The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-05
FRESH GOSSIP
FROM GOTHAM
A Man Who Preferred Death to Pro-
motion.
OLD CHINESE VASES SEIZED
Henry NJ. FIasler and His Wife.
a Suit for Divorce, Fight
and Then a Recon
citation.
OLD CHINESE VASES SEIZED

NEW YORK, May oseph
Brecht was confronted with the QuestioA
OF death or promotion, and SO ne nuhs
himself yesterday morning at his home
No. Jos Montrose Avenue, Williamsburg.
He took his own life rather than be a
foreman in the big Havemeyer sugar
refinery.
Twelve dollars and fifty cents week
and no responsibility we're more to him
than higher wages with constant
thought and worry. The foreman had
left, and the superintendent found only
Brecht, with his sixteen years eXpe-
rience, the only one to whom he could
confide the Job Brecht took the news
with long face.
When he went back next day Brecht
told the superintendent that he would
like few days to think it over, and
then he was given another week 10 think
it over. On Wednesday he said he didn't
want the job, and was told he would be
discharged unless he accepted.
Brecht grew violent that night and
wanted to quarrel with everybody,
Finally he went to sleep on a lounge.
where Mrs. Brecht went at A. NJ. to
call him She found him hanging by
his neck from the transom between the
two rooms.
At the factory it was said Brecht was
one Of the most valuable workmen en-
ployed there. Everybody was glad at
his promotion except himself, and no one
could understand his reluctance to &C
cept.
WANT TAXES REPEALED.
Five representatives of the Association
Of Proprietary Manufacturers of the
United States, which closed its session IN
this city yesterday, left at once for Wash
ington to confer with the President ana
urge him to recommend to Congress the
necessity of repeating the war revenue
tax on medicinal commodities.
Two Chinese vases, said to be worth
$40, eco, were seized yesterday at the
French line pier for alleged evasion OF
the custom laws. The vases are superb
specimens of the work of ancient China
They are finished in gold leaf, and it
is claimed that they were made in the
year 1000 The importer said that he
thought the vases were exempt from
duty as antiquities, but the authorities
insisted that they are subject to duty
of 60 per cent. plus the usual penalty for
attempted evasion of the duty.
FIGHT REUNITED THEM.
In January. 1899. George M. Mccarthy,
president of the Jersey City Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,
stituted proceedings for separation on
the ground of Cruelty. On Sunday Mrs.
Mccarthy was with her mother and
lawyer George Robinson, when Mccarthy
and his brother called at the house.
There was a fight. in which pistols were
drawn, the result of which was that
husband and wife are reunited. The
husband was taken to the Jefferson
Market Police Court charged with as
sault and Mrs. Mccarthy entered a plea
in his behalf that he be released. The
magistrate paroled the prisoner long
enough for him to become reconciled to
his wife. aAsl
MIR. FLAGLER's REQUEST.
Henry NJ Flagler, the Standard Oil
magnate, has asked the court to relieve
him as committee Of the person and es-
tate of his wife. Mrs. Ida. A. Flagler.
who was adjudged last summer lunatic.
and incapable of taking care of herself
or managing her estate. Mr.. F'lagler
has taken up his permanent residence
in Florida and says that he has not
the opportunity to look after his wifes
business affairs. His request was sub
mitted yesterday 10 Judge Freedman, of
the Supreme Court, and Nathaniel
Myers was appointed referee to take testi-
mony with reference to the accounts in
the case. Mr.. Flagier wants DR.. c. F.
Mcdonald. a medical expert, who has
been his wife's medical attendant, ap-
pointed as committee of the person of
his wife, and Eugene M. Ashley appoint
ed committee Of her estate.
James Brown Potter refuses to either
affirm or deny the report that he has
begun suit against his wife for divorce
When a reporter called his secretary
said: ''NIr. Potter bess to be excused
from discussing the question in any way
Whatever 3 aa1s