The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-13
THOUSANDS
HIDDEN IN
old BUREAU
Workman Accidentally Drop the
Piece Of Furniture and Brother
Gets Good Sized Fortune.

New York. Aug 13.-Savings bank books
representing deposits of more than $4,000
which had been the object OF long,
though vain search, were returned 20
their rightful owners a few days ago by
James Fay, OF 44o Fourth avenue. who
discovered them neatly hidden in an old
bureau. part OF a lot OF mahogany furni-
ture purchased by hdm from Charles p.
Ebbets. With the books was s1l3 In cash.
which was given by Mr. Ebbets 10 the en-
ployes of Mr.. Fay to reward them Tor
their honesty.
brother Frank lived at 21 West Eigh,
teenth streets in a little two story ana
basement house. They were more attacn-
ed TO each other than Is the rule with
brothers
Their acquaintances. believed that they
had no secrets that were not mutually
shared, but since the recent death or the
elder IL has been learned that Charles mad
not been taken entirely into the confidence
OF his brother. Their bank accounts were
separate. and for some reason the two
never told each other where they Kept
their bank books. -,
Not long ago the elder OF the two fell Ill
and died. 1t had been believed that before
the ssnd came he would rouse from the
lethargy I'm which he had fallen, and
would be able TO arrange his worldly mat
ters. but he died without having been able
TO give a last sign of recognition to the
relatives who were by his bedside,
1t was known that Mr.. Ebbets had large
deposits In many savings banks In this
city and In Brooklyn, but nowhere could
his bank books be found His brother
made thorough search of the house. The
walls were sounded, the carpets were
taken up and the furniture was exam
ined bit by bit.
Mr.. Ebbits concluded that It would be
necessary to take the matter into court
in order that the savings left by his
brother might be recovered by the prop
er heirs.
he had lived with his brother. Mr.. Ebbets
last week sold 10 James Fay severai
pieces OF old mahogany furniture
Finding the pieces OF mahogany were
heavy the workmen who took them away
from the Ebbets' home removed from, the
tables and bureaus the drawers. all OF
which were found to be empty. One or
the bureaus was dropped with consider
able force after II had been removed 10
Mr FaSs place sufa6 81 business 81 ,arr,nx o Of
place a cunningly contriyed wooden bot
tom which had been so arranged as TO
hold tight against the back OF the bureau
books and papers placed there by their
former owner When this piece OF wood
gave way IL discovered the missing bank
books, showing deposits OF s36. 600 in the
seamans, Franklin, Emigrants Bleecker
Street and Bowery Savings banks. Three
Brooklyn savings institutions were also
represented.
NTH the books were papers OF minor
value and $1l3 In small bills: Everything
was returned 70 Charles +. Ebbets as the
He Immediately handed back the money
TO Mr. Fay. asking him to distribute IL
furniture purchased from him. and VINO
had by their honesty, saved him much
trouble and expense. The books Will De
turned into the estate. which Is said TO
be OF considerable proportions.
Mr. Fay distributed the $tlS in accord
ance with the Instructions OF Mr.. Ebbets.