Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-01-30
A Marvellous Narrative.
MAN WHO ALMOST DOUBTS HIS OWN
IDENTITY.

IDENTITY.
There is trial involving a most mar.
velous question of identity now progress.
Ing in court at Malone, Franklin Coun.
ty N. Y. If the case we're not in court
and engaging the attention of Judges,
lawyers and many witnesses, some of the
developments would be incredible, and
set down as a groundless fabrication.
We give an outline of reported facts
Two years ago Willis Peyton, far
mer of Franklin County, N. Y, left
home with the usual baggage of trav.
eler, and patent right model of a
spring bed, and several letters of intro.
duction to parties South. His business
was to sell rights. He was 40 years of
age and had wife and several children
some of whom were well grown. He
wrote to his family from Terre Haute
that he was feeling ill, but would push
on to Evansville, where he had friend.
David Weaver, with whom ne intended
to spend a few days before going 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 Peyton's memory, and some
marks which we're on Willis Peytons
body. He has given his story under
oath, and it is this:
After leaving Terre Haute he lost all
consciousness, but somehow got into
hospital at Evansville, where he first
found himself recovering from small pox.
He was then bald, and when he resumed
his clothing every article appeared to
have been made for a much smaller
man. The pantaloons which he recog.
nized as his, were at least six inches too
short. He could get no trace of his
money, watch, model spring bed, or 9th
er effects.
When he was released from the hos,
pital he went to his friend David Weay-
er, who spurned him as an impostor.
lie was in fact, horrible sight, and
looked like the Wandering Jew, or
some other wandering pestilence.
Weaver's remarks about his 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 have denied his own
identity if it had not been for his mind
and other evidences that had been famil-
lar to him from childhood. OF course
ne could not continue his contemplated
journey, for he had lost its objects and
bearings. He went to an engine house
and looked into mirror, and did not
even recognize his face. His first thought
was of suicide, and his next thought was
of home. The latter prevailed. He
was utterly lost, and started to find him
self. On the way he was taken i'll again
and once more all the world was blank.
He finally arrived at his own door after
an absence of two years. Willis Pew.
toms family believed him dead. The
Willis Peyton who had left that thresb-
hold two years before had light hair,
nearly red, and a very scanty beard and
was thin in flesh. The Willis Pevton
who now knocked at the door was much
taller. and rounder, had brown curly
hair, and heavy beard. He looked
like gross lie on the former, with no
truth In him but the sequel is startling.
He knocked and was invited into the
house of the Widow Peyton," and
took seat. Looking at Mrs. Peyton.
he said, az suppose you don't know me
Addict" She answered No sir. | do
not; who are your" The man burst
into tears and said: You will not be-
lieve me | know, when | tell you; but
it's got to come sometime and might as
we'll now as not, I'm Willis Peyton."
Mrs. Peyton shrank from him, ordered |
him out of the house, and two of her
sons and hired man took him TO the
nearest justice who sent him to Jail as a
lunatic. He was first tried by a COM
mission of lunacy, and was adiudred
perfectly sane. He is now being tried
before the Surrogate on the question or
his pretensions as the husband Of Mrs.
Peyton, and the owner of the Peyton
property. He has told his story. the
main points of which we have given
has related in court circumstances that
occurred before the same Judge years be-
fore, told the lawyers many things that
a stranger, such as he seems to be, could
not know; related Willis Peyton's fam
lily history giving some minute details.
which are strictly correct and generally
Known in the neighborhood, and even
reminded Mrs. Peyton of words spoken
Turing her courtship, which she supposed
40 one knew but her husband and her
'elf 1t seems highly probable that he
will he able tn estahIish HE ;Jo,4;4