The San Francisco call., 1897-08-08

and finally, after serving twenty-one
years, was retired on a pension. ANA
still his mother kept the stand. Nothing
would induce her to give 1T up. and she
was there daily up to the time OF her last
illness.
The old woman died in 1887 at the age
OF 92. All her life she had lived econom-
Icaliy, and the belief among those who
knew her was that she had saved great
deal OF money. Nobody knew anything
definite about it, though as Hannah was
not woman to talk about such affairs.
But her business had been profitable
one, and, as she spent little, people natur-'
ally thought that her savings would be
found III some odd corner when her rooms
were searched
William Cotter, the son, didn't know
any more ABOUT his mothers affairs than
outsiders did. But he shared the common
belief that she had money, and after her
death he made a rigid search OF her rooms.
Every nook and corner was looked into
and the floor was torn MP in places, but
not cent was found. Mattresses were
ripped open and cushions and pillows met
the same tate, in the vain hope that the
old Woman's savings might be found.
Finally Cotter gave 1T up.
he still believed his mother had saved
money, but as 1t was not anywhere In her
rooms he concluded that she had disposed
gathered together the old woman's effects
and sold all but few chairs, which he
needed himself, to second hand furniture
dealers. The neighbors made periodical
searches OF the rooms for months after
ward, but no one ever found anything.
They got to calling it the missing treasure
after while. and its value gradually in
creased until it reached tile hundred thou
sands in the vulgar mind.
Ali OF this was ten years ago. Cotter
moved to 41o East Eightieth street, where
he lives now, and was satisfied 10 depend
on his pension for an existence. Some
months ago he sold three of the chairs
that formerly belonged to his mother to
South Brooklyn furniture dealer. They
were cheap affairs, made of stained wood
and poorly upholstered. They had long
since outlived their usefulness, but the
furniture man thought he could stralghten
them up a Bit and sell them at profit.
The name of the furniture man is not
given. The officers of the Seaman's Bank
knew it, but they're not telling now. At
any rate, the furniture man put the chairs
into shape and sold them. One of them
fell into the hands of a Brooklyn woman.
Her name, too, is only known to the bank
people, and they have the same aversion
to telling 1t they have to revealing the fur-
nlture mans Identity.
Ten days ago the new owner of the
chair proceeded to dust it. She went
about that housewifely duty in rather
vigorous fashion and suddenly the whole
bottom fell out upon the parlor floor.
When she recovered from her surprise the
woman proceeded to pick up the horse
hair, springs and other things tEat had
fallen. In the center of the heap she
found a brown paper-coyered book. 1t
was old and dirty, but the woman man
aged 10 make out that it was a handbook
nnD toiy IrIo ha Of
Cotter with the Seamans Bank for Saw
ings. Further investigations showed
balance in favor of the deposltor of $3900
The lat deposit had been made early In
1887 The woman showed the book to her
husband that night. He said there was
only one thing to do with it, and that was
to send it to the bank So with an ex-
planatory note, she forwarded it to the
bank, where it was duly received week
ago.
The officials were surprised when they
got the bank book. q glance at their
books, however showed that the balance
represented IN it was correct. and they
hastened TO notify the heirs OF Hannah Cot
ter of the discovery. They sent word to
the woman's old address and the letter
was forwarded to her son at his home in
Eigntieth street.
When Cotter read the letter he almost
tainted. Then he rushed down to his
lawyers post haste and notified him to
begin action at once to obtain possession
Of the money. Charles Steckler, his law
yer, went to the bank with Cotter and sue
ceeded in convincing the officials that he
was Hannah Cotter's son and only heir
They obtained the Iong-lost handbook,
and yesterday the lawyer made applica-
to Surrogate Arnold for letters of admin
istration for William Cotter on the estate
of his mother Hannah. The application
was granted. and now all that Cotter has
got to do is to prove to the satisfaction of
the bank people that he is the son and
heir of the late Hannah Cotter, ami the
$4,000 will be turned over to him. There
is no reason to suppose that the bank will
question Cotter's claim. Ii it does he will
sue.