The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1868-05-09
.In Estate oT TSf5O,OOO Fraudulent
nv Held for Fifteen Years.

The Minneapolis (Minucsoia) Tribune relates
the following From the date before us, 1, ap-
pears tina, Mrs. George Holt and Mrs. J. W.
Brigham. Of this city, with brother residing
al ChicoFee Mass, are sole heirs 70 an estate Of
$3.50, 900, left By a brother who died y Detroit,
Michigan, twcniy-six yeais ago. jssasC. Brig
ham, the brother referred 10, son Sf b. Luther
brigham, Of Chcopcc, Mass. +sus5f-d 10 De,roi,
about the year iS3S, and embarked IN tie dry
goods business. Four years later he invented,
and procured patent on certain machinery Tor
generating gas and entered into q contract 10
light the city, but in experimenting, one evening,
an explosion occurred, and he was instantly
killed. At the time Of his death he was beirothed
TO the daughter Of Col. Brooks, wealthy gen
teman and At that iimc q Custom House officer.
Col. Brooks immi diately wrote 10 Brigham .
father informing him Of the death Of his son, and
that u he desired, he (Col. Brooks) would act as
administrator In settling up the estate, and for
ward him the proceeds taking care 10 state,
however, that the amsnnt would be trifing. lie
was accordingly made administrator, aud aftcr..a
little time had passed, wrote Mr.. Brigham that
bis 500 left nothing but gold watch, and cloth
ing, which the administrator thought should be
given him for his trouble. Knowing nothing OF
bis sons business affairs, Mr. Brigham accepted
the statement as true, gave the watch and cloth
ing and never realized rs much rs one penny
from the estate. Thus matters have rested for
twenty-six years, none Of the heirs for moment
dreaming OF fraud aud uufairness, until about
three months since, when Mrs. Holt and Mrs.
brigham received letter from the person who
acted as Judge Of Probate at the time the estate
was settled lie wroie merely 10 inquire their given
names, ''as thcy might be made parties 10 legal
proceedings in regard 10 property once belonging
toJ. O. brigham" Their suspicious were at
once aroused, aud without replying 10 the letter
friend was sent 10 Detroit 10 quietly search the
records, and obtain an abstract OF all property
standing In their brothers name. The investi-
cation revealed the fact that there 10 standing
upon the records In the name OF Jonas q. Brig
ham, one piece Of property in the heart Of the
city, now, worth $40, 900 nine lots, also In the
heart Of the city, worth $50, 900 eighty acres
OF land, u few miles out worth at least -, 900 !;
a store, house aud lot and three acres Of land,
In Newport and 100 acres Of land In Illinois
The total value OF the property is about 900.
Judge Jones, a. attorney for the heirs, has been
In Detroit for some days, asd has written them
corroboFating the above. Col. Brooks died ten
years since. The administration has never been
complesed, and the gallant Colonel and Judge Of
Probate have been collecting the rents, enjoying
. good thing. Since the death ofthe Colonel, the
iadge has had u al his own way, bis object In
visiting the heirs was, doubtless, 20 buy them Oh
for q mere song. When bic term cf Office expred
he violated the law by conveying the records In
this case 10 bis home, where they remained until
be was forced to give them up recently. Il seems
that Sven years after Brigham's death, an In
tividual came forward and presented what pur-
ported 10 be hond for deed 10 the property
now valued Al $40, 900, but the instrument lacked
seal and Witnesses and the court has perslslently
refused 10 Issue an order confirming the title.
The bond V believed 10 b. q forgery, and tho
property will undoubtedly be divided among the
three figh.fal heirs.