The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-14
LEVI NJ. BATES, OR BLISS.
A CHAPTER IN THE LIFE OF THE LATE
DRYGOODs MERCHANT

CHAPTER IN THE LIFE OF fhb IN
DRYGOODs MERCHANT
! Opened in q LAW .u,t over the SEQ, 900 Insur'
nnoe Policy that He Carried for the bene'
Mt or Mr.. Frances q. brigham OF Boston
Samuel II. Willard. an insurance broker o.
146 Broadway. had an action on trial before
| Justice NewburRer In the City Court yester-
day afternoon to recover $1,000. which he
says was promised him by MIRA France
G. Brigham as ten per cent commission
for efTectlng q compromise OF her claim
against the Fidelity and Casualty Company on
policy OF S20. 900 on the life Of Levi M. Bates
the dry goods merchant. taken out py MT
Bates for her benefit.
The claim was settled for $4,000. and she
says that the compromise was effected with
out Millard's Assistance and that she never
promised him any commission whatever.
Mr.. Bates. who was prominent In local Re-
publican politics. was member OF tho firm Of
Batos. Reed & Cooley. Wholesale dry goods
merchants. When that firm dissolved on Dec.
81. 1885. each member retired with fortune
Mr.. Bates bought out the retail business Of
Conkling & Chivvis In the Booths Theat:.
building. sixth avenue and Twenty-third
street. and in less than three years was
bankrupt.
On the afternoon Of Oct. 10. 1891. he was
son George. When half way across they at
tenn pted to change seats. and Mr.. Bates fell
overheard and was drowned.
He was insured for $500 about S05.O0C
OF which was held by accident companies
The circumstances OF his death were so un.
usual that some OF the companies did not pay
the policies until suit was brought
1t was understood that his insurance was
chiefly in favor o! his children. William G..
Bates. George b. Bates, and Mary Bates. and
E ns sa " al at the the time ) 81 his death.
Mr. Bates MAS born in Kchmo9d VII ana II
tew s4.a itS was not Until iss3 when
Mrs. Brigham was 30 years old and Mr.. Bates
81 that they became well nsGaaHinted. t., s,
toga, where it is said Mrs. Brigham was pass
ing the summer and making a great impress
sion with her fine gowns and conspicuous
Mrs Brigham had been married ten years to
RSp She Vas
woman. vivacious. and something Of figure
at the sa5 re- T Rrgbsm brought suit for
as coerespondent., Bliss; it is said, was the
name under which Mr. Bates was known to
vi Fhe ot atte9nes ior NE Brigham was JShn NJ
Way and ths counsel Gen e Bufer
Ga RSa sn and sfo Bas s eThe hearings
before a referee. but nevertheless the case
each Il put . check for 800 In the hands Of a
s lie sS s ns hs
check. was given with the proviso that she
should not contest the suit. ,.
lam rec RECALLED his check The friend in whose
0iG
Who Pas an office a. 29 Broadway. and lives at
NV Whan M Rriaham Got his deorse OF divorce
it is said that Mr. Bates's $4,000 was paid
over to the woman. 1t Is also alleged that she
es H s six s T. ys 9fs ssf Mo
As subssaasntly, when Mr.; Bates los. his for
tune; Il L. said that he bo GG from nrs
her. handing over to her his personal note for
'n Two HS weeks before the accident which cos,
of III: Milsrd. sought to have the $4,000 poll
s Hs n ss9s; ss'se.ton for two policies.
for az Of ns ssadE Ssd sb ba
fes sy Mrs BRIGHAM and she Would not sur
On Oct; IL 1901. two days after the drown.
n myd r snssE sas Asrds efs Win ssi
that she wanted him to collect the
insurance. and that she would pay him ter, per
brigham denies this. and says that
she went to Willard because Mr.. Bates
had told her that he was q friend.
and that he would make the collection asI a
friendly service. Millard says that his ser
diverted INQUIRIES OF many sorts.
When the Fidelity and Casualty Company
refused to pay the amount OF the policy Mrs.
brigham brought suit. The case never came
to trial. the company settling for $4,000
through her lawyers
When MI Willard applied for his com mission
Mrs. Brigham denied teat she had ever made
an arrangement with him.
Mrs Brigham was on the witness stand yes
terday. but her cross examination had hardly
begun when court adjourned. Ex-Judge
Birdseye OF Birdseye, Cloyd & Bayliss will
poole Of 30 Broadway Is Mrs. BriGhams at
torney.