STARVED AMID TREASURES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16212, 24 August 1923, Page 8

STARVED AMID TREASURES.

ECCENTRIC LONDON RECLUSE

EFFECTS SOLD FOR £12,000.

LONDON, Aug. 11.—An eccentric 7G-year-old recluse, named R. C. Jackson; who lived alone in a ten-roomed house in Camberwell, London, died of blood poisoning, in a nursing home, says the Daily Mail. lie had a credit of 5s at the bank, but the sale of his effects realised £12,000. His house was in a. shocking state of disorder. There was rubbish everywhere, but the doors were heaped with valuable books and pictures. Jewellery, vestments, a writing-table that once belonged to Carlyle, BCOO books, 400 pictures, a pair af genuine Queen Anne lustres (chandeliers), and valuable furniture, were sold. Jackson, who never spoke to bis neighbors, invariably wore long clerical robes dnd a skull cap. He bequeathed to the nation a pair of Rubens portraits, which he had refused to part with while lie lived, though evidence was given that ho often went hungry. When ho bought his house years ago he offered the agent a diamond ring in exchange, for the title deeds. It was not accepted, and ho told the agent to wait while lie raised the necessary money on the ring. ,