Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-27
TREASURE HUNTERS
UNCOVER $4,000 IN
MAGRUDERRUBB|SH
Searchers "Strike Gold" for
First Time, With Discov-
cry of $500 in Coins.
AG-STUFFED OLD BOX
REVEALS RICH TREASURE
New Find Brings Total of Money
Recovered to Between $500
and $4,000.

Participants in Georgetown's ofiicial
treasure hunt struck 1t rich today when
they uncovered approximately $1,000 In
gold, silver and currency hidden be-
meath rubbish in the abandoned home
Of Miss Blanche Magruder, venerable
spinstress, at 1904 Thirty-fifth street
The new find brings the total OF
money so far recovered from the
tumble-down old shack TO between
$500 and $4,000, it was estimated by
A. K. Shipe, attorney for relatives in
the case, who is assisting in the search
The searchers struck gold' for the
first time today, with the discovery OF
about $500 in $40 and 10 gold pieces. All
the other money has been In decayed
weather-Soaked bills of Civil War time
issue or silver coins of ancient date.
The gold, like the other sums, was
found in a strange hiding place. The
"prospectorS," ransacking rubbish
filled bedroom, came across an old box
stuffed with rags. The rags were re-
moved and beneath them lay the gold
pieces.
oCCEetcu AHCbthUG SAVAHBSs
Experience has shown the searchers
that the most worthless looking bundle,
box or can may be, literally. worth its
weight in gold or silver. Apparently
the aged woman. now In a helpless con-
dition at the District Home for the
Aged, spent most OF her time secreting
her lifetime savings In unheard-o1
places about the brick and-frame dwell
ing.
The search is being conducted by au-
thority Of the court. on petition of Mrs
Marie Clark, a niece of Miss Magruder
and Mrs. r. L. Lamb. a distant relative
Mrs. Clark and w. B. Wright, receivers
in the case, are supervising the quest
for the hidden hoard and will present
to the court a report on the amount OF
money recovered. The court will rule
as to the disposition of the funds. but
1t Is expected the money will be used
to care for its eccentric owner.
Attorney Shipe said today steps will
be taken by the relatives to obtain Miss
Magruder's transfer to a private home
or institution, providing her physical
condition permits of the change She
is said to be in a bedridden state al
the municipal home.
According to the attorney. Miss Ma
gfuder became an inmate of the poor
farm over the protests Of her relatives
whose offers Of aid to the supposedly
poverty-stricken old lady were bluntly
rejected by her. It is said that when
one relative brought basket of vegeta-
bles to Miss Magruder when she was liv-
ing on Thirty-fifth street she indignant
ly threw them out the window.
Miss Magruder also Is reputed to have
used a window for entrance and exit
on most occasions. leaving the sagging
front door securely locked. The second
story windows were opened by the
searchers with much difficulty, as the
shutters had rusted on their hinges
Old timers in the neighborhood declare
the shutters had not been opened "in
so years"
The house is believed to be nearly q
century old. 1t was condemned some
years ago by the Health Department
but its occupant refused to move.
Taking cognizance of reports that
Miss Magruder hid some of her money
in an old well in the maple-bowered,
-can-strewed backyard Of her home,
the Searchers, on completing examina-
ton of the house. will Scour the yard
in an effort to locate the well. A super
fetal inspection today failed to disclose
location Of the well.
"A dark ana muSty auto ana D damp
and foul-smelling basement remain to
be explored, probably today. The search
erS must exercise caution in their work,
because of the weakened condition OF
the floors and walls and the sagging
state of the plaster.
Activities Of the workmen under su-
pervision Of the of1icial easure-seekers
have attracted wide attention and a
police detail of the seventh precinct is
required to keep the place clear Of the
curious.