The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-18
JOsEPH BRICK'S FORTUNE.
The Bight Years Fight Of his Brothers md
sister for share si L..

The fierce contest of eight years over
the will Of Joseph Brick Of Brooklyn, has all
ended by the decision Of the Court " Appeals
affirming the probate Of the will. MIR. Brick
died worth s1OO,O0O, which hc left exclusively to
his wife. lie began life in Philadelphia as a
brickmaker aud became Interested, with his
brother samuel, In gas works. lie obtained the
contract for lighting the streets of Buffalo. and
for building tho gas works there. In 1919, he
built tho brooklyn Gas Works, and was their
manager until lac died. lie was sent IA tour
Of inspection through Europe by the gas COM
pany, and there learned Of the use of clay in
stead Of iron rotorts. lie returned to America
with French workman, bought up some New
Jersey clay banks, and started a retort manufac-
tory in South Brooklyn, which is yet running.
He made money very fast, and his brothers and
sisters gathered about him to partako Of his pros
perity Samuel Brick was brickmaker. John was
a Texas gambler who had married relative OF
Gen. Longstreet. Edward was carpenter, and
Martha was the wife of Mr.. Winchester with
whom she refused to live, Mr.. Brick was more
or less the bencinctor Of all those relatives, but
their avarice and ingrni itu'ie offended him. until
he at length made up his mlnd To cut them on.
He did not like the spCndthrift disposition OF
Snmucls family. The girls he said, were only
nt to sit dressed ~ all dav in silk, ana ono soh
every morning went TO the gas works, whore he
was clerk, daintily dressed, wearing white Kid
gloves
Mr.. Brick was a hypochondrac Of the most
piful sort. He thought that his body was at
all times the seat of nearly all of the diseases.
In lTO he heard that his brothers had said that
he Cuuldn make a VIII because Of this afllic-
ton. and hc forthwith made one hcqucathing
cvcry dollar ot HIS money To his wife. In lst8
lac added To II an uuimpurtant codicil, Tho
next wear he went 10 the Hot Springs Ark for
h4 health and died Of cholera morbus.
Before the Kings County Surrogate testimony
enough to M over a Thousand pages was taken
on the question whether Joseph Brick was "
sound and dispo-ing mind nnd whether his wife
had not poisoned his mind against his relatives.
Much amusing testimony WAS given uu the sub
ie,t ~ the hypochondria and ecrcntlcitiez ~
the te-tatpr The sister testified That he had
taken over "A buShel of Brandrcth's pills taking
sometimes a dozen at a time that he said OF
every qunrk medicine advert scmcnt. THAT
four bottles 81 Cherry Pectoral in two months,
and that ho hnhituaily took Ayers Railways,
Indian Vegetable and Morrison pilli. Railways
Ready Relief. Swiynes potion. sarsaparilla, his
muf ironnssain'lida. buchu.snakc root, salcrian
rol 'NiCum, lio-trtter's hittprS and many more
piack medicines. NrS. Winchester used to
make pin money selling old bottles. She also
testified To- his aversion to little children, whom
lac called little hims" and little hers BE-
fore he had any children of his own he said.
Damn "a young one an inch high and day
old. and he wished that Congress would cm-
power him To lV all ihe children ON a railroad
track. or To drown them. When n child was
born To him no was ioolshly fond of 1t. and
when II died he was easily thrown into tear by
a reference to n. some 81 his other ecrentrici-
IF bis Lafayette avenue residence. to equip him
self with Kun. powder can. and shot pouch. and
walk about the parlor. thinking that he was
hunting. IL h said that the brothers ~ Mr..
lllrh have spent over elu,v1y In their frulllcss
attempt Co. break his will. The widow still lives
in LAFAYETTE aNeuIe