The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-04-09
An Old Identity Case.


revoked. There were sons and daugh-
ters, nearly all of whom died. Com
PEELED to leave the country, their prop
erty given over to near relations, the
family established themselves at Lau-
same, where, in 1896, the eldest and
last surviving child, Isaac, died, aged
thirty-two. An aunt, Madame ROLAND,
to whom the forfeited property had
passed, had intended handing it over
to her nephew, but on his death gave it
all to the poor, making special mention
in her will of the reason that prompted
her to this disposition. There was
something remarkable in this unusual
step, and it naturally attracted public
attention.
Scarcely a year later, a common
marine in the navy presented himself
to the naval inspector at Toulon, and
declared that he was the Isaac Caille
who was supposed to have died. The
marine professed wish to abjure Cal
vinism, placed himself under the hands
of the Jesuits, and within three weeks
made formal recantation in the cathe-
dral at TCulon. The news spread abroad,
and was communicated to his father,
who simply wrote back that his son was
dead, and enclosed certificate of de-
cease. On this the naval inspector had
the proselyte arrested, who boldly de-
manded to be examined. The legal
proceedings that followed will be found
interesting, as showing how the French
law dealt with almost the same state of
facts as arose in the late English cause
celebre. The law officers directed that
he should be taken to the town where
the family had lived, and be confronted
with ali and every one who had a chance
of recognizing him. Meanwhile the
resulted in the discovery that he was
one Peter Mege, son of convict. She
now intervened, and demanded that the
case should be dealt with criminally.
A degree was accordingly made that the
soldiers civil suit and the aunt's crimi-
nal one should be joined, and both
should go forward together. He ap-
pealed to the provincial parliament,
which decided that the criminal trial
should go on, at least so far as sentence,
which should be regulated by the result
of the civil process. This was accord
ingly done, and number of witnesses
came forward to prove that he was
Peter Mege, to the satisfaction. it
would seem, of the judges, who now
only awaited the progress of the civil
trial. After seven years delay the case
closed. A vast number of witnesses
had been examined, and the parliament
decided that he had proved his case,
and was the son of Caille. He was at
once put in possession of the property.
Within three weeks time the marine
had married a woman whose family
were believed to have furnished money
to carry on the proceedings.
The public were presently to have
another surprise. On the news of this
marriage, a woman came forward to
make declaration that she was the
wife of Peter Mege, who had thus de-
serted her and married another, and
she asked for justice. She gave all
necessary details.
This, it will be seen, complicated the
matter still further, and threw upon the
family the burden of proving three
questions: first, that this claimant was
not Caille; secondly, that he was Peter
Mege thirdly, that he was the husband
of the woman who claimed to be his
wife. The Hollands were all but ruined
by the litigation but, on this new turn,
they raised some money and appealed
to the Court of Cessation at Paris. This
tribunal quashed the proceedings, and
ordered fresh investigation. Then the
case was gone into with more regularity
than had attended the proceedings of
the provincial court. At every turn the
reader is surprised to find how the ele-
ments of this case correspond with
those of the interesting one lately tried
at Westminster. The truth is, in all
such matters the claimant has a singu-
lar advantage, very much akin to that
possessed by the tradesman who claims
payment for bill where the receipt has
been lost. In fact, it might be broadly
asserted that the most contradictory
statements can be made about any
transaction which took place eight or
ten years ago.
The soldiers case seemed, indeed, a
very strong one. When he went down
to the family place there were people
who recognized him at once, and were
filed with Joy and delight on seeing
him. No less than three hundred and
ninety-four witnesses were called on his
behalf and no less than one hundred
that he was the young heir of the Gail
les. -Four nurses came forward to de-
clare that they nursed him when an in
FAINT. One Of these nurses declared that
the infant Caille had certain marks on
his person, the same as were found
upon the soldier. The latter were ex-
amined by doctors, and it was discov-
cred that he had scar or cicatrice on
his left eyelid, and cautery on his left
leg. There was also found a mark
which seemed to be that OF q closed
issue.
Various gentlemen of the neighbor-
hood came and talked with him, and
were satisfied with his answers. In
this reinvestigation a little difficulty
arose as to his description-the family
resented his calling himself by the
name of the person he professed to be,
and it was settled by the court that he
| should be spoken of as the-soldier-
claiming to- be- Caille."
When, however, he came to be ex-
amined as to his recollections, he broke
down completely. He was asked about
the names of people in the place, the
furniture of the house, descriptions OF
persons, color of their hair, ETC., and
could give no information. It was
found that he was stupid, utterly un'
educated, Of rough, savage manners,
and could hardly read or write. Or
the other hand, it was shown that the
deceased young man was accomplished
was particularly we'll read in mathe
matics, good scholar, and had the
manners of a gentleman. Then, as tc
Tnln IL