The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-12-25
Marvellous EarratIve-A NAN loses RIs
Identity.

The st. Louis Republican publishes an ac-
count of a trial involving most marvellous
question OF identity now progressing in
court at Malone, franklin county, New
York. The story goes that Willis Peyton,
farmer, forty years OF age, wentSouth two
years ago to peddlc a patent spring bed
leaving wife and several children, some OF
whom were well grown. AT TeIre Haute
he spent some time, and after leaving that
place he lost all consciousness, but after a
time realized that he was in q hospital at
Evansville, Indiana, recovering from small
pox. He was then bald, and when he re-
sumed his. clothing every article appeared to
have been made for much smaller man.
The pantaloons, which he recognized as his
were at least six inches too short He
could get no trace of his money, watch,
model spring bed, or other, effects. When
he was released from the hospital he went
to friend, who spurned him as an inn
poster he looked in mirror and doubted
his own identity. He first thought of sui
eide, and his next 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 absence of two years. Willis
a
Willis Peyton who had left that threshold
two years before had light hair, nearly red,
and a very scanty beard, and was thin in
flesh. The Willis Peyton who now knocked
at the door was much taller, rounder, and
had brown curly hair and a heavy beard.
lie knocked and was invited into the
house of the Widow Peyton, " and took a
seat. Looking at Mrs. Peyton, he said: Il
suppose you don't know me, Adder She
answered: no, sir, I do not; who are
your The man burst into tears and said I:
you'll not believe me, know, when I tell
you; but it's got to come some time and
might as well now as not. / am Willis
Peyton.p Mrs. Fey lon shrank from him,
ordered him out Of doors and two of her
sons and hired man took him to the near
est justice, who sent him to jail as a lmatic.
He was first tried by a commission Of luna
cy, and was adjudged perfectly sane. He
is now being tried before the surrogate on
the question Of his pretensions as the hus-
band Of Mrs. Peyton and the owner Of the
Peyton properly. He has shown marks on
his person, related instances OF his private
family history, recalled circumstances in con
nection with old associates, al tending to
prove the truth Of his claim. And the
Widow Peytonp sits in the court room. by
turns looking at the claimant to her bed and
board, and crying, IS witness after witness
ayoNs his belief that the strange man IS
Willis Peyton. She has told her friends
that II he really IS Peyton he may have the
farm, stock and everything but herself
Sometimes during passages Of the trial Ee
lmplorcs her to look again and see II she
cannot recognize one feature and acknowl-
edge him as her husband. bat she refuses,
and bis earnest. appealing face suddenly be-
comes cloudcd by despair. lie says II the
suit terminates IN his iaTor he viii only ask
q living of the farm, ana VIII never intrude
upon his wife and children, unless they vol
unfairly recognize him.