The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-10
TWO FORTUNATE WOMEN.
They May Recover Nearly 100000
From New York City.

NEW YORK, June "a judgment roll
United States Circuit Court but one more
legal barrier stands between nearly one
million dollars and the heirs and assigns
of William A. Brickill, who died years ago
in poverty while endeavoring to recover
from the city what the courts deciaeed
were his just dues.
For thirty years the legal representa-
tives of the city have fought the claim,
growing out of an invention which was
used by the fire department. and which,
could have been bought in 1870 for $50. 900.
Now to a judgment of 1851 070.10, which
includes interest. there must be added
more than 5000. 900, the cost of legal e1-
penses incurred by the city.
II the Circuit Court of Appeals now sus-
tains the lower tribunals two young
women. one typewriter and another a
village schoolteacher. WILL with two
brothers. be lifted into affluence. and 9TH
ers who came to their assistance will reap
a rich reward.
The young women are Anna and Lucy
Brickill and the brothers. George and
Henry, children of William A. Brickill. who
back in the sixties was member of the
fire department. He got up a device by
which steam could be kept up in fire en-
used. but the system was not satisfac
tory. and SO little steam could be main
tanned that the pressure Invariably fell
on the way to fire before the freshly
kindled fire was effective.
Brickill invented a feed water heater,
and in 1866 the city decided to use it, in
stalling it in every one of its thirty six
engines. Two years later Brickill re-
ceived a patent and then he asked the
"a hi fnv fha dn,-in nit
declined.
In 1879 Brickill resigned from the de-
partment and began suit. The first ques-
tion for the courts to decide was the validi-
ty of the patent, and 1t took them ten years
TO decide. the patent being upheld in a de-
cision arrived at in 1880.
Then master In chancery was appoint
ed 10 determine the amount the city should
pay, and 1t took nineteen years to arrive
at conclusion, for 1t was necessary to
show how much the city saved by using the
feed water heater instead of gas.
Brickill meantime died poor and broken
down from his long struggle In the courts
Gen. E. G. +. Howard, the master, made
report in April. 1899. He decided that the
saving to the city was 81 a day for each en-
CINE during the life of the patent. which
had meantime expired. The aggregate
amount was then placed at $3.50. 1874 this |
now increased by interest. fees, and costs. |
1t was now necessary to have the report I,
of the master confirmed by the court, and i
the city offered exceptions. Judge Cox |
oyerruled the exceptions in December last, |
and the filing Of the judgment roll is in ac-
cordance with his decision, and the case |
may now go to the Circuit Court. OF the |
parties to the suit Miss Anna Brickill has |
for ten years been employed as type |
writer in New York lawyers Office COM |
ing to the city daily from her home in |
Belleville, n. j.. where her sister. Miss |
Lucy, teaches school.
They ard their brothers have put all
their savings into the litigation, and they
will receive one-fourth of the amount of |
the judgment; one-fourth goes to Edward
Van Orden, and another fourth to James
+. Dunn, and an eighth. each to Peter
Kafer and Joseph VI. De Lacy. who have
assisted in meeting the expense of prose-
cutting the case.