THE HIDDEN JEWELS OF No. 952 PUTNAM (1924)
Brownstone Detectives investigates the history of our clients’ homes.
The story you are about to read was composed from research conducted in the course of one of those investigations.
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In 1922, $40K in gems hidden behind some bricks in a chimney, were almost lost to the ages when their owner was about to pass away. A week before she passed, though, she directed her favorite neice to the secret location of the hidden jewels.
A word to the wise when attempting to renovate your newly purchased old brownstone: “People used to hide valuables in their homes. So, look around the old joint before you invite a builder to start demolition!”
(From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Mon., 28 January 1924.)
Jewels worth $40,000, hidden in a niche in the kitchen wall of the residence of the late Mary A. Geis, at 952 Putnam avenue, and given by the deceased a week before her death to her favorite niece, Miss Minnie McDonald of 582 Woodword avenue, Queens, may be retained by the latter, despite efforts made to recover them by Joseph Geis, an executor of the will. Surrogate Wingate has handed down a decision in favor of Miss McDonald, the respondent.
A week before her aunt died, according to the dramatic story told on the stand by Miss McDonald, she sent for her and told her that she was dying.
“She directed me to go into the kitchen and remove certain bricks from the chimney wall. I did this and in a niche behind the bricks I found a small wooden box, which I took to the dining-room table. My aunt told me to open it.
“When I removed the lid I found a number of sparkling stones. My aunt said she knew her end was not far off and told me she wanted me to keep them for myself. A week later, February 16, 1922, she died.”
It was in March that Geils learned of the missing jewels and sought their recovery.
“From evidence submitted,” said Justice Wingate in his opinion, “it clearly appears that the jewelry described in this action was given the decedent in her lifetime to the respondent with the intention of conferring upon the latter complete dominion over such property.”
Forewarned is forearmed.” 🙂
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