New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-26
DID HE COMMIT SUICIDE.
THE BODY OF L. L. BRIGHAM FOUND,
LETTERS IN HIS POCKETS THAT ESTABLISH HIS
IDENTITY.

LETTERS IN HIS POCKETS THAT ESTABLISH HIS
! IDENTITY.
The body Of man found at Gravesend Beach
| yesterday morning is believed to be that Of l.. L.
| Brigham, former paymasters clerk in the
United States Navy The body was found al
about q. m. by Stephen p. Green, sign painter
of 351 De Kalb-ave., Brooklyn. who had been
out fishing all night with his son, W. II. Green
| The body was that of a man about fifty years OF
age. 1t was neatly clad in dark clothing, and
in the pockets were numerous letters and cards.
most of which were addressed TO L. i. Brigham, OF
| bore his name. Two of the letters were from
persons connected with the Naty. One of them
| read:
U. S. s. Richmond, Newport, r. l., Oct. p, 1890.
| Paymaster Clerk L. L. Brigham, U. S. n.
You will proceed to your home in n. Y. City for the
purpose Of assisting in the statements OF the ac
counts of this ship December 1S. 1870 You VIII con-
sider yourself discharged from the Naval service.
JOHN HOY, Pay Inspector u s. N
| This order was approved by the Secretary Of the
| Navy January /, 1901. Another letter was head
| cd Minnesota" The writer, whose name was not
| egible offered to find Mr.. Brigham place on
| some warship about to 20 to sea. The letter was
| without date There was another letter regarding
| the manuscript of novel which the writer wanted
to SELL 1t was dated Crawford House, Boston,
| April o, 1891" The second page was missing and
the authors name does not appear.
There was also o receipt from G. Montague,
treasurer of the Union League Club, for $50, made
out to l.. l. Brigham, being his dues for member
shin in the Union League Club 1t was learned
that Mr.. Brigham has been member OF the CLUB
since 1882 He wore a fob and watch of old
Yankee make, from which the silver plating mad
been well worn; a pair of eyeglasses, bunch oil
IL tx.,,f lint mo-
The body is now at James StwelPs undertaking
rooms. Deputy Coroner J. ]. Dugan has charge of
the case and will hold the inquest tomorrow. Up
to late last night no one had gone to Gravesend
TO identify the body. There is no doubt. however,
in tho mind of the coroner that the body is that
of Brigham and that his death was suicide.
Brigham was not known in Gravesend or at
Coney Island, and, although inquiries were made,
no one could be found who had seen him IL
Gravesend or at any OF the Coney Island hotels.
II is the opinion of the Coney Island police that
the man committed suicide, and tnat be probably
iuInped overheard from some vessel or steamer In
the bay.
Mr. Brigham lived in handsome fiat at No.
515 Lexngton-ave., where he moved from NO.
204 West Forty.second-st toward the close OF last
month with his wife, who is tall, stately look
ing woman of pleasing address. The rooms were
sparsely furnished, and when the reporter went In
Mrs Brigham began to sob and was so excited
that she was unable to say anything for few
moments. She said that the only news she had
of her husbands death was the account which ap-
peared in the evening papers; but she had no
doubt, She said from the description which was
telegraphed to the Union League Club, of which
he had been o nonresident member that 1T was
his body which had been found. AFTER pro-
longed trip, In South America, Brigham, she sald,
k,,n In SANTA, ,har md
with his wife, went for another trip for The benent
of his health TO the West Indies which ne left
January 81, and arrived in this city on
March and registered at the Barrett House.
where be stayed for some weeks going from there
to boarding mouse in West Forty second-st;
"The last | saw OF my, husband. SAID Mrs.
II o'clock when he left me to keep an appoint
ment with James E. T0lfree payniaster OF the
United States ship Minnesota, who was awaiting
him at the Equitable Building, and VINO had
promised to give him $500 registered bond TO
help hun out OF his difficulties, for my husband,
she added, bursting into tears was hnanclaily
embarrassed, and to tell you the truth L myself
am at the present moment in wretched condition
for want of money, and unless some one OF MS
many friends helps me | dO not know Where
shall get the money TO bury him. 80
Have you any reason to suspect 1oul play
asked the reporter.
NO" said She not in the least. I am certain
that he must have committed suicide, for during
the last few weeks he was very gloomy and was
accustomed to say, Flore, really cannot stang
this any longer After he had been absent all
Wednesday reported the matter at poice Head;
quarters and put this personal in The Herald
to-day Brig, where have you disappeared? Ley
me hear Immediately or will send out general
alarm. Florence
II learned to-day that Mr. Ashman, of the
Sinclair House, who was his warm personal friend,
was visited by him on his way to see Mr.. lolir'e,
and that is the last time, so far as | know, that
he was seen alive"
WAS he a member of the Union League Club
when he died :?
oh no. said Mrs. Brigham, between her sobs,
nor for a long time before that. lie was suspended
many months ago, if | must tell you this, for nom
payment Of dues, fact which only lelrned from
him casually, for Mr.. Brigham man who
kent his business affairs to himself | know he
had an interest in a large tract Of Georgia pine
lands, from which he expected $4,000 as his
share but this money never came to him., ana
that crushing disappointment broke him all up
oh. che added, "he must have gone wrong III
the head surely; ! know lie did; know he did, for
he was the most loving husband that a woman
You did not quarrel with him, as, is
suggested in some. of the newspaper reports"
Quarrel with that good, kind man? Oh, no.
TOO we'll" Mrs. Brigham pressed her forehead,
and with look of anguish on her face arose,
and pacing up and down, turred suddenly, ana
caly: lie no doubt intensely jealous, which
is quite natural, / suppose, when You take into
account the disparity of our ages, but 1t was
the jealousy of love, deep, abiding love, and |
loved him with equally intense ardor and
devotion"
Then she became calmer, and added that her
husband had been suffering for years from gouty
rheumatism. An operation was performed on his
knee some time ago, and he was obliged la
consequence to 90 on crutcheS ever since.
Mrs Julia Maddox a widowed sister Of
Mrs Brigham said that the pair were really living
with her, as she had rented the flat and they
were unable to pay her any money. Mrs. Brigham.
she said was the dead mans third vile. Her
maiden name was Florence Basshof, and she was
married to Brigham two years ago last
December by justice Of the peace named How
ard in Camden. n. j.. Mr.. Brigham was native
of Boston. Mass, where he had brother James
engaged in the book publishing business in Dor
chester-ave., who on receipt Of the intelligence
of the DEATH is expected 10 come to the city and
take charge of the funeral.