Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-29

II DOWN EAST lICHBORNE,-A case nearly
resembling the Iichborne claimant, being that
of a lost son returning to his parents house
and recognized and believed in as their true son,
while all the time an impoSter, occurred at Ban
gor, Maine, in 1S49 The claimant in this case
was young man twenty-four years of age
named Luther Hause, wild fellow, son of
Luther Hause, oil Troy, Maine, who had worked
at Bangor for two or three years as common
la6orer. Hemposed upon the family of James
Hause Ito whom neither he nor his father was
related) by claiming to be their long lost son,
and obtained from them money and clothing to
considerable amount, for which suit was f.
nally brought against him.
On the trial, James Hause ESQ.,, of Corinna,
Maine who was an intelligent man, justice of
the peace and respected by all who knew him
man of property, and strongly attached to his
children-testifed that he had a son by the
name OF James Rowland Hause, who left home
ABOUT three years since in company with O
neghbor of his, went 10 New Bedford, and there
shipped on whaling voyage in vessel by the
name of COpia. The first he Esquire Hause)
ever heard of the defendant was through neigh
bors of his, who told him few months before
that they had seen his missing son Rowland in
Bangor, and asked him if he was not
James Rowland Hause. He replied no,
he was Luther Hause. They insisted, how.
ever, that he must be Rowland, and urged him
to return to his fathers with them. This he
refused to do. A day or two later Mr.. Roberts,
r.,
was charged by him if he saw his son Rowland
to bring him home. MIR. Roberts found the
young man Luther brought him TO his own
house, and sent for Mr.. and Mrs. Hause On
their arrival Luther addressed the former as
father" and then turned TO Mrs. Hause, threw
ms arms about her neck and kissed her. saying,
How do you do, mother?" Mrs. H. did not at
first believe it was her son; his eyes aud hair
were different in color, and his complexion diff
tered still more widely. In speaking to Luther
she said, is it possible that this is my long-lost
son Rowland?" He answered, eyes, mother, it
is me-" Size then said to him, ''If YOU
are my son you have got scar on
your knee" He pulled up his pants and
showed scar on his knee. She then
said, "My son had a scar on his breast
that was burnt in Mr.. Andrews shop" He
pulled away his shirt bosom and showed a
scar on his breast. She then said: "My son
Rowland had scar on his neck, under his
left ear" He held up his head and showed a
scar in that place on his neck. She then said:
Zone of my sons toes Tapped over the other"
lie said: Zone OF mine is So" The young man
then went to the house of Mr. Hause, and Mrs.
Hause asked him to show her the room where
she used to sleep; he went up stairs to the room
where her son slept, and after some hesitation
threw himself upon the bed standing in
the room, and said: "This is my old
bed" Mr. Hause and his wife were then
fully satisfied that he was their son, and pro-
their house some five months, and the longer
he stayed the more they were satisfied that he
was their son.
A daughter of Mr. James Hause testified that
she Kept school at Brewer Opposite Bangor),
and that she did not at first know the defendant
when he called to see her. Doubling his iden-
tity, she said to him: "If you are my brother,
you have scar on the head, where hurt Won
when you were little boy" She then felt of
his head and found scar, and became satisfied
that he was her lost brother. She so testified
before the court.
Several of the neighbors of Mr.. Hause took
this young man to be Rowland Hause Young
men who had been schoolmates with Rowland
talked with Luther about past times, and be-
came convinced that he was Rowland Hause,
On the other hand, there were several doubt
full circumstances connected with the young
man which led the father and mother to feel
continual uncertainty about their putative
SON Aud one day there came over TO Corinna
Mr. Dow, who positively recognized the youth
as Luther Hause who belonged in Troy. Mr..
Thomas Gardiner also told Mr.. Hause that he
recognized the youth as Luther Hause, having
lived near his fathers seventeen years, and been
very familiar with him. Mr.. James Hause now
became so stirred up about the matter that he
determined to settle the question publicly, and
took out warrant against Luther for obtaining
goods under false pretenses. He was arrested.
and Mr.. Seth Hause OF Troy, being summoned
appeared at the trial, and there recognized the
prisoner as his son.
That was the end of the case. but the trial
created unexampled interest; over 400 persons
were present, and apparently the majority of
them were in favor of Luther, believing him TO
be the lOng-lost Rowland. But the Judge was
too close sighted not to give its due weight to
such positive evidence of nOn.dentty, and sus-
tanned the warrant. The sovereign mob, on the
adjournment of the court, hustled the prisoner
out of the way, and though he was alterward
tried aud found guilty Of procuring money un-
der false preences, it was shown that ESQUIRE
Hause and his wife, who had so credulously be.
lleved in his identity with their lost son CATER
ward found in California; were much to blame
for suffering themselves to be so easily hum
plugged. Cincinnati Commercial