The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-11-01
Correspondence Ohio Law Journal.
A Romance in Real Life.
AN OHIO T1CHBURNE' CASE.
MARYsvrLLE, OHro, Oct. 1881.

AN OHIO TICHBORNE CASE.
MARYsvlLLE, OHro. Oct. 1881.
The old-fashioned clock standing in
the hall OF the old American House in
this unromantic village was striking IL
on Saturday night the 9Th of Novem-
ber, 1882, and the landlord strobe to the
vide hall door, flung it open. and peered
out as was his custom before putting up
the bars and the shutters for the night. /
But the good host started back in amaze
ment, for before him on the threshold
stood a stranger tall and powerful, and
auaintly dressed. From beneath his
buckeye hat long black hair fell in waves
and curls over his broad shoulders, al
most concealing even in front the wide
collar OF spotless white, which was turn
ed back over the neck bands of his coat
and vest White duck breecbes and top
boots With soles fully an inch in thick
ness completed the attire of this unex-
pected guest who stepped within-shsk-
| ing the snow from his hat and bair by q
toss of the head like huge dog-and
in word demanded lodging. The land
lord accustomed to the brusque manners
Of that day took candle and showed
the newcomer to room on the second
floor. His guest remained longer than
guests usually do. He occupied that
same room for nearly forty too gears!
He gave his name as Robson Lovett
Broome, but of his history, his family
or his business, he gave nothing He
lived the life Of hermit although in q
public house. He never allowed a living
soul to enter bis room after he took pos
session on that night--in 1892. He was
his own chambermaid, bell boy. boot
black and porter. His locks were proof
against all prying parties, snd during his
frequent journeys to-no one knew
where-which often consumed weeks or
months, his room remained untouched.
He bought lands, loaned money, and
made his irregular trips to the unknown
country, and this was all his employ
ment, nearly. He would walk up and
down the reception room OF the hotel
for bours, days and weeks, only stopping
to eat and sleep. He volunteered no in
formation concerning himself, and an
swered no questions.
In 1873 he died, while on the eve Of q
marriage with a widow in the neighbor-
hood. He left no will and no writing to
guide to any discovery of his relations
or family. The proper authorities took
charge OF his effects. An administrator
was appointed, and his notes, mortgages
and lands were found to aggregate be-
tween S5O,0 900 and $50 600. All efforts,
however, to find who or what he had
been, failed disastrously. The Broomes
of New York City attempted to estab-
lish line OF descent from one branch Of
that family to one John Broome who
haH resided in Ohio, near Marietta. and
who, they claimed. had two children. a
son and daughter, both Of whom, how
ever, had disappeared and were supposed
to be dead; and that this son of John
Broome was R. S. Broome. the intesta.e
eccentric of Marysville. Ohio. Pending
these attempted genealogical patchings,
Col. Robinson, of the law firm of Rob-
insons 4 Piper, became the attorney for
the administrator, and, in looking over
some notes and mortgages found pencil
memoranda as follows:
"Levi Brewster, b 1893, N L, Ct.
"Lemuel Bruce, Posey Co., Ind 1918
"Lot Bene, Butler Co., o.. 1922.
"Lemuel Brown, N. Y 1880"
And on separate slip the following
1880, Woodsfeld, O., Lydia Waiter
man.
1928, Rochester, Nancy Gray"
1t must be confessed that this was not
much of clue. Yet hy following it up
persistenlly and shrewdly Col. Robinson
discovered the facts which follow and
which constitute the framework Of ro-
nance in real life, as remarkable as any
on record
4 Levi Brewster was horn in New Lon
don, Connecticut, in 1898, went from his
home in early manhood and appeared al
Woodsfeld, Ohio, about 1919, where he
married Lydia Waterman in 1920. II
, 1897 be abandoned his family and yea
l later made his appeai ance at Rochester
3 New York, where after o short time he
as Lemuel Brown, married Miss Name,
e Grav.
This lady, however, did not live long
althoueh the particulars of her life AM
D death are enshrouded in the myster
8 which envelopes so much Of the life
!, this strange guest Of the America
o House; the occupant for forty-ope year
: of the room IN which am writing
Is Meantime it was found that Lemue
e Bruce was known in Posey County Ind
Y ana, in 1918; that Lot Beue was in But
" Ter County, Ohio, in 1922, and that Len
uel Blown was known IN Columbus
Ohio, in 1929.
The logic of events, the similarity
al initials; the identity of the descriptio
a. of this strange biped who thus disal
- peared and resppeared the thread OF Il
m discovery beginning with the memorar
70 dunn made BY p L. Broome (or foun
!, with his effectsD and running back
!, 1898, to the birth of Levi Brewster, ju
N tilted the conclusion that Levi Brewst'
1e bad simply changed his name few tim
:. and died as R. L. Broome, and that Il
10 heirs OF Levi Brewster we're entitled
m the snug fortune iI Col. Robinson
hands.
{ He accordingly sought and foul
70 them. But this pretty and very roma
ho tic theory OF the rise and progress;
- Levi Bre wster did not satisfy the Broor
= claimants, who came forward with ,
convincing proof that the. hero OF t
no wide shirt collar and forty years end
y; rance OF hotel life, was really Robs
nu Lovett Broome, the son of old 10
Broome, of Marietta, and according
'p courts and juries were brought in to s
Ter tie the dispute.
ire Things began to look dark for
ch Brewster claimants, and there were
M many breaks in the history of l.
Brewster that much must be left to
lay fancy in the filling of it up, and fancy
en- not frst-class proof as you well kno
all hut at most critical moment. Col, R
wo inson discovered the long lost daugh
nts of old John Broome, and she testil
H. that she never bad any brother Rob: