Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-24
TREASURE HUNTED
AS POLICE GUARD
MAGRUDER SHACK
Cans and Queer Packages
Yield ST. 400 Hidden by
Spinster.
FIFTY CRISP $40 BILLS
FOUND WRAPPED IN RAG
House in Georgetown, With Relics
of Long Ago, Ransacked
by Court Order.

In crumbling, reputedly haunted"
shack on the heights of old Georgetown
there is being conducted one of the
strangest treasure hunts in the history
Of the Capital.
Encouraged by the discovery yester-
day afternoon of more than $500
Secreted in tin cans and nondescript
packages scattered about the tumble
down frame that was the home of Miss
Blanche Magruder, a bedridden spinster,
WorXmen under supervision of an attor-
ney and court officials delVed deeper
today into the cObWebby recasSes of the
mystery house" on Thirty-fifth street
1t was twentieth century search
Tor hloden wealth amid scenes that
breathed the romance of another day
day OF crinolin2S and daguerrotypes
and family portraits and what-nots
Glimpses of the glamour of these gooG
old days are still in evidence. despite
the decay and confusion which now
confronts the authorities.
Ordered by Court.
BY order of the court, upon reque,t
of Mrs. Marie Clark. a niece of Mis-
Magruder. and Mrs. r. L. Lamb. a dis
tant relative, the old home is being
ranSacked from rafters to subfiooring
in the expectation that more than the
approximately sl,400 already uncovered
may come to light. Miss Magruder now
is bed-ridden at the District poor farm
Yesterday afternoon A. K. Shipe. at
torney for the petitioners, kicked his
foot in the dark against an old coffee
can in back room on the first floor.
The can lay between two joists,
from which the flooring long ago
had rotted away, exposing the eartn
hPnPQth iyr
piece of garment, were so $40
bills. most of them of the series
of 1886. They looked as though new,
so we'll had they been preserved.
With the aid CT Mrs Clark and w.
B. Wright, who have bcen appointed
receivers in the case. the search was
continued and three other caches were
found. Approximately S140 in quar-
tiers, dimes and nickels was discovered
in another rusty coffee can, lying on
the floor in corner. An envelop in
traSh-filled bedroom contained some
bills, partly stuck together by the &C
ton OF water and decayed with age.
A tin bucket constituted a safety de.
post box for more old coins and bills
Because of the great piles of old
clothes. papers, magazines, boxes. pic
lures and broken furniture cluttering up
the interior of the little tWo-story struc-
in pursuing the search. Each box and
bundle must be carefully opened and
each closet and bureau and trunk
examined piece by piece. before the
quest is completed. 1t will take several
days to finish the job.
Police Guard Necessary.
The treasure hunt has attracted so
much attention in Georgetown that
policeman has been detailed from the
seventh precinct TO keep the curious
away. AS the discarded rubbish is
thrown aside a workman picks it I'D
and carts it away.
Some of the decrepit furniture in
the place is thought TO have value as
antiques. There is an old walnut buff
fet. chest of drawers. tables, chairs
and quaint grand piano-all sadly in
need of repair. A peculiar contraption
with wheels and wide belt was identi-
fed as a sewing machine. 1t bears the
date 1880" There are copies of local
and out-of-toWn newspapers and mag
azines of pre-war publication, old en-
cravings and variety of other articles
interesting to collectors.
Mr.. Shipe believes some of the old
coins and bills may be forth more than
their face value, because of their age,
in which event the findings of the
scarchers will take on added worth.
NO one knows just how much money
Miss Magruder hid, so there is nothing
to do but go on with the quest until
everything has been examined" Mr..
Shipe said today.