Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 242, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1915 — HID WEALTH UNDER CARPET [ARTICLE]

HID WEALTH UNDER CARPET

Lodger In New York Rooming House Had Considerable Sum Put Apart From Prying Eyes. Three Lank books, showing a balance of $5,000, including accrued interest, were found and turned over to the public administrator of New York city by Mrs. Juliet O’Keefe of 679 East One Hundred and Seventy-ninth street, The Bronx. The books were found underneath a carpet in Mrs. O’Keefe’s home, and at the suggestion of her brother, who is a lawyer, Edward J. Kiely of 357 Fulton street, Jamaica, Mrs. O’Keefe transferred them to the administrator. The name in the books show that they belonged to Thomas Griffin, one of Mrs. O’Keefe’s boarders when she ran a large boarding house twelve years ago, at 129 East One Hundred and Fiftieth street. Griffin was a street car conductor and had come from Salem. On May 25, 1903, he was taken to Fordham hospital, seriously ill, and he died there after an operation. He did not reveal the presence of the bank books. Mrs. O’Keefe says he was always reticent with her and his fellow boarders regarding himself and his relatives. • “The day before he died I called at the hospital and asked him if he wished me to communicate with any relatives or friendß,” said Mrs. O’Keefe. “He replied he had none, and gave me no hint of the hidden bank books.” The bank books will be held for relatives of the dead man, if any may be found.