The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-01-30
Mistaken identity,

Inc Iichborne case drags its slow length
along, and, astonishing to say, it now seems
iikeiy that the evidence for the plaintiff, which
not long ago appeared literally oyerwhelm-
ing, Will be upset after all. BY that strange
law OF ASSOCIATION so frequently illustrated
ana SO hard to explain, several other cases of
disputed identity have arisen in England to
divide public attention and provoke contro-
Versy. BY far the oldest of these has turned
up at the little village of Kirk Langley, few
miles from Derby; and if anything more
mysterious ever occurred, either in or out Of
felton, we have not heard Of it.
Twenty years ago there lived at Kirk
Langley young fellow named Diligence
Kerry. He was of an ambitious temper. and
weaTied Of the monotony and limited scope
Of life in rural hamlet, resolved to seek his
fortune elsewhere. With the aid of friends
he procured an appointment in India. Just
before starting he married lovely girl of
the village. 1t was agreed she should not 90
out with him at once to India, but should
wait until he had prepared home there.
Kerry sailed and reached his destina-
ton. Before long he heard indirectly
that his wife had died of gastric fever.
Soon after friends in England wrote
to the same effect. The afflicted husband.
never doubling the truth of the story, re-
manned in India, and devoted himself to the
accumulation Of fortune. In the course of
years this was accomplished, and Kerry re-
turned home last summer q rich man. He
sought his native village and settled down in
"Starling Cottage" where he now resides.
Not long after his return he happened to be
seen one day by Il certain Mrs. Rucktuck, of
Liverpool. This lady promptly declared to
her friends that Kerry was the husband of a
ncighbor of hers, he having left the country
some years ago. Mrs. Rucktuck at once COM
municated with the deserted wife, and the
latter repaired with alacrity to Kirk Lang
ley. The moment she saw Kerry she iden-
titled him as her husband, and, despite
his protcstations, insisted on claiming
him as such. The strange dispute naturally
produced much CONSERVATION in the quiet
village, and proof was quickly sought on
both sides to make good the respective as
sertions. Pending this, q second woman,
one Mrs. Srass; suddenly appeared on the
scene and declared that Kerry had been mar
ricd to her and had deserted her. Our read
crs will, perhaps, like to know that the
whole story is vouched for by respectable
trans Atlantic journals, before being told the
sequel. That sequel, so far, is, that four
other women now came forward, each of
whom claimed Kerry as her own lawful
husband. 1t is hard to understand how
so many cretlitablc witnesses in the cur
rent suit should swear to their belief
in the identity Of the claimant with Sir Re.
Ger misunderstanding that is to say, that
he is nothing of the kind. But the case of
Kerry is even more remarkable. since each Of
the six women declares him to be a separate
and distinct individual. If it be cOnjecturcd
that IN explanation lies in the fact that Kerry
was IN unscrupulous biganist, and had really
married all these women, one after another,
the answer is that the hypothesis is already
dSproycd: for commission to India was
issued, atfidayits were taken there and sent
back to England, and it has been conclusively
established that at the times the women
swear the marriages took place in England
the alleged bridegroom was actually in LII
da.
Poor Diligence Kerry is therefore eXtrica-
ted from his dismal position, and his various
pursllcrs are left to fight the battle outamong
themselves. How far the attractions Of
.Starling C0tta.c' and the supposed atflll-
cnce of its master may have prompted this
extraordinary attack it is hard to say. Such
il motive might have actuated the first assa!l-
ant, or even the second, but that it should
have moved their followers on line
stretched almost to MacbetRs "crack of
doom" is incredible. Indeed, it is most
probable that all the women really believed
What they asserted, and that through some
unlucky chance, and possibly through a
general resemblance to type OF form
and feature prevalent in the neighborr-
hood, the whole party were deceived.
When so remarkable thing happens in
real life and coincidently with controversy
founded on similar uncertainties, it helps to
make ineligible what was before so puz-
Ting. We can understand, for example,
how many of t t witnesses for the claimant nan,
in the Tichborne case may be Thoroughly orc, ny
honest and yet absolutely mlstaNc:"!: "
course the e i s ,me diff renee between PROV
inc negative and an affirmative, and Dill
s:;e7ase Kerry aimed to do one thing, and the
pputative Sif Roger another; but the women
who claimed the former for their own were
Us confident as the strongest witnesses who
swear to the latter's identity.-Nea0 York
Times.