The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-11-12
Found Concealed in Sp|ns|sr's
Old Mahogany Bureau.
ALL WAS LEFT TO NIECE
Secret Compartment That Contained the
Valuable Document Not Olscovsrst Uaiil
After Miss Mechanics Death

New York. Nov. l2-By the accidental
breaking open of an old bureau II was
discovered that Hazel Graham, eight
years old, Of l5O East One Hundred and
Twenty-sixth street. Is heiress 60 $50 600
she N The daughter of Edward Graham.
an actor ana Mrs Kate Graham an ar
list Her srandfsthcr. james Mckenzie.
OF Noodside L. L., Is n retired civil en-
sineer who Is accounted wealthy
His second wife died not long ago and
as The Children BY his first wife were
well provided for by r1eir father. she
made her own daughters her heirs
one or these daughters was the late
Miss Belle Mckenzie, of Woodside an
elderly spinster who had great love
Tor her half-sister's little girl Hazel She
used To take the child upon her Lap and
tell her long stories, adding that when
Hazel was woman she would have
money enough 90 live like princess AS
Hazels father was poor and his acting
was not very remunerative the child
could never see where her wealth was
coming from.
But she accepted the prophecy I'm good
faith. When the splnster died little Ha-
Eel was one Of the most art-brokeu OF
the family. To cheer her grandfather
Hazel was sent out 10 the village OF
Woodslde. and has been there. the light
Mrs. Kate Mckenzie Graham left her
amateur photography at her one Hun
dred and Twenty-sixth street homo long
enough the other day 20 60 10 her fathers
10 see little Hazel. Hazel had announced
that the deserted rooms upstairs in the
homestead must be cleaned when her
mother appearaned she enlisted her help
and with one or two sisters OF Mrs Gra-
ham the work began They entered the
closed rooms where Miss Belle died, and
put II TO rights for the first time since tho
funeral She having died without leav-
ing any will. her estate was 10 be diyid-
ed among the heirs-at-law
One OF the trea sures Of the dead worn-
an was an old mahogany bureau made
IN England in 1891. 1t had always been
kept locked IN the lifetime OF the spin
ster and AT her death the key could not
he found
family consultation was held and II
was decided 10 break Il open This was
done, the back falling out and revealing
secret compartment The FIRST thing
that came To the eyes, OF the startled
women was A faded bunch OF American
beauty roses that had been i'm the bureau
for wears
Under these were two punches OF yell
low letters tied with ribbon and address
Cd in mans firm hand To Miss Belle
Mckenzie" Tied To one of the bundles
WAS package marked secrets" This
the women opened with tender hands and
reverend thoughts. In IL was the last will
OF the dead sister, which read like this
These letters are not 10 be read by
any one while I ann alive At my death
they are 20 be given 10 my beloved father
Ny whole estate ! give and bequeath 10
my sweet niece, Hazel Graham" 1t was
signed iN the prim. delicate handwriting
OF Belle Mckenzie.
When the letters were taken 10 the old |
gentleman heread the viii with swimming |
eyes. Then he turned Go the little girl, |
and said:
Hazel she kept her promise. aud you
are an beiress"
At the death OF Miss Mckenzie the es- |
tate was the subject of litigation. which |
has never been settled and of course. |
the property is intact now. The discovery |
upsets all previous litigation. and the win |
Is about TO be offered for probate