New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-30
THE COURTS.
TRYING TO PROVE HIS IDENTITY.

TRYING TO PROVE HlS lDENlllI'
ExAMINATION OF THE ALLEGED THEoPHiLUs YoUNGs
MANY THINGS WHICH he CANNOT REMEMBER.
A preliminary examination in the case of
Theopnilus Youngs was bed before Edward F. Under.
hill the referee appointed to take testimony regarding
The identity of the claimant in the Supreme Court
Part l. Yesterday morning This Is the case in which
man claiming TO be Tbeophilus YouDgs endeavors 10
establish his identity with Theophlus Youngs, master
mechanic. Who after having acquired large forture IN
New-York and Boston. disappeared suddenly IN 1870,
after which hs wife and family unable tc learn
anything concerning him. Three years ago. his wife,
Mrs. Mary l. C. Youngs, applied TO the sur
rogate OF this county for letters OF ADMIN
Istraton her husbands estate, asserting that
he had been drowned in Boston Iarbor in 1879. The
estate. which she estimated to be worth S20cOCO was
in the bands of her husbands brother Henry Youngs
who contested the right OF Mrs Youngs to take out the
letters for he claimed that his brother was still living
Last October, when the case came before the court
sensation created by the appearance OF man claim
ing to be the TheOpus Younps who had been missing
for so loag time. Mrs. Youngs, who confronted
him In the court, denied that he was the
genuine TLeophDus, and Edward +. Underhill
was then appointed referee to take tes-
timODy TO the mans identity. 1t was
for this purpose that the hearing held yesterday
The only person examined was the alleged Theophius
Youngs He is man apparently about thirty five years
of age, with Roman nOse light eyes and hair and
speaks IN q hesitating manner.
The plaintiffs counsel, y. &. Drake, introduced the
claimant, aud asked him probably half dozen Ques
TONS after which f. Minor, counsel for the widow
OF wife," cross examined him for an hour and half
Isaac Morse, Of Boston, another Of the counsel for
Mrs. Youngs, present, but did not ask any ques
TONS
The examination was merely of preliminary nature,
and involved only what occurred during the life Of the
alleged Mr. Youngs up the time of his being mustered
out OF the Union Army at Washington In 1864 The
claimant asked to tell the events Of his early life
and Of bis school days. the names Of his teachers and
companions, to give list OF the branches studied In
school, description OF the old sch0ohOuse, its position
with regard to various leudmarks and what other mat
ters he could remember covering the period which
elapsed up the time of hts enlistment the service
st which time he was working In factory at
Tidioute, Peuu. Tho examination was then
tended over the tine of the war. De asked
70 tie OF the officers OF regiments and
companies which he had served and the
In which he had participated In many important par
cuars the witness unable To the questions
ehsrge-wbich he had since ost-he remained In Wash
Dgton for about seven years working in various factO'
res as gg-sawyer" for Eeary three years aud also
y clerk In TIE QuartermaseF's Department OF the
being the Of the letter receipt book" The witness
could give OF the names Of any Of his feOwwurk
ber the Of Of the other clerks In the Quarter
masters Department..
At this point the examination concluded for the
lime. to be resumed however, at an early date. The
talked afout and would not talk about this with
anyone except his counsel before the examination
1hus far nothing regarding the life OF Mr. Youngs dur
ing the mysterious lost period VI his existence has
R6t been Llau6 public.