Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-06-20

got chance TO come to America.
| Alexander Patterson, Ele husband OF
his mothers sister, was then living at
| South Braintree, where he had secured
employment in the Ames shovel works.
He sent William the money which brought
him to Boston. William secured employ
ment with the shovel company and be'
| came a welder. When the war broke oul
William Leggett. on April p. 1851, was
mustered in as private in company Z,
| 4th Massachusetts infantry, OF which
| Cephas G. Bumpus was captain. He wa;
the largest man in the company and every
! body knew him as Big BIZ Lcggett.' Ha
| served three months.
William corresponded with his brother
Tom until 1865, when his mother died,
Then Tom left Ireland and went 10 New
Zealand to find his brother Hugh. The
latter had been discharged from the SER
vice and after failing TO find any trace Of
him either in New Zealand or Australia.
Tom arrived in this country, finally
reaching Boston IN the spring Of 1870. He
learned at South, Braintree that AleXan-
decsoa Patterson hal died bur that his
nephew William Patterson, still lived
there. Tom found great many people
who knew his brother and VINO had seen
him from time TO time since his enlist
ment. At that time. however, they smp-
Is knew him as a man Of means who cana
to South Braintree well dressed, wearing
a silk hat. gold watch and chain and who
entertained his friends literally. Tom was
told that he might find his brother in New
York.
After staying with Mr.. Patterson a few
weeks Tom went TO New York. The mama
of his brother William was not I'm the d.
rectory-and just here II might be stated
that the gambler never allowed it to get
into that useful book when he could keep
it out In fact. during the thirty years he
WAS in the metropolis his name only APP
pears in two numbers Of the directory.
Thomas Leggett passed much Of his
time walking up and down Broadway,
viewing closely every big man he met.
Day after he walked up and down the
street. confident that a. some time he
would meet him. and he did. one day he
saw his brother coming toward him, and
the stories he had heard in Braintree
about his appearance were true TO the
letter.
Hello. Bill" said Tom. extending his
hand as the swell approached him.
The big man looked the other all over.
u don't know you" he said sharply.
Don't you know your brother Tom?"
asked the other.
4 frown came over Bills face and he
denied the relationship.
II was plain to Tom that his brother did
not want to recognize him, but he still
persisted and the gambler finally admit
ted his identity.
But" said he. never call me Leggett
again. 7 am not known by that name
here and / have reasons for not wanting
you to refer to IT,"
The ice broken. the brothers talked
about family affairs and finally found
their way to a clothing house. where Tom
donned new outfit at the expense Of
William. He was then taken 10 a hotel,
where Bill left him, saying he would call
again to see him at that place. but re-
fused to give his own address. They met
at this hotel q number of times. and one
day Bill suggested that his brother take
"a trip to ireland al his expense. When
Tom showed no disposition 10 accept tho
offer his brother tried to get him TO visit
Australia. Tom then saw that his broth
or did not care a great deal where he was
so long as he did not make his home in
New York. Ilg vas ways ai...',r--S-
leins identified and 10 Nns' quarrel be-
tween the brothers was on this account.
Tom had settled IN New York, got mar
rlod and started out in business as col
lector of old junck and rags. lie had mar
ried a widow with grown mp son, but
his brother was not aware OF the latter
fact when he called at the bouse one eye
ming. This young man was introduced 10
the gambler and Bill was very angry.
why did you not tell me that there
was a young brat like that around?" he
demanded. taking Tom into another room.
Don't you know he will point me out on.
the street the first time he secs me? You
should know better. You know tho pO-'
sltion you place me in
Bill left the house I'm q huff. and that
was the last his brother saw OF him. He
pushed his rag cart about the streets day.
after day. He heard once of BIZ
afterward. and that was when he read In
a paper Of April II, 1896 that Col BAN
chard. a wealthy man stopping at At
lantic city, had been robbed Of 500 by
his valet and that the police had dis,
covered a plot by which gang OF thieves
had intended robbing him OF much more
money, together with his iewelry.
The next Tom heard of his brother was
in February of this year, when he read
I'm the papers that Fanny Belkeiser had
peutioned the court as the widow OF VIII
lam l. Blanchard
FIGHTING THE WOMAN'S CLAIM
The public administrator and Messrs
Smythe and Robbins heard the story
through to the end. They were convinced
that Fanny had never been married 10
blanchard. although she offered 20 bring
forward witnesses 10 the marriage ceres
monv. Lawyer Smythe az once took %
the cause Of Tom the rag man
Tho lawyers great point was 10 estab'
l,sb the fact that COL Blanchard and Bill
I,eggctt were one and the same and up "a
tho time ne arrived in Boston he had moths
ing 10 substantiate this except the wore
of Thomas Leggett. Then capt Stevens
who was q lieutenant in the 4th AZ the time
Leggett enlisted. identified Col. Blan-
cb,rd's picture as Big Biu Leggett"
recognizing IN a moment the features ot
the man VINO Hdu gone It'd i'4' 4i'''1 "'t''
him over thirty years ago.
The case was tried n Sow York and at
tracted much attention. The colored wo'
man wore widows weeds and played he.
part well
When the court adjourned last Wednes-
nesday II looked as II the hearings in tho
case would continue indefinitely and Mr..
Smythe was somewhat discouraged. No"
IL happened that n mortgage for 800
was missing 1rom among Blancharda