Estate Sale Dresser Yields Hidden Treasures

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HOUSTON (CBSDFW.COM) -- An antique dresser sold at a Houston area estate sale turned out to be a bigger bargain than anyone thought.

Emil Knodell paid $100 for the wooden dresser. While loading the dresser, a sound "like a slot machine" was heard coming from the dresser.

Upon further inspection, an employee found a hidden compartment filled with gold jewelry, silver coins, a locket of hair, dog tags from World War II and even commemorative Civil War medals.

Knodell aked that the selling company, Premiere Estate Sales, locate the owner's family.

"The son of the estate remembers that dresser," says Premiere Estate Sales owner Jeffrey Allen. "When he was a little boy, it was in his grandparent's home up in Michigan."

A ceremony is planned for Thursday to return the valuables to the family, who is unsure what they are going to get.

"They haven't seen them yet. They're very intrigued and very excited," noted Allen.

Knodell will keep the dresser itself, but for his honesty, the company has refunded his initial $100 purchase price.

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