The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-01-07

III
A CITIZEN OF NEW TORK--UNRECOG-
NIzED BY HIS WIFE AND ACoUAINr-
ANCEs-A STRANGE CASE.
There is trial involving a most
marvellous question OF identity now
progressing IN ron't at Malone, Frank
lin comfy, N. Y. IF the case we've not
in court, aud engaging the attention of
judges. lawyers and many witnesses.
some OF The Developments would be in
credible, aud set down as s,ouudless
fabrication. We give an outline OF the
reported facts.
Two years AGO, Willis Peyton, a far
mer Of Frlnhljn county, New York.
lett home with the usuh bL93are of a
traveller and pfteub gut model OF a
spring bed, and seve,ll er;er> of in
PRODUCTION opLl,ies Soulil. HIS bust
ness WAS to sell lights. He WIS 40
years Of age, aud had IL Wife aod seve.
raj CHILD, Ell. some OF whom were we'll
grown. He wrote to bis family from
Tene H4u,e THAT he WAS lee'in. III. bur
world push on to Evansville, where
he hada friend, David Weaver, with
whom he intended 10 spend few DAVIS
before going ,urther South. Here he
old Willis Peyiou WAS lost to the
world aud TO himself, and new man
seemed TO grow ~ his place, sill cling
ing to Willis Peyton's memory, and
some marks which were on Willis Pew
TONS body. He has given his story
under oath, aud it is briefly this:
TIE TERRIBLE CHANGE.
After leaving lerre Haute be lost all
consciousness: but somehow got into IA
hospital AT Evansville, where he first
found himself recovering from small
pox. He WAS then bald. and when he
resumed his clo,htng every aiicle APP
pei, Ell 10 have heeh made for "a much
smaller mao. ] he pau;i0onS. which
he recognized as bis, Were al least six
inches 100 short. He could get no
trace OF his money, watch, model
sp,iDg bed, o. other effects.
When lie was released from the hos
paI he went to his friend David
Weaver, who spurned hin as au inn
poster. He wis, ia fact, horrible
si.Ir and locke like HE Wande, iur
Jew. or soule other walking p-,l Hence.
Weave! 5 leIia rs aboaL his t, lend
William Peyton's pc >on,jlny caused
him TO eX,m,ae himse|i. and he fond
he bad gov eI"uG Inches tui'rr ia rs
MANY weeks. lie would have denied
his own Identity il IL had nos been for
his mind aud o,Ier evidences tIlls had
been iimilIat TO him from cilil,lh0nd.
OF course he could not cOa,inue his
contemplated journey, ior ne bad lost
its objects aud bearings. He went 10
an engine house and looked ia; o Il mir
ror, and did not even recognize his
face. He first thopsht Of suicide, and
his next thought was OF home. The
latter prevailed. He WIS utterly lost
aud s,l,led to find himself. On the
way he WIS taken i'll again. aud once
more all tlie world was blank. He
finally arrived at his own door after
an absence Of two years. Willis pey-
toms family believed him dead. The
Willis Peyton who had left that thresh-
hold two years before had light hair,
nearly red, and q very scanty beard
and was thin i n flesh. The Willis
Peyton who now Knocked at the door
was much taller, rounder, and h d
brown Gully hair, and a heavy beard.
lie looked like q gross lie on the form
er, with no truth in him; but The sequel
is startling. He Knocked and was in
yted into the house of The "Widow
Peyton," and took seat. Looking at
Mrs. Peyton he said: Il suppose you
don't know me, Addie!' She answer
CT, "No sir, | do not; who are you?"
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 we'll now as not.
Pm Willis Peyton."
HIS WIFE sHElNKs FROM HIM.
Mrs peyto sliraok from him, ordered
hlm out OF doors, aud two of her sons
and hired man took him 10 Tue near.
est Justice, who sent bin to Jail as a
iuhdtlc. tie was iirst tried by Il com
mission Of lunacy. and was adiudged
peiiectly sine. He is now being tried
before The Surrogate on the question Of
MS pretensIOns as The husband of Mrs.
Peylon aud the owner of the Peytom
property. He has told his story, The
nam points of which we have given:
has related in court circumstances that
occurred before the same Judge years
oe'ote; told the lawyers macy things
'u"t stranger, such rs he seems 10 he,
eon!u not know; related Willis Pev-
.ons family history, giving some mt
mute details which are st,Ic,Iy correct
aOd generally known in the neighbour