The sun., 1899-04-19
HE STILL DEALS IN JUNK.
LEGGkT1'> INHERIT iNCE or S5O.OJO
HES%'I IJENIJ ms HEID


by Litigation over the Estate of Gam
bier william T.. BInnchnrd-Negress
Claimed the Estate; Junkmnn Got II.
Thomas Lsggett n white. haired Junk dealer.
whose place OF business is a hole in the wall
that marks the building line OF the north side
OF Sixteenth street. east OF First avenue. came
Into possession yesterday OF an estate of $780,
600 left by his brother. who was known as
William l.. Blanchard. The Junk dealer had
fought his way TO his Inheritance through
more than two years litigation in the Surro-
gates Court. during which he had been forced
to prove the life history OF his brother and
himself. He had also sent to prison negress
who had declared that she was his brothers
widow.
Leggett was still buying junk Yesterday af-
ternoon and paused at the beginning OF HE
account OF his fight for fortune to pay a cent to
boy who had brought in couple OF old
whiskey bottles. The Junk dealer of Leg
gett's nsighborhood does not have to 90 from
house to house collecting the material OF his
trade. Notwithstanding his surroundings.
Leggett's confidence in human nature permit
ted him to hand the boy nickel:with word to
40 to fruit vender tending his cart across the
way and exchange the coin for cents The 10y
brought back four of.them.
Blanchard kept a gambling house In Forty
second street. not FAR from Broadway. aud
prospored there. dying. LegGett says. after n
prolonged debauch. at a sanitarum to which
his friends had sent him. The. brothers did
not agree. although sharing n common spiri.
of adventure. William obJecting strenuously
to uncouth evidences OF toll In the appearance
OF those with whom lie came in contact. and
Thomas preterring labor with whatever 1t en-
tailed to the requirements OF conventonalnea
.l,'t Ii, fl,
into condition to meet his brothers approval.
SO they saw little of.cach other. Yet William
was brought up to lie Il black smith and
Thomas's education turncd him out a compe-
tent penmar. Both were born in Ireland
William came to this country when IA years
old to live with an aunt and uncle at Brain
tree. Mass. where he served his apprentice
chip in a blacksmith's shop. and in 1861 he en-
lieted as three months man IN the war for
the Union. his name being enrolled at the
State House. one Of the links in the chain Of
evidence which enabled his brother to estab-
lish hi- right of inheritance was the state
House record. which was made too early for
William to care TO deny his name or his Irish
nativity. William got all the soldiers expc-
rence he wanted in three months. and did not
re-enlist. He had found way to live without
hard work and set about the business of find
other men than enlist themselves. He wan
dered about New Engand.and got up to Maine.
where he spent some time. lie met a young
man named Blanchard. whom ho liked well.
and it Is Thomas'S surpoSitiOn that he desired
to pass as Banchard's brother.
Thomas says that nothing that his brother
did caused him 10 change his name. Thomas
guesses that l.sEgett may not have been high
Thomas. arriving in New York from California
about twcnty-i!xe wears ago. met his brother
on the street. William at first denied his Iden,
lItf Dpl N le,lt trA n MI toll,
his brother not to cal him l.eggett but Blan-
chard William sounded Thomas as,to his
did little sounding on his own account and
decided that he had rather 90 his own way and
be boss Of his own finger nails han go with
his brother and be forced to see that his collar
was kpcCkIesS
Thomas had seen u little OF life and the
Zealand in lsi3. when there we're few mails
and not many immigrants In that part OF her
MaJesty's possessions The Superintendent,
as he says tho man occupying the position Of
Governor was there commonly called Mr.
Robinson. had been chum Of his father and
which happy coincidence impelled the super
intendent to send for Thomas on his arrival to
get the news Of home.
Il was a mail Dagger" the Superintendent
said
After he had recountcd the affairs Of home
the grateful Surerintendent told hlm that tie
Legislative Council. soon to meet was to ere
ate some new offices and that he. the Superip.
his word good. after Learning that Thomas ss was
II hsd , the test ihins Of my H.. II. unk.
draw my salary, The llrs{ day i carried iMe
less. But. after all. money was nothing 10 me.
in the way OF letting the "Niee alone and and so. 90
iuC to picncS. In d cOuDle Of wears ! cot the
gold fever and went to California. ! made
$lG.oQo i'll six months and started for Ireland;
intending 10 see things on the way. But |
home |
saw the elephant. aud the elephant SAW me.
and then woke up. had I? 90 10 work
ing his brother. Thomas l.esgett went his way.
which took him to various. countries of South
ally brought him back to. New York. where he
again met his brother. fer the last time. IN
lS$S in Sixth avenue. Thomas was in the
didn't relish the notion Of talking with him ON
the street; ! he brothers went Il their separate
s,'andlWiI!lam died without Thomas know
Two yeais AGO last February Thomas read
in local niewspGper; new Page @ ] Of which he hap,
that day to hear an application for letters OF
administraton on.the estate OF William J..
He went to the Surrogate's Office with tho
newsraperand. pointing the annnuncement.
said that his 6usnrrs ,5J was Gonnests4 WITH it,
the dead man. was the Gucstl put TO him
in, that easing tone OF snrerLor increiulity
BE easv. said Thomas. and when I've
finished with you I'll show you that I'm his
brother"
HE was ushsred before the Surrogate. Talk
through the twcntv-second. Finally they
brought out dozen photographs. and. cover
ing up all Of each Of them except the face. told
me to look carefully at them and see If my
brothers was among them.
i put my, finger on one Of the lot. There
lie is.' said and there he was.
A%GnE sNe o. HsS'Sns ASKED Of G at nr
brothers occupation?'
Indeed said Thomas. I've, said little
about it. beyond telling anv one who asked me
that he was n broker. But I'll cut il short
with you and tell you that he was II sporting
man. or n gambler II YOU will"
lie went with q Boston lawyer and the photo
gr&uh Of his brother to BraintIee and cstah.
lIshed his brothers identity there partly bv
means OF the state House records He was
confronted here by The neErSss. Fannie Bell
keiser. who, had been his brothers house
keeper and had. When no relatives appeared.
set herself up as his widow. She said that the
property was hers and that she proposed TO
get it.
William Blanchard had not utterly closed
his memory to thoughts OF Thomas LeEgett. It
appeared, after all, for the negro woman said
confidently that the claimant would have to
show a birthmark IL he made his claims good