Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-09-10
RICHARD JASPER.
A Search for His Hidden
Wealth.
THE HABITS OF A MISER.
Did He Plant His Money Under
the Trees or Did He Give
1t Away ?
RICHARD JASPER.
THE HABITS OF A MISER.

On the 2Sth of July, 1887, Richard
Jasper died in the Sisters Hospital in
this city leaving no will, and his pro-
perty, consisting of number of mort.
cages, was placed in the hands of the
undertakers. During Jasper's lifetime
he had frequently mentioned brother
and sister residing in Birmingham,
England, and had said that when he died
he wished all his property to 60 to his
sister as he was at war with his brother.
Recently these heirs at law have made
an application through the courts for
the property which Jasper left, and the
question how much he left has become an
important matter. According to the Court
records the estate in martgages was
valued at about $S, 900, but it is believed
that Jasper was worth some $4,000 or
$25, 900 when he died, and the idea has
possessed the minds of his relatives and
others interested in the case, that at
some point in the vicinity of this city the
bulk of his fortune lies buried. A search
into Jasper's history shows that this sup
position has reasonable foundation for
all who ever knew Jasper say that he
the ideal life OF the miser of tradition.
So far as possible his history and habits
have been traced back through period
Of several years in the hope that some
clue might be found whereby the money
he had might be located.
THE STORY
OF his movements during these years is
as follows: Prior TO 1874 or rs Jasper
lived in Solano county, and when he left
there for Los Angeles he sold his land,
100 acres, for considerable amount,
just how much has not been ascertained.
People who knew him in that part of the
country state that he was eccentric and
never talked of his business affairs.
When he changed his place of residence
he did not change his habits, for he was
regarded by everyone as a miser, and
some are certain that he distrusted banks
to such an extent that he never deposit
ed his money with them, preferring to
bury it in the earth.
it was probably in 1875 that be walked
into real estate agents office
in this city and asked him if
he had any good land for sale.
The agent replied that he had and took
him to look at the land, situated at the
foot OF South Main street, about six
miles from the heart of the city. Jasper
purchased thirty or thirty-five acres of
this tract paying $65 per acre for some,
$50 and $45 for the rest, according to
situation. To the agents surprise, after
concluding the bargain, Jasper paid cash
down for the land. He pulled the money
out of his pocket carelessly and the agent
could not say how much more he had.
Jasper resold this land for several times
the amount which he paid for it, but he
resided on it until 1884 or 1885. During
his residence on his ranch he boarded
with Mrs. Waldron, who lived opposite,
and slept in his barn with his
horses. Mrs. Waldron thought him
the most peculiar man she
ever saw. He made several trips to
Solano county to collect payments due
on the land he had sold there. Jasper
never left his ranch to get money, and
on one occasion Mrs., Waldron wanted
Jasper OF her predicament. He told her
not to mind that, he would get the money
for her. He went over to his ranch and
returned in few minutes with the
money. Another neighbor thought JAS
per a peculiar man. He knew that JAS
per had foreclosed mortgage on ranch
at Downey, and after living there for a
while that he had returned to his Main
street ranch. His impression was that
Jasper was worth considerable sum of
money, and that he always kept it
buried.
A Deputy County Clerk knew Jasper
at this time, and his sister-in.law was
about the only woman he would do any
thing for. He had been known to hitch
up his horse and drive her into town
with her eggs for the market. AS a
general rule Jasper was
AFRAID OF WOMEN,
And he had been known to have hidden
from them. On one occasion he crawled
under some bushes and was pulled out.
Another peculiarity he possessed was to
lock his stable door when strangers
appeared so as to prevent an interview.
In 1883 he loaned $4,000 to man named
Strump, but he did not take the money
from bank.
In 1884 or Is, as before stated, he dis
posed of his ranch and came into town.
He had sold his horses at private sale
and obtained permission from Mr.. John
G. Bell to sleep in little room in shed
in corrall, on Los Angeles street, for
the use of which he paid $4 per month.
While living here he always did his own
cooking, and his habits were none of the
cleanest. He lived in this room
about a year and employees
about the place noticed that he frequently
dug about the corrall, but they never
knew what he was digging for.
In the fall of 1885 he took lodging a.
Mrs. Olsen's lodging-house ON San Fer
nando street, and in 1886 he went tt
Europe. Shortly after his return he ap
peared to be sick, but he would ca
nothing but what he had cooked himself
Mrs. Olsen was of the opinion that b,
was too stingy to allow himself suf
ficiency of nourishment, and she fre
quently saw him eating dry bread WASHED
down by cup Of water. She though
he was most peculiar man. and h
seemed to have no faith in banks a
places of depositing money for safety
At one time he buried $3.50 in pile Q
loose dirt that had been thrown out of
hole, and showed Mr.. Olsen where b
had
BURIED CAN
Containing $40. Mr.. Olson, on fillin
the hole, found the can. and on openin
it found that there was $460 in the car
OF this $40 was taken for rent and tn
rest Mr.. Olsen returned to Jasper
While he was sick at Mrs Olson's lode