Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-12-12
A MARVELLOUS NARRATIVE,

The ST. Louis Republican publishes an ac-
count of a trial involving a most marvellous
question of identity now progressing in court at
Malone, Franklin county, N. Y. The story
goes that Willis Payton, farmer forty years
of age,went south two years ago to peddle pat
ent spring bed, leaving a wife and several chill
areu, some ofwhom were we'll grown. At Terre
Eaute he spent some time, and after leaving
that place he lost all consciousness, but after
time realized that he was in hospital at
Evansville, Ind, recovering from smallpox
He was then bald, and when he resumed his
c.othiog every article appeared to have been
made for much smaller man. The pantaloons,
which he recognized as his. were at least six
iuches too short. He could not get auy trace of
his money, watch, model spring bed, or other
effects. When he was released from the hos
pltal he went to friend, who spurned him as
an impostor He looked 10 mirror and doubt
ed his own Identity. He first thought of sui
eide, and his text thought was OF home. The
latter prevailed. On the way he was taken i'll
again, and once more all the world was blank.
lie finally arrived at his own door after an alb
>eoce of two years. Willis Peyton' family be-
heved him dead. The Willis Peyton who had
left that threshold two years before had light
hair, nearly red, and very scanty beard, aud
was thin in flesh. The Willis Peyton who
now knocked at the; door was much taller,
rounder, aud had brown curly hair and
heavy beard He knocked and was invited into
the house Of the Widow Peytou," and took a
seat Looking at Mrs. Peyton he said II
suppose you don't know me, Addie ?" She
answered, mo, sir, do Dot; who are you p
The man burst into tears aud said: You'll
not believe me, know, wheo tell you but
its got to come some time, and might as we'll
now as not I'm Willis Peyton." Mrs. Pey-
ton shrauk from him. ordered him out of doors
and two of her Sons and hired man took him
to the nearest justice, who sent him to Jail as a
lunatic. He was first tried by commission of
lunacy, and was adjudged perfectly sane. lie
is DOW being tried before the surrogate on the
question of his pretepsions as the husband OF
Mrs. Peyton aud the owner of the Pcyton
property He has shown marks on his person,
related instances Of his private family history,
recalled circumstances 10 connection with old
associates, all tending to prove the truth OF his
claim. And the Widow Peyton" sits in the
court room, by turns looking at the claimant to
her bed and board, aud crying as witness after
witness avows his belief that the strange man
is Willis Peyton. She has told her friends that
if he really is Peyton he may have the farm,
stock, and everything, but herself Sometimes
during passages of the trial he impiores her to
look again aud see if she cannot recognize one
feature and acknowledge him as her husband,
but she refuses, and his earnest, appealing face
suddenly becomes clouded by despair. He
saws if the suit terminates in his favor he will
only ask living of the farm, and will never
intrude upon his wife and children, unless they
voluntarily recognize him.