The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-10-06
BROOKLYN NEWS.
DID OLD BRAhN|GAN STARVE?
The Wealthy Miser Found Uncon-
scious in His Wretched Home.
Taken to st. Peters Hospital, Where
He Died Soon Afterwards.

Thomas Brannlgan, n wealthy recluse
| and miser, who was a very well-known
character to old Brooklynites living IN
the First and Fifth wlrds. and who vas
known to the children of that locality
as Lemons" Brannigan, died in St.
Peters Hospital in Brooklyn late last
night. To-day Coroner Kene ordered
County Physician Shepard to make an
autopsy on the body to determine the
cause of death.
Brannigan had frequently figured in
the newspapers. He was eighty-two years
old, but strong and active for his age.
He came to America from ireland when
very young and settled in the lower part
of New York. Then he moved over to
Brooklyn, and had lived in the vicinity
or his last residence for over sixty years
Brannigan peddled lemons until a few
years ago, when he retired to look after
his real estate. His wife died many
years ago. leaving one child, daugh-
ter She had lost her husband, and with
her two children went TO live with the
old man, as his housekeeper. in his
stuffy. apartments in the basement of
an old frame house at 1870 Pearl street.
The old man had invested his savings
mostly in tenement-house property. He
was very stingy and 1t is said that the
little family frequently for days at a
time had no other food than a loaf OF
stale bread. Sometimes the old man
refused even to buy that.
One night, about eighteen months ago.
Brannigan came home and scolded his
daughter for being extravaganza Angry
words were exchanged, and the old mai
ended the quarrel by ordering her to
leave the house. She begged him to
| allow, her to remain: she had been in
poor health and had no money to hire a
| room. but her father was obdurate.
The following morning he drove his only
the street, during a heavy storm:
Eeighbors took them in and sheltered
them until she could provide them with
home. 1t was said at the time that
the old man then owned property worth
SIS. 900
Mrs. Kate Kavanagh. his daughter.
who now lives at 4 Jackson's court,
said this morning that she had never
exchanged word with her father since
he turned her out. Only once did she
meet him, as he was coming out of a
store. Then she looked him in the face.
He returned the stare and passed on.
Several months after she had been
turned out OF the house Brannigan
came before the public as a victim of
man had a large sum of money in the
house, but they We're deceived. While
they We're searching his pockets the
old fellow suddenly awoke and grabbed
one of the intruders. Both men pounced
upon him with clubs and beat him on
the head. cutting several deep gashes
III HIS scalp ana rendering MIN unCOn-
scious. The burglars got away. rBan-
nisan was laid up in the hospital for
several months.
AS recently as Thursday night Bran
igan was seen going into his home, ap-
parently in good health He did not ap-
pear on the street yesterday, and the
neighbors began talking about his alb
sence. They thought he might be i'll
Nothing was done. however, until I
O'Clock last night, when the matter was
brought to the attention OF Sergt Col
gan, of the lower Fulton street sta
ton.
BY breaking a window, he effected an
entrance and found the old man lying
upon dirty, threadbare mat, close to
the front door. He was still alive but
unconscious. An ambulance was called
and the doctor, on making an eXamina-
ton, said Brannigan would probably
die very shortly. He was removed to
st. Peters Hospital, where he died
within an hour after being admitted.
Sergt. Colyan, recalling the burglary,
thought that the old man might have
been visited again. He examined all the
entrances carefully, but found them all
securely fastened. What caused the old
mans death only an autopsy will dis
close. The doctors think that he had an
attack OF heart trouble, but the neigh
bors express the belief that he was
starved to death.
AS Branigan left no other relatives.
his estate, unless he left will. will now
go to his daughter, whom he elected
from his home.