittre " r.r.a to - Joseph
vanshan nnn,v 81 AS,nS,%'o Ry om oStossr % lS7i
rerGI r, fnaa william Raymond Of boston to Kate
Miller OF Ncw-York. 1000 acres in johnson
'9%ntyd dceG Mary Clark to F. r. B De C;root 25o
Tilc deed Mary Clark to George Collins, October
G ts,a 10 COO acres I'm Lawrence County. Ky.
six per cent sinking fund gold bonds. Sioux
Falls civ Street Railway Company. ISSUED 1891 TO
run until 1901 coupons for 1891 and 1892 clipped.
Mr. Hoes tho Public Administrator. called on
Mr. Hughes yesterday afternoon. having learned
that the latter to send him a letter, formal
ly Offering to turn the property over to him
That letter will reach him In to-day's mail
f. G. Sheldon accompanied Mr.. Hoes. and Myer
& Schloss OF No ~ East One-hundred-a and
twenty-0fth-st. who is counsel for Mr.. Hughes
was also present at his request. The Admins
traitor tried to induce Mr.. Hughes to hand the
property over then. and take taDuiated re.
cejnt for H. but at the instance OF his counsel