The morning call., 1892-02-24
A MISER'S HOARD.
Startling Discovery of Fred IL.
Eckert's Hidden Wealth.
Mustard-Tin Contains $1,000 and Bat.
tered Pepper-Box S400-Both Found
Under Heap Of Rubbish

For many years Frederick NJ EckerL was a
very prosperous builder ana contractor in this
city. He died In st. Luke's Hospital on Decem.
Der "a last from severe attack OF pneumonia,
being exactly 20 years Of age.
During the latter part OF his life he had retired
from business, and lived upon the Income OF his
little properties on Laguna, Post and Bush
streets. lie became very dirty aud slovenly IN
his habits, aud besides this lie took 10 the terri
bic habit OF solitary drinking. In the rear of one
OF his houses on the corner OF Laguna street and
Walnut avenue. which he let TO third parties, he
erected a wooden structure and rented out the
upper part as a fat turning the lower story into
Kind OF combination llViugroOm aud carpenter
shop Here the old man lived, slept and cooked
his own meals, very occasionally eating down
town AT some cheap restaurant. His habits we're
feY0llngIy hlthy, and h WAS mean 10 such
degree that he earned the uHenyiaDle sObTlquet
among the neighbOFs OF "Old Mtser FckeTt"
SIM. lie would buy as much as five gallons OF
whisky al time and consume II all by himself
IN his hithy little retreat, until lie became simply
paralyZed with The potent liquor. He occasion
ally visited The nelghborng corner grocery, and
VINE III his cups would boast OF the wealth
which lie had hidden and the tin boxes in which
IL was slowed away and concealed.
VERY MIsERLY.
He used to employ S. Capp, the Montgomery
street real estate man, to collect his rents, which
amounted TO some $50 per month. When a CALL
reporter interviewed this gentleman Yesterday
lie corrOborated the foregoing story in every
respect 81 knew poor ola Eckert for many
years" said be, "and have collected the rents OF
his properties for some ten years past. lie sold
his Post street property few months ago for
$1,000 cash, and being very misery 10 his habits
lie also saved considerable sum OF ready
money; but ! never knew whether lie placed IL
In tile bank or where he deposited his C SD, as
when sober lie an extremely m0rOSe and
reticent man On DecemUe! % one OF bis neigh
DOfs came down TO see me ana stated that Ecksrt
needed assistance. lie taken very sick,
aud The physician IN attendance had sent for
me, the tenants having informed him that l
was tckeits agent accordingly accompanied
the man 10 the residence OF the old miser. There
FOUND him, attifed IN his shirt only, seated IN
little cubhole which lie had made 10 hold the
st0ve which heated his den. He had evidently
attempted 10 move IN The middle OF the night,
fallen and stunned himself, and then cTaWled up
near the stove so as to get the warmth Of what
little tte was left therein The neghbOrs had
not heard him stirring al day on the 23d and
they found him ia the same plight as saw him.
where, TO all appearances, lie had been seated
for over tWenty-four hours.
TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.
"If you remember, there was a bitter cold spell
Just about that time, and the exposure with
scarcely any Covering must have killed the old
fellow, f0r although He moved him 10 ST. Luke's
Hospital IN semi unconscious slate, he never
rallied aud died at O'Clock on the morning OF
December n,
Before We took him to the hospital, and while
dressing him for the journey, we found more
than $3.50 Ia bis clothes. This amount l took
care OF, and upon learning Of his death, 5. G.
CarrutIets, one OF Eckerps friends and the son
Of his former partner. and myself searched bis
premises, which were IN a most filthy state, and
infested with yermin; indeed, I've often heard
ECkert say hat lie had lain IN bed and fed the
lats with pieces OF cracker, brought from some
saloon. After lot OF trouble we came across
bis will aud lis bank book with The San Fran
cisco Savings Union showing credit of upward
of $4,000. which was evidently the proceeds OF
The sale OF his Fosts1teet property. The book
and document were concealed under the marble
top OF au old bureau.
HIS REQUESTS.
"Uuon reading the Will | found that he had
left $1,000 10 tie Carruthers family, the re-
mainder OF his entire properly 10 his sister,
Elizabeth ECkeTt, who was very Old unmarried
woman living In Philadelphia, and had appointed
Carruthers and myself joint executors. In due
course applied for aud obtained grant of
letters OF administration Of the estate, an an.
urdIsemen, was made and the personality. cou-
sisling OF lot Of old furniture, lumber and
window frames made by the cid man In his
leisure moments, was valued at SO. We natur-
ally thought that when the grOCefYmau had
spoken OF Eckerps referring to his tin boxes
that he alluded 10 the receptaceS FOR his deeds
aud papers, buI these we found in his trunk. and
thuu4ht little more of the matter. Still, when l
sold the old lumber and furniture to a. {.
Hussey, the carpenter, of Washington street, l
determined 10 be on hand 10 give him delivery OF
the properly, as l lett that EekeTt, with his
mserly habits, might have left something con
cealed which we had failed to discover.
CANS OF GOLD.
"Last Saturday therefore. l went up to the
premises 10 deliver The goods over To HusSey.
There were 4 number OF neignbOrS present, and
my cO.eXeCutOr, Carruthers was also there.
While Hussry was taking down r lot Of rubbish
old umbrella frames and such ike refuSe-from
the TOD Of stack Of window frames piled up in
corner he found two tins covered with CRIME
aud mud, and laughiDgly handed them TO me,
saying; Here, Mi. Capp, these feel heavy;
perhaps IL is dynamite Owing to The crowd OF
outsiders present just slipped them into my
pocket, aud by and by seeing an opportunity. l
drew Carrulhers into IN adjoining clubhouse aud
opened one OF the tins, which was dsuSed
mustard box.
There TO our surprise we foud II damned full
OF twenty-dollaT pieces. Hastily cldpping on the
lid | said TO Carruthers, "WaI Till we gel down
TO the Office ana Wen count I, up" We then re-
turned to the scene Of the removal and watched
everything taken OUT, but without finding any
thing else OF consequence. Noticing a hole in
the floor told MI. HuSsey of our discovery, aud
as il was growing dusk we obtalIed candle and
tore up the flooring There we found eight or
ten pieces of sewer pipe aud an empty Tin box,
but nothing more
TWENTY DOLLAR PIECES.
ave were 50 excited that we could hardly re-
ffain from opening the boxes before we go down
TO my office on Montgomery street Restraining
our curiosity however, when fairly shut cut
from pTVing eyes, CaTTutHeTs ana opened the
mustard tin and count d out no less than fifty
$50 pieces. In the smaller diSuSed pepper box
we found S400 also In twenlies. We shall now
have to Gel a new appraiSement without delay"
did Eckert have any relatives In this city? 2"
asked the rep0fter.
mot one" was The reply, "anI, strange to
say, on writing 10 Philadelphia we learned that
his aged sister, TO whom the Old man left the
bulk OF bis property, died on December 90, so
of kin. Eckert has several relatives living in
PENNSYLVANIA, Missouri and Kansas, as | Judge
from number of letters found among his pa.
pess."
COURT NOTES.