LOCKED HOUSE SECRETS

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 229, 30 October 1930, Page 12

LOCKED HOUSE SECRETS

WOMAN'S STRANGE HOARD, THIRTY YEARS AS REOLUSE. After the life of a recluse for upwards of 30 years, Miss Mary Ann Potts, aged 68, Was l'ound dead in August in a sitting positioii 011 her bed at Chestemle-Street, Englalid. AVihen the poliee forced an entrance tliey found every door, and even the piano and drawers, securely loclted. A doctor who was summoned expressed the opinion fihat the womau had heen dead for about tliree weeks. Miss Potts, who liad independent means, hitterly resentcd interference from anyone. As recently as July 8, owing to lieighbours not liaving seen her for a cousidel-able time, the police, accompanied by a district nurse, broke into the place. They were met 011 the landing by fihe old lady who cliallenged their right to enter her home. No food was found in tlie liouse, alid Miss Potts explained that slie eould get 110 money until slie colijd get to tlie haulc. Food was then offered her, and the district nurse remnined and made her a eup of tea ; but though they beciime friendly hefore tlie nurse left, Miss Potts would never adlnit her to the liouse aftenvard, I11 their searcli of the premisos, the police discoveved lnmdreds of lialf-pen-nies in paper packages, as Well as hoards of threepenny-pieces and six-penny-pieces. a large numher of old deeds and doeuments, a quantitv of plate and cutlery, and bnndles of old newspapers dnting back to tlie Boer War. Tn addition, there were large stores of nnused linen towels and carpets, all wrapped np carefully and pnt away. and dresses. whiclt apparenUy had never heen worn in ihe fashion of 50 years ago. Durjng tlie wltole of the time that l\tiss Potts had resided at Chester-Ie-Street the neighbours can never rememher seeing the blinds raised. A ritmour gained eurrencv in the distriet that the liouse eontained a room wlierein was laid a wedding breakfast set for Miss Potts' mnrriage, wben she was jilted at the last moment 30 vears ago. "The storv was imt true." declared a neiglihour. "She set this rumour afloat herself on the Few occal sions that she talked to anyone. t