Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-28
GOING, GOING, GONE!
THE OLD COURT HOUSE SOLD AT
AUCTION.
1t Brings One Hundred Thousand and
Five Hundred Dollars-The Gossip
About the Sale.

At noon yesterday the old Los ADge-
les courthouse, situated on Spring, Main,
Court and Market streets, was sold at
public auction for the eminently salts
factory price OF $100,500. The gentle
man who bid this figure was Silas Hol-
man, formerly OF Anaheim. A large
crowd assembled in front of the court
house at the appointed hour. A great
many old time Angelefios were noticed
in the throng. After reading the reso-
luton, Auctioneer r. E. Blennerhasset
called for bids. The first bid was
$95, 900. 1t crept up gradually until Mr..
V. Biscailuz bid $4,000. The sale now
became interesting, and each succeed
ing bid was received with a
cheer. Slowly but surely the
amount moved up by the hundred until
"Chino' Phillips shouted out an even
100000. Silas Holman went him one
hundred better, and Mr.. Phillips cried
''enough." The court house was event
ualy Knocked down to Mr.. Holman for
$100,500. This amount was ten thous-
and in excess of what the majority
thought would be realized. The super
visors expected to get 500, 1000, and, OF
course, were agreeably surprised at the
figure realized.
1t was the general opinion that the
syndicate in which Caspar Cohn, III.
Newmark, Walter Maxwell, J. Mes
mer, Mark Jones, Chino Phillips, DR..
Nadeau and " A. Biscailuz were inter-
estGd would secure the court house
building. These gentlemen own valua-
BILE property in the immediate vicinity
of tho oc,,rt houca fThav ipton6ad ,,11r-
chasing the property and then present
ing it to the government for post
office. The aforementioned property
owners viewed with alarm the rapidity
with which the business interests
of the city were extending in a
southerly direction. At a meeting they
concluded that it would be expedient to
purchase the court house for a postotfice.
This would enhance their property in
the immediate vicinity more than the
price necessary to purchase the court
house. The syndicate failed to connect,
100000 dollars apparently being their
limit.
Soon after the sale it was learned that
Silas Holman represented John A. Bull
lard, capitalist from Boston. Mr.. Bull
lard, accompanied by George H. Bone
brake, called upon the supervisors, and
after settling some minor details, Mr..
Bullard handed Mr.. Perry, the chairman
of the board of supervisors, check on
the Los Angeles National bank for
500, 100, which was the necessary 20
per cent cash as required by the
terms of the sale. Mr.. Bonebrake
informed the HERALD representative
that MIR. Billiard was a millionaire
capitalist from Boston, and arrived here
a few months since. Mr.. Bullard was a
visitor here, however, last winter, when
he invested over one hundred thousand
dollars in Los Angeles and vicinity.
1t was reported on the street that the
purchase was made for the Southern
California railway, but the story is not
credited by those who are in a position
to know.
The HERALD representative was in
formed on good authority that Mr.. Bull
lard had given the syndicate ninety
day option on the building at figure
something like ten thousand dollars ad-
vance on the purchase price.
Mr.. Bonebrake did not know anything
about such an arrangement. when ques-
toned by the HERALD reporter.
The court house was built in 1859, by
the late John Temple. 1t was origin
ally market house. In July, 1871, it
became the property of Los Angeles
county at cost of $50 600.
The dimensions of the court house lot
are as follows: On Spring and Main
streets, IS feet; on Court street, ia !;
and 1856 on Market street.
For the benefit OF the readers OF the
HERALD who have never seen the cou rt
house, 1t might be stated that the build
ing, which is almost worthless, cut no
figure in the price paid.