Hi Lester,  A couple of quick fill-in's to the "screw hole" discussion
thread:

1. Depending on the depth and diameter of the holes, I've found that
using a round wooden toothpick (or snapping one in half) works
exceptionally well.  Dip the tip into a little Elmer's glue (or wood
glue), insert it into the old screw hole and then tap the toothpick
firmly into the hole (with a small tack hammer), and snap it off flush
with the surface.

The toothpick can then be stained to match the surrounding wood.  For
larger screw holes the same can be done using multiple toothpicks.
The technique also works well to add new wood unto screw holes that
have been stripped (e.g., hinge screws in cabinets or doorjambs).

2. As the "screw holes" appear to be random and not in alignment with
any discernable attachment, I'm wondering if what you are encountering
is actually "wormwood"?  The beetle larvae that cause these holes have
been known lay dormant, or concealed, for long periods of time.

Per Wikipedia, "Signs of woodworm usually consist of holes in the
wooden item, with live infestations showing powder (faeces) around the
holes.  The size of the holes varies, but are typically 1 mm to 1.5 mm
in diameter for the most common household species."

Try blowing into some of the "screw holes" using the nozzle attachment
on a can of compressed air (like "Dust-Off").  If the air comes out of
another hole, perhaps with a small puff of saw dust, you'll know what
you're dealing with and why the previous owner covered the holes with
tape to prevent leakage in a suction or bellows air chamber.

Most sincerely,

Don Caine - Proprietor, The Music Box Repair Center Unlimited
Lomita, California
http://www.musicboxrepaircenter.com/