Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-14
ASTONISHING MASS OF WEALTH
REVEALED AFTER MANS
DEATH.
j. c. LoUNsRERRY, REcLusE,
KEPT WEALTH sEcRETED
Search of Effects After He Died Re-
veas Large Sums of Cash and Its
Equivalent - ST. Paul Authorities
Seeking Old Mans Reiatives-Made
Home in Cheap Boarding House.

Minneapolis, Jan. 14-Attired in the
threadbare suit he has worn for years
and with the old green handkerchief
around his neck that made him ia
mliar figure in Minneapolis financial
circles, j. c. Lounsberry. miser recluse
and man of mystery. but who likely
will prove to have been millionaire.
was found dead in bed in his little room
in a boarding house at Ga Summit
avenue. st. Paul
There is an element of mystery as
we'll as touch of pathos in his death.
The gas was burning low and gas was
escaping from small leak below the
burner. My. Lounsberry is supposed
10 have been dead since Saturday
night. as that vas the last seen of him.
How so small a quantity Of gas. not
even sufficient to attract the attention
of other roomers until today. could
have brought death is a puzzle to Z.
c. Jones, coroner of Ramsey county.
$4,000 Beside Him.
Within a few feet of the dead man.
who paid but few dollars week tor
his room. there was found about $780,.
600 in cash and negotiable paper. That
was startling enough to Fred Carpen-
ter, secretary to the coroner, but lie
was more astounded today when. look
ing over the mass of books and papers,
he found figures indicating that his
wealth may reach a million. The au
topsy began late this afternoon.
On the back of an old letter was
sub -, ~ lid o,,t-
culiar handwriting little note IN
which he said that he feared for his
life and that in future he felt he must
be very careful. Whether this meant
that he feared violence or that ne
thought he was about to be i'll tbe cor
onor can not decide.
II there was a crime. it is evident
that robbery was not the motive, as
proved by the cash and papers. There
was $500 in cash, six months call
note on the Cargill Elevator Company
for $l1 900, one on the Shevlin- Carpen-
ter Lumber Company and one on the
Van Dusen- Harrington Grain Company
of Minneapolis.
Well-known Figure.
At every one of these places Mr..
Lounsberry was Well known. He came
| with his money, sometimes many thou
sands of dollars, purchased the notes
and went away. When the heads of
these concerns say he was well known
to them they qualify their statements.
I'VE knew him, and yet we knew
nothing of him. said c. M Harring
ton. His clothes were old he always
wore low shoes and white wooden
stockings; the green handkerchief was
always about his neck. He never wore
ian overcoat He bought our notes with
cash and shuffled away.
The very day the note fell due
Lounsberry could be depended upon to
be at the foot Of the elevator shaft
waiting for me in the morning. He
took his interest and went his way
His appearance made him known to
many financiers and other business
men. He never talked except to ask TIC
purchase note and later when he re-
turned to ask for his interest"
No Relatives Found.
So far as the Ramsey county authori-
ties can learn. Lounsberry lived long
time in Minneapolis, but where, they dc
not know. They can find no relatives
in the twin cities, tho they have trace
of some in the east.
If Lounsberry was a mystery among
his business associates. he was ever
more so in his rooming house. Wher
he appeared at 81 Summit avenue las
September he met the landlady, Mrs
Anna B. Foulke, with fiat PROPOSE
ton He said he would pay so much {
week for his room providing no one bu
himself was allowed to cross th'
Threshold. At the first transgressior
of this rule he said he would leave. l
was rigidly adhered to until last nigh
when the door was broken down ant
the body found.