The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-12-18
Marvellous Narrative.
A MAN LOSES HIS IDENTITY.

Rha. s.. Louis Republican. publishes an
account Of a trial involving a most marvel.
Gus question of identity now progressing in.
court at Malone, Franklin county, N. V
The story goes that Willis Peyton. afarmerx
forty years o. age. went South two years a.
60 to peddle patent spring bed, leaving o.
wife and several children, some Of whonss
were we'll grown At Terre Hauie he spent
some time, and after leaving that place he,
lost all consciousness, but after time re-,
allied that he was in hospital at Evans
vile. Ind. recovering from smallpox. He
was then bald, and when be resumed hia,
clothing every article appeared to have been
made for a smaller man. The pantaloons,
which he recognized as his, were at least six
inches 900 short He could get no trace Of
his money, watch, model spring bed or oths-
Ell effects. When he was released from the;
hospital he went to friend, who spurned hing
az an imgosser. III looked in mirror andf
doubted his own identity. He first thought
of suicide, uud hisnext thought was of homes-
The latter prevailed. On the way he was
taken i'll. again, and once more all the world
was blank. He finally arrived at his own
door after an absence of two years. Willis
Psyton's family believed him dead The
Willis Peyton who had left shat thresholds
two years before had light hair. nearly red,
and very scanty beard, and was thin in
flesh. The Willis Peyton who now knock
ed at the door was much taller, rounder, anh
had brown curly hair add heavy beard
He knocked and was invited into the houce
of the 'sWidow Peyton,'' and took seat.
Looking at Mrs Peyton, he said {: II sup7
pose you don't know NE, Addie?" She an
severed "No, sir, do not; who are you !''
The man burst into tears and said "You'li
mot believe me, know, when tell you;
'bIt it's got to coae sometime, and might a.
Twell pow as not | am. Willis Peytou."'-.
Mrs. Peyton shrank fsom him, ordered him,
out Of doors, and TWO Of her sors aud a
hired man took him to the nesrest justice.
who sent him to Jail as a unatic. He was,
first tried by commission Of lunacy, and.
was adjudged perfectly sane. He is now be-
ing tried before the surrogate on the CUES.
ton Of his pretensions as the husband Of
Mrs. Peyton and the owner Of the Peytonr
property. He has shown marks on his per-,
son. related instances Of his private family
history recalled circumstances in connections
with old associates, all tending to prove the
truth Of his claim. And the Widow Pey =
tom sits ID the court-roop. by turns look
inc at the claimant to bel bed aud board cry
Jog as witness after witness avows his belief
that the strange man is Willis Peyton. She
mas tcld her eriends that ifhe rsaly.is Pcytur
he may have the farm, stock, and and every
thing but herself, Sometimes during passa- 5
ges of the tIial he inplores her to look n 4,
gain and see if she cannot recognize one.
feature ana acknowledge him as her hus-y
/ band, but she refuses, and his earnest, APP
pealing face suddenly becomes elsuded b.,
despair. He says if the suit terminates i,s
his favor he will only ask a living off the
farm, and will never intrude upon his wiz
and children, unl.ss they voluntarily rec9g-,
nze Kim. 4