Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-02-26
ALAZY MAN'SFORTUNE
OLD JOHN BRBNNIN'S QUEER WILL IN
FAVOR OF HIS NEPHEW
William Murray Comes Into An Inheritance Of
$4,000 Because BE Never Worksd-A Hard
Worker Himself BE Leaves bis For
tune TO HIS Idlesi Nephew.

New MILFORD, Conn, February Is
When John W. Brennin died, few weeks
ago, he left behind him the sum Of $50,
0O0 All of this little fortune was gotten
together by the hardest kind OF toll and
the most rigid economy. The foundation
of it was delved cut of the coal mines OF
Pennsylvania, in which John worked for
years as a common laborer. Then, as his
little capital grew, he bTanched out into
speculatiODs in modest way, and they
were successful. He never married and
had no expensive habits, and his reward
was that in his old age he had some rela-
tives who took tender interest in his
death.
These relatives ell live in this place.
B,ennin's sister married here Mr.. John
Murray, and she has three daughters snd
two sons, the names of the sons being los
eph and William.
Joseph was always a model young man.
He tackled life as an errand boy in store,
and from that day TO this he has never let
90 his grip. Like his uncle, he had no
bad habits and his capacity for hard work
apparently knew no bOunds The result
Of this is that he now has q shoe store of
his own and is doing good business
William was everything that Joseph was
not. William was born with a capacity
for resting which even surpassed his
brothers. capacity for work. When by
some unfortunate combination OF circum-
STANCES he was cornered into day's work
he compensated himself by vacation OF at
laest Six months His father toied al
shOs mending in Joseph's store snd VII
liam lived at his fathers expense vii
liam, in a word, was not a village model,
yet everybody liked him. lie was bright
and good natured and au entertaining
talker He had no sympathy with prohl-
biiion principles.
Now, when Uncle Brennin died there wGs
q good deal Of excitement in the Murray
household. They were the only relatives
he had, and they naturally felt pretty sure
that some one OF all OF them were in for n
good thing-that is, it was felt that they
all had a chance Of inheriting something,
with the single exception oi william.
Uncle Brennin had been hard worker
would manifest testamentary sympathy fer
anybody who WAS born fatigued. SO
William was put entirely ont Of the calcu-
lations, and this left jast 80 much the
more for the lucky ore or ones on whom
Uncle Brennin had looked with the eye ot
favor. Josepa's chances we're Thought TO be
particularly good.
At last the exciting moment came and
the will was opened. II was a short docu-
ment, but rs straight TO the point and ag
lucid ss it was short, ard the amszsment
it brought TO the house Of Murray is be
yond all words to express. In the most
business like matter OF fact way IL sp-
pointed Peter Moran, James Moore and
Royal Allen a COMMITTEES OF three This
committee was TO make careful exami.a-
tion Of the life records of the two nephews,
Joseph and William Murray, and ascertain
by careful computation which Of the two
had performed the iewest days work since
he came into the world. To the one whom
this investigation demonstrated as having
so worked the least Uncle Brennin left ab-
eolutely without reserve or condition all his
earthly goods.
When the Murrsys had heard this start.
ling document read ana lts luil import nau
sunk into their souls, they all as with one
breath, gasped ont:
"William n'
Not the shadow Of doubt about a..
Had the will distinctly specified William
Marray by name it could not more clearly
have indicated him. That one Of my
nephews who shall prove TO have done the
lewest days work in his life" If that
did not mean William it meant nobody.
His father, mother, brother and sisters
conceded it unanimously and without
moments hesitation. Had the will read,
"That one OF all of the grown up nephews
in the State OF Connecticut who has done
the fewest days work in his LIFETIME u the
entire family would have produced VIII
liam and backed him al heavy odds against
the entire Commonwealth.
The work of the committee was nero
formality. William Murray was declared
the lawful heir under the will OF John w
Brennin deceased, and to him was turned
over the $50 600, which represents the re-
suit Of his late uncles laboriOus and feli-
denying life.