Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-10
TILE TRO RROGANA.
One Was Dead and the Other Alive
They GOT Mixed with a Strange
Result.

One Was Dead and the Other Alive
They GOT Mixed with a Strange
Result.
The Philadelphia Times on Tuesday
publishes long Article about one
Patrick Grogan," an engineer OF the
New CASTLE county almshouse, which Is
very interesting, though little mixed as
to the real facts. In this very readable
and highly imaginative article, "Grogan"
is represented to have been killed by an
explosion Of boiler in the almshouse
but further Developments show that
"Grogan" had dressed q substitute up in
his working clothes to work in his place
while he went on cunning expedition
to Virginia and it was the substitute and
not "Gropann who was killed. The
Sensational features arise when the real
"Grogan" returns in the flesh and finds
that his two Philadelphia nephews have
divided his $40, 900 estate. His is taken
for ghost, scares his friends, frightena
womer and children into Mysteries until
Superintendent Gutherie of the aims
house finally identifies him as "Grogan"
in the flesh.
Those are the alleged facts. Now for
the real facts. The man in question was
not Patrick "Grogan" but Patrick Brogan,
who did have charge of the boilers at the
almshouse. The real Patrick committed
suicide beside his boilers on the morning
of July 9Th last, by cutting his throat
with knife from ear to ear, and his
body now lies buried in pottef's field,
"desder'n door nail"
Superintendent Guthrie attests to that
fact and Coroner CANDLES books verify
these statements. There was no explo.
sion and DIR. Gillespie, who attended the
suicide, reached him five minutes before
death, which resulted from the loss of
blood. Patrick had been prosperous
businesg man in New Castle for many
years, where he kept the Delaware House
and atterward livery stable, but his
good nature made him the target for
crowd of ravenous friends, who plucked
him of his belongings, and the disconso-
late old man went to the almshouse.
where he had been quartered for several
years previous to his sad and tragic end.
An inquiry OF the Heald j. Companies
Office developed the fact that the Times
story contained good deal of truth,
only that they had things little mixed.
Mr.. e. II. Gsyley, of the firm OF Head
il Company said: 1--WE had in our hands
house valued at $1,500 which be-
longed to one Patrick Brogan. He
was frequently sent to the
almshouse and 80 one day, after Brogan
had failed to make his appearance for
some time, read In the local papers that
Pat Brogan had committed suicide. l
came to the conclusion that it was the
Pat Bzogsn with whom We had business
and when he did not turn up for some
time, wss confirmed in my opinion. A
short time after his supposed death firm
Of Indiana lawyers, representing Brogan's
deceased sisters children, wrote asking
about the property and shortly after that
Lawyer Il. M. DAILY of Philadelphia,
representing Brogan's brother, also laid
claim to the estate. The heirs requested
that the property be sold and the money
turned over to them but some delay was
necessary because the matter had to pass
through the hands Of the court. About
six weeks after Brogan's supposed death,
was surprised one evening by seeing
the man walk in the front door. 1t was
diaagreeable day and was raining hard.
I told him that he was deaf and had no
business to be alive, but socn identified
him from scar on his wrist, which was
fresh wound on the occasion Of his pre-.
vious visit. He asked for $40. He said
that he had gone on q spree and had
been sent to the almahouse or Jail and
after getting out of there had gone to
Baltimore where he had since eked out 6
living working about the wharves. tol6
him that his property had narrowly es
capped being distributed among his heirs
and asked him where he could be found
wnen wanted. He said that he would
return in week, which he did, and go
SIS more, and that ia the last that have
seen of him. That NS'a about three " selIi
or o month aRo.