Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-11
RELATIVES HELP
GIRL IN SUIT FOR
z|EGLER FORTUNE
Tell How Daughter of Former
East Orange Woman Was
Promised Adoption.

NEW YORK. March 1.-two half
sisters of the late William Zieglef,
the baking powder manufacturer. and
DR.. Vincent j. Price, the chemist,
whose baking powder formula made
Mr. ziegler's fortune. have testified
IN behalf of Miss Florence Louise
Brandt, the Davenport, Ia, kinder
garten teacher. who is suing to get
half of the s15000000 estate which
went to her brother, William zieg-
Ter. jr.
The witnesses all said that Mr.
Ziegler had stated repeatedly that he
intended to make both Miss Brandt
and her brother his heirs, in spite of
the fact that his adoption of Miss
Brandt was annulled.
The testimony of the three wit
nesses has been received here from
Chicago, where it was taken by COM
mission under an order of the SUI
preme Court.
Zieglcr's Mother in California.
Mrs. Conrad Haney. of PIT Lincoln
avenue. East Orange is the mother
of William Ziegler. jr., and of Miss
Florence Louise Brandt. Mrs. Haney
was formerly the wife of George w.
Brandt. She was divorced by Brandt.
She later married Haney, with whom
she had eloped from Chicago while
still the wife of Brandt. Haney was
an editorial writer on the Newark
Evening News until a few months
ago Mr.. and Mrs. Haney are now in
California.
Patton & Patton, or 40 Wall street,
Miss Brandt's attorneys, who APP
peared before Commissioner Hugh
O'Neill in Chicago when the witnesses
We're examined there believe that the
testimony proves the contention that
William Ziegler repeatedly promised
to make Miss Brandt a joint heir with
her brother. William Conrad Brandt,
who changed his name to William
Ziegler, ir.. after he had been adopted.
Miss Brandts attorneys are also
satisfied that the testimony supports
their contention that Miss Brandt's
rights were not protested when she
consented to have her adoption by her
uncle abrogated.
Father Pleaded with Her.
The testimony shows that she con-
sented as the result of continued
pleading by her father, George w.
Brandt, who died on December II last,
less than two weeks before he was
to have appeared before Commissioners
O'Neill and testified in her behalf.
Miss Brandt's mother, Mrs. Anna
Huttig Brandt, who was divorced from
Mr.. Brandt shortly before the two
children were adopted by the baking
powder manufacturer, did not consent
to the abrogation of the adoption, and
this is one of the grounds on which
Miss Brandt claims that she is en-
titled to half the estate. which went
to her brother under the Ziegler VIII.
The testimony of the late William
Ziegler's two half-sisters, Emma {.
Brandt and Clara L. Brandt, brings
out many interesting sidelights on
the life of Mr.. Ziegler. The case is
expected to be reached for trial this
spring, but it may go over until ran.
Half-Sisters Give Testimony.
Emma C. Brandt testified that the
late william Ziegler's father was
Franz Ziegler, who died many years
ago. His widow then married VIII
lam Conrad Brandt, an Iowa farmer.
Mr.. Ziegler had one full sister, now
Mrs. H. K Shields, while the chll-
dren of his mother by her second
marriage were Emma G. and Clara
L. Brandt, daughters, and George w.
and Arthur C. Brandt, sons. Mr.. Zieg-
ler's mother died last May.
Miss Emma Brandt said that her
brother George had three children,
Florence. William Conrad and John
W. Brandt. the latter now eight years
old. who was born of his marriage in
1904. after he had divorced his first
WIFE, the mOInef Oh liie ShiANh Gil
adopted by William Ziegler.
The witness said that she visited
Mr.. Ziegler at his home at ga Fifth
avenue in 1896, and was sitting in his
library one night when he asked her
what she thought of his adopting his
brother Georges two children.
well. it would probably be better
for the children, but it would not be
we'll for their father" the witness
said she replied.
Wanted to Make Children Rich.
HE then gave his reason for want
ing to adopt Them continued MISS
Brandt. HE said that living in Chi
cago would keep up the memory oil
the separation of their parents and 1t
would follow them as they grew up,
while II they were in New York II
would die down and be forgotten.
Another reason was that he want
ed to get them away from her people.
If they remained in Chicago their
mothers people would probably steal
them, he said, and their father would
always have trouble keeping them.
Mr.. ziegler told me:
"'If / have them | am going to give
them the best advantages. | expect
to put them through the best schools,
and after they are through | mean
them to travel all over the world. l
am going to make them rich.