The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-10-21
TREASURE WAITING FOR OWN
ERS.
Cellars That Rival Aladdin's Cave
London Banks That Hold Un-
claimed Wealth.


II all the gold, silver and jewelry
now lying dormant in the storerooms
of the, great banks of this country
were to be arrayed in stage scene,
a spectacle of glittering magnificence
would be presented beside which the
splendor OF Aladdin's cave would pale
TO insignifcance, says London Tit
bits"
There would be heavy gold plate,
solid silver heirloms and jewels sur
passing in beauty the headgear of
Maharajah.
For instance, who knows how much
plate and jewelry was sent over to
England just prior to the French
Revolution? That its value is untold
many people know. Some of the OWL
ers perished during the Commune
troubles; others died before they
were able to reveal the secret of their
hidden treasure. Consequently, there
are doubtless in France to-day many
people blissfully ignorant of the
Ntdllh htlt III W NhlNh lhty
are entitled. And ignorant they will
remain.
What becomes of all this wealth?
Also, what becomes of the hundreds
of unclaimed bank balances? 1t is
said of certain bank, famous for it's
architectural magnificence and sur
rounding beauty, that the whole struc-
ture was raised out of these unclaim-
ed balances and dividends.
Mr. Bottomley. NJ. p, is doing his
utmost to push through the House of
Commons a bill, the object of which
is to bring into the possession and
control of the state this dormant
wealth now lying in the vaults of our
great banking institutions. Mr.. Bot
tomley, who is unusually well in
formed, declares that the banks them.
selves could not know what was lying
in their vaults on which dividends
have not been claimed; that there is
over G1,000,000 to-day in the shape
of unpaid dividends in the possession
of the joint stock companies in this
country.
There is one joint stock bank in
the city of London which, until few
years ago, had as a customer an &c.
centric old lady who had e2S,O0C
standing to her credit. Once at least
every year she would drive up to the
bank, ask for the manager, and draw
cheque for the entire sum. Having
counted the notes and checked the in.
terest, she was well satisfied as to the
security of her money, and then disap
peared. For the last seven years the
bank has seen nothing of that old
lady. The e2S,O00 is lying in the joint
stock bank.
But what about the lady? Has she
any relatives? Are they aware of her
wealth, or is she, in fact, living?
1t might be comical in one aspect
but what about the dependents of that
poor old lady? Again, wealthy man
was in the habit of having all his
money on deposit in various banks. A
few years age he was in a railway
accident and was killed At this mo-
ment, though he was known to have
been a wealthy man, his family are
living in absolute want, and almost
penury because they are utterly un
able to ascertain where his money is
at present lodged. Inquiries have been
made, but the banks always reply
that they give no information on such
subjects. A third case is that of al
officer who lost his life in the South
African war. Within a week of his
death he wrote saying that if anything
befell him he had 10000 in the bank
for the assistance of his family. That
family to-day cannot find out where
any portion of that money is.
Regarding jewelry and plate. one
well known West End bank alone has
admittedly two millions worth of Sc
curities waiting for lawful claimants
to come along and be put in possession
of them.