The sun., 1873-12-08
A MARVELLOUS NARRATIVE
MAN VINO HLNOST DOUBTs LIs
OWN TDENTfTY.



and Acquaintamces A strange Case.
F,oo, the 81. Eotfs Rtiu6usdn.
There il a trial involving Il most mar
vellous question Of identity now progressing In
court at Malone, franklin county, N. y. II the
ton Of Judges, lawyers and many witnesses
some of the developments would he incredlhle,
shd sva s,t m d2Wa as Sr1mItesdI fscs
Two years ago Wills Peyton. farmer 9t
FRANKLIN county, New York;, left home with
tho usual baggage Of n traveller and patent
right model of spring bed and several letters
of Introduction to parties South. His business
had wife and several children, some OF whom
Merc well grown He wrote 20 his family from
Tcrre Haute th1t he was feeling i'll, but would
push on to Evansville, where he had a friend.
David Weaver. with whom he Intended TO snehd
hc Nd s'ro,G gong ing "rthtr IaI FER wnrld an1
T. himself, and a new man seemed tn grow IN
his place, stlll clingina TO Willis reyton's mein-
orv and some marks which were on Willis Pey-
ton' body. lie has gwen his story under oah'
and it Is ureny this
rms rERRlHrE CHANGE.
After leaving Terro Haute he lost all con-
srousnCss, but somehow got into hospital at
Evansville where he first found himself recover
when he resumed his clothing every article
appeared to nave been made for u much smale
~ AN. The pantaloons, which he recognized as
his, were at least six inches too short. He
could get no trace Of his money, watch model
When he was released from the hospital he
went to his friend David Weaver, who spurned
him as an impostor. lie was, in fact. horrible
sight, and looked like the Wandering Jow, or
some other walking pestilenCe.
weayer's remarks about his friend willis Pey
tons personality caused him to examine him
self. aud he found he had grown eight inches
& Her In as many weeks. He would have denied
his owa identity If It had not been for his mind
and other evidences that had been familiar to
him from childhood. OF course he could not
continue his contemplated journey for he had
lost its objects and bearings. lie went 10 an
engine house and looked into mirror, aHd did
not even recognize his face. lie Grst thought
pf IiHf Vtfw a Vua ~ hssfFa
The latter prevailed. lie was utterly lost
and started 10 find himself. on the way he
world was a blank lie finally arrived at
his own door after absence Of two years.
NILS Peyions family believed HIN dead me me
years before had light hair, nearly red and
very. scinty beard and was thin in nesh. The
Willis Peyton who now knocked at the door was
much taller. rounder, and had brown curly hair,
and heavy beard; lie looked like gross lte
sequel is startling. lie knocked and was invited
into the house Of the "W idow Peyton," and
to2k seat Looking at Mrs, peyt9n he. said
answered, % No sir, / do not; who are your"
The man burst into tears and said "You'll not
believe me, | know, when | tell you; but IT'S
got to come some time. and might as well now
as not. I'm Willis Peyton."
MS wIFR sHRINKs FROM HIM.
Mrs: Peyton shrank from him, ordered him
out Of doors, and two of her sons aud hired
man took hun 10 the nearest Justice, who sent
him to Jail as a lunatic. He was fret tried 10y
commission Of lnnacy, and was adiudged per
feCtly sane lie Is now being tried before tn
Surrogate IN the question " his pretensions as
the husband Of Mrs. PeytOn aud the owner Of
the Peyton property. lie has told his story, the
main points OF which we have given has related
In court circumstances that occurred before tho
same Judge years before told the lawyers many
things that stranger, such as he seems to be.
could not know; related Willis Peytons family
history. giving some minute details which are
strictly correct aud generally known Ia the
neigh Uorhood. and even reminded Mrs. Peyton
Of words spoken durin. her Courisbp, which
larh and
herself II seems highly probable lac Will be arlo
10 establish his identity, incredible as 1t may
Inc principal evidence in his favor Is tina;
furnished by srNtr.L marks and scars on his per
son, and this i unimpcachahlc. Wills peyton,
when nd, received severe cut In the instep,
wh.c en- ler a bad scar The metamorphosed
/ Wills pcyton has the scar. lie had tattoo
/ mark ~ an American shield On his right arm.
/ 1he shield l. there. On his left arm an anchor.
/ Anchor there, but elongated. Peyton had also
a very carious scar ou one of his laEcrs, which
was dsiglred by crushing in cog wheel. \
critical examination Of this Anger hy the physi-
clan who dressed the fresh wound cOmpelIs the
c'ctor g. say mat IL is
4uL FINGER OF WILLIS PrYroN.
while this examination WIS wnttns, the
c.i.h' sand: Doctor, d" you rc,u.lr,i Low
NuI AMI mother were dreSsipg lt one daN And
GlVHl rrtUi.trt how ! came tu YOU one daS 10
know what would take the Inflammation our of
NV arm. wncrr Wrs tattuucd ly Jim iIyue. the
sailor. The Old doctor remembered well how
/ sore W MS fc}tut > arm We, ana the crcuu-
/ stance Of his fMutiug once from the dressing ~
I tuc sore nu-er Another evidence that the
claimant is the -lmOu-pure Willis ltStOu is that
/ hc singles out men, " no do not know him, GALE
7 ing them bv name ana reminding them Of IN
CItcnts II a former acquaintance that leave no
doubt IN their minds "a 10 his identity.
And the widow Peytun sits ia the court
room. by turns looking AZ the claimant to her
/ bed and board and CRYING a. witness after Wit
I ness avows his belief that the strange man is
Wills PeN ton. She has told her fri, nds that 4
] h cally is Peytuu he may have the farm, stock,
/ everything uut herself. sometimes during
.ges # the trial lac impores her To- luuk
and see II she cannot recognize one fea-
! t.. ana acknowledge him as her husband, bat
she ref 4scs, and his rncst, appealing face sud-
/ denly becomes ciouded hy despair. He says Il
, the suit terminates in his favor he will only ask
| u living OF the farm and will never inlruds
/ upon his wife and children unless thcy yOlun-
/ tarIly recognize him.