The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-10-21

GOLD, SILVER AND BELLS
Bonds With UncolIected Coupons and
Savings Banks Books Were
Found In the Hoard-Some
Facts In His Life.

Waltham, Mass-Some of the strange
facts In the life of Nehemiah II. Cutter
of Arlington, in whose room at his home
there were found nearly $4,000 in cash
and large number of valuable stocks
and bonds, were told tonight by former
Mayor B. B. Johnson of this city. Mr..
Johnsons investigations led to the find.
Mr.. Johnson says he has known Mr..
Cutter, who was recently committed to
the Danvers insane asylum. for fifty
years.
Mr.. Johnson's first business experience
with Cutter was some years ago when
the state took a small parcel of land be-
longing to the Cutters in Medford. All
but Nehemiah were willing to sign off,
but he persistently refused. AT this time
1t was evident to the state officials that
Cutter was insane and Mr.. Johnson was
appointed guardian of the man.
After the land question was settled Mr..
Johnson dropped out of the guardianship.
Mr.. Johnson heard no more from Cutter
Until about three weeks ago, when an
agent of the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals called upon him
here in Waltham and told him that Cut
ter had been abusing his cattle. 1t Is al
legged that he kept his cattle chained
until the chains cut Into the flesh Mr.
johnson Informed the agent that Cutter
was insane and it would be useless to
bring him into court 1t was then de-
cided to have him sent to Danvers, which
was done about two weeks ago.
1859 in Old Wallet.
After Cutter was taken to the asylum
1863 was found in an old wallet he car
ried. Mr.. johnson learned from the man 5
I f-ta
been inside of the room occupied by him
for more than ten years. The door was
kept locked and barred.
Once inside the room Mr. Johnson
found that Cutter had regular arsenal,
/ there being a loaded shotgun, loaded
revolver and an ugly looking knife, all
near the bed. In bureau drawer were
a quantity of silver pieces of all denomi-
nations from ten cents to 81.
Further search that day brought forth
| $500 in gold bills and silver. The next
day Mr.. johnson discovered more money
In boxes, on shelves, in closets and
thrown into corners of the room. There
was half a bushel of half dollars, quar-
ters. dimes and nickels thrown about
loosely, while the bills were all wrapped
up in small bundles and tied with COM
mon twine. The bills were folded inside
of old newspapers.
The third day Mr.. johnson turned his
attention TO the bed occupied by Cutter
After he had removed the old rags and
stuff with which it was covered he dis
covered that instead of a bed he simply
had spring which rested on two chests
When these chests were finally opened
more gold and stocks were found, which
brought the amount up to $4,000.
Among the securities were two $1,000 c.
b. & @. five per cent bonds with $500
worth of uncut coupons; two city of Chi
cago water bonds of $500 each with $220
worth of uncut coupons certificates of
twenty-eight shares of the old Michigan
Central railroad. stock. Eighteen of these
shares were dated 1880 and ten dated 1856
$4,000 in Savings Banks.
-Four savings bank books showing de-
posits of $1,000 were also found One of
them was issued by the Savings Institu-
ton of Cambridge in 1856 to Abigail Cut
ter, mother of Nehemiah. The first de-
post was $50 This book was assigned to
Cutter in 1884. He never added a deposit
to this book.
In 1868 his father deposited $1,000 in the
Charlestown Five Cents Savings bank
In 1885 this book was assigned to Abigail
Cutter, the mother and upon her DEATH
in 1887, it was assigned to Cutter He
never added to the deposits.
In 1885 he opened an account himself
with the Arlington Savings bank No
deposit was made there since 1902 In 1892
he opened an account in the Cambridge
port Savings bank, but never made a sec
ond deposit. The cash, with interest on
all these books footed up to about $4,000.
Mr.. Johnson found evidence to show
that at times Cutter would take invento-
ries Of his cash, as slips of paper were
found with long lists of figures all added
up and totals made out
In all the silver found there was but
one counterfeit half dollar. There were
a few trade dollars and some mutilated
coins. There was 200 cents. Some of
the gold pieces, which ranged from So 90
to 500 were as bright as the day they
were coined, while many of the bills We're
crisp and fresh.
Mr.. Johnson says he intends to sell off
all of the property that belonged to Cut
ter and settle up his estate. as he feels
that Cutter will never again leave the
asylum.