The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-01-16

There is a trial involving q most
marvellous question of identity now
progressing in Court at Malone,
Franklin county, n. Y. If the case
were not in Court, and engaging the
attention Of Judges, lawyers, and
many witnesses, some of the develop
ments would he Incredible and set
down as groundless fabrication. We
give an outline of the reported facts /:
Two years ago Willis Peyton, a
farmer OF Franklin county, New
York, left home with the usual bag
gsge of q traveller, a patent right
model of q spring bed and several
letters of Introduction to parties
South. His business was to sell
rights. He wos 40 years of age and
had wife and several children, some
OF whom we're well grown. He wrote
to his family from Terre Haute that
he was feeling i'll, but would push on
to Evansville, where he had friend,
David Weaver, with whom he intend
ed to spend a few days before going
further South. Here the, old Willis
Peyton was lost to the world and to
himself, and a new man seemed to
grow in his place, still elinging to
Willis Pevton's memory and some
marks which we're on Willis Peyt.Sn's
body. He has given his story under
oath, and it is briefly this:
THE TERRIBLE CHANGE.
After leaving Terre Haute he lost
all consciousness, but somehow got
into hospital at Evansville, where
be found himself recovering from
small pox. He was then bsld, and
when he resumed his clothing every
article appeared to have been made
for a much smaller man. The pants-
looms, 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 his friend David
Weaver, who spurned him 80 an Im-
poster. He was, in fact, g horrible
sight, and looked like the Wandering
jew or some other walking pes.i-
lence.
Weaver's remarks about mis- friend
Willis PeytOn's personality caused
him to examine himself, and he found
he had grown eight inches taller in
as many weeks. He would haYe de-
MED his own identity /: it bad not
been for his mind and other evidences
that had been familiar TO him from
his childhood. OF course he could not
continue his contemplated journey for
he had lost its objects and bearings.
He went to an engine house and
looked INTO a mirror, and did not
even recognize his face He frs
thought of suicide, and his next
thought was of home the latter
preysiled. He was utterly lost anC
started to find himself. On the way
be was taken i'll again, and once mor'
all the world was a blank. He finally
arrived at his own door after an ab
sence of two years. Willis Peyton'
family believed him dead. The Wilt
Peyton who had left the threshold
two years before had light hair
nearly red, and very scanty bear
and was thin in flesh. The Will
II Peyton who now knocked at the doc
was much taller, rounder, and ha'
brown curly hair, and heavy besrd
He looked like a gross lie on tn
former, with no truth in him but tn
: sequel is startling. He knocked an
, was invited into the house OF tn
"Widow Peyton," and took q sea
Looking at Mrs. Peyton he said
81 suppose you don't know ms
: Addie 2" She answered, "No, sir,
|, do not; who ave your" The ma
Z burst into tears and said: "1ou'
r not believe me, know, when | te
q you bu: it's got to come some tim
ard might as well now as not. II
i Willis Peyton."
HIS WIPE sHRISK5 FROM HIN.
: Mrs. Peyton shrank from hir
ordered him out of doors, snd two
}, her sons and hired man took him
b the nesrest Justice, who sent him
Il isil as q lunatic. He was first triC
by q Commission OF Lunacy and W
70 sdiudped perfectly sane. He il nc
as eino tried before the Surrogate {