The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-15
FATHER o'BRIEN's ESTATE.
Prof. NJ. a. O'Brien a Sharer in Its
settlement.

Prof. M. A. O'Brien, principal of the Ca
thedral school, is one of the heirs to the
estate of the late Rev. r. j. O'Brien of
Augusta. Father OBrien died in 1894. He
left an estate valued between 3d.
600 and $4,000. He was a warm personal
friend CT Prof O'Brien to whom, however,
he was in no wise related except in name.
There was a frequent correspondence be-
tween them and Father O'Brien in his let
ter stated his intention of leaving to his
friend the bulk, if not ALL of his property
upon his death. When Father O'Brien died
his relatives put in claims for his estate
and it was not settled until the present
term of the ordinary's court in Richmond
county. BY the settlement Prof. O'Brien
receives part of the estate.
When Father O'Brien died it was not
known to whom his estate would so, but
claimants soon appeared The two elder
sisters, who had helped support him at
who had helped him, as also the descend
ants of another sister appeared on the one
side. On the other Prof. O'Brien appeared
with letters written him by Father o Brien
in which, in recognition of their long and
close friendship the writer indicated an
intention that the professor should nave
the bulk, If not ALL of his property: Upon
legal investigation OF these connecting
claims, 1T appeared that the sisters ana
nephews and nieces were Enthusiastically
the relatives they claimed to be, and 1t
further appeared that up to his death IA
ther OBrien had been in correspondence
with them. It also appeared that there
were later letters to Prof. o. Brien which
showed different intentions as to the
property, though it was still clear that
Father O'Brien intended to handsomely
remember his old friend. Finally all par
ties interested came to an amtcable UNI
derstanding by which Prof. OBrien receiv-
ed a substantial amount, and the residue
was distributed among the heirs, the Two
sisters, now aged and needy, receiving am
pie to comfort and support their declln-
ing years so that the estate was tnally
distributed on terms OF FAIRNESS, equity
and justice.
Father OlBrien was well known in Sa-
vannah The Augusta Chronicle in re-
porting the settlement of his estate, re-
calls that in the apartments OF the ae-
ceased clergyman was found a large sum
of money as also a bank book for still
another and even greater amount. Inc en-
tire estate amounted, at that tlme,t some
$1,000 and by the prudent investments
and careful management, it was consid-
erably increased. Much curiosity was felt
at the time that a Catholic priest should
have left such large amount, II pens
well known that these sell ,sacrlncin8
clergy receive exceedingly small salaries,
but in the course of the settlement OF the
estate the mystery was solved;
1t appears that in early life tather
O'Brien worked at the trade Of carpenter,
but desiring to receive a collegiate edu-
cation, persuaded two elueF SISTER, WHO
still survive, and an elder brother, VINO
died many years since, to send MIN TO
Catholic seminary. This these good peo-
Die cheerfuiiy did, and supported and edu-
Gated him until his studies were perfected;
He then went out to the far west ana
there taught school for several years
prior to the war. At this time land IN
that section was very cheap and out of
his slender savings Father O'Brien
bought a considerable tract for a small
sum. In course of time the value rose
enormously and a number of years be-
fore his death he was offered and accept
ed thousands of dollars for what had
cost him but pittance. This sum, aP-
pears to have been put in a savings bank
and allowed TO Accumulate at compound
interest tf
In addition to the proceeds of the land
he received some time thereafter several
thousand dollars more as his sdistributive
snare of the estate of Well-to-do klns-
man who died in New England. This leg
acy was also kept intact and the two
sums make up the large amount found at
the owners death.
Even out of his salary Father OBrien
seems to have laid by something. Upon
himself he spent nothing except for abb
solute necessities, but his papers show
that in the way of charity and contribu-
tions to religious and patriotic purposes
he was generous and liberal