The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1884-08-09

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MISTAKEN IDENTITY.
Tho Case Of Thomas Heae-A NJ. 1t Consus.
ass Ing Mystcry.
Probably no case in America was ever
wrapt III more confusing mystery than
this. In September, 1900, Thomas
Hoag appeared in Rockland County.
New York, working as laborer. He
married Catharine Secor Dec. %, 1900.
They lived together until March, 1901,
when. he disappeared forever. June
y, 1904. Joseph Parker was tried for
big5amy in the Court of Oyer and Ter
mlSer. The Indictment alleges that
May 5, 1879, he married Susan Faesch.
TN Dec. %, 1900, under the alias Of
Thomas Hoag, he had contracted Sec
ond marriage with Catha1ine Secor; the
first marriage anG present existence of
the first wife being admitted by de-
tense. benjamin Coe, Judge of the
Court of Common Pleas OF Rockland
County, swore that he was we'll ac-
qualnted with defendant; that he passed
ny the namc Of Thomas Hoag, and had
lived in Rockland since September.
1900. He had worked for the Judge
for month. sat at his table, and he saw
him daily. Dec. 25 he married him to
Casharine Seccr. the same day that his
own child was cl,ristcned. John Knapp
knew defendant in 1890 and 1901; sa W
him constantly. He had scar under
his foot, which he showed him once
when leaping. He said he could not
leap as formerly because he had trod
upon drawing-knife. Catharine Secor
swore that she saw the defendant con-
stantly; that from the time he came to
Rockland in 1900 she knew him. "Eo
paid his addresses to me, and we we're
married Dec IS, 1900. The defendant
is my husbands This closed the prose
cution. and the defense offered Joseph
Chadwick. . rigger, who swofe:r "The
defendant is Joseph 2 Parker ;aknovn him
number CT years; worked for me from
September, 1859, 70 spring 81 1901: haw
hun cof,staatly." This witness produced
his books to show the money lH had
raid him Iseac Ryckmau swS4Ne Le
had worked with lam; that he was Jo-
Seph Parker; that they worked togeth-
u, and on the 25th of December, had
rorked all day, the first time he ever
worked on ChristmaA He was at ono
time watchman with me. A. Cornwall,
agrocery keeper, swore that he was Jo-
seph Parker, and had traded with him
. number of years. Never knew him to
be away except for week, and then he
was unloading 3 frigate at Staten Isl
and. Elizabeth Mitchell lived next
door to Parker, and knew him we'll.
Christmas day, 1900, he borrowed q
screw of her. On this she was positive,
and on that day he broke it. James
Reading had known Parker since IN
fancy. In 1900 saw him nearly every
day. Probably never before was q case
more mixed. The prosecution had
proved by three snnimpeachable wit
nesses that the defendant Thomas
HoaS, had resided constaptlyfrom Sep
tenber, 1890, TO early in 1901 that ON
Dec. 25, $500. he had married. The
wife and two Of the prisoners employ
ers. one high judicial officer, had de-
clared his identity in positive terms. 3
Ga the other hand q set Of witnesses
equally llnirnpenchable, more numerous,
srecognizeJ the prisoner a. Joseph Park
or, and two of .hem swore that on Dec.
Is, 1909, ne was at work and borrowed
. screw, q circumstance serving to the
more strongly identify the day and
month. JudgeCoe recollects the day
OF the marriage beQause his child was
christened, yet Ryckman Identifies the
same day because it was the only day
he ever worked, and Mrs. Mitchell,
that she loaned Parker o screw, which
he broke. We're ever accounts more
conflicting?
The prosecution now introduced 9th
er eyidence Moses Anderson swere
that hc was Thomas Hoag; that he Wis
tied his house constantly, and had
scar on his forehead occasioned by
kick from horse; also d small mark on
his neck; he speaks qnick and lisps q
little. At this juncture tho prisoner
was examined; the scar on forehead,
mark on neck and peculiar4+ of speech
were found to exist in thes ri ;oner. Mrs.
Anderson. wife of the last witness, fur
ther identifies him Us Hoag. Margaret
Secor sworc that she had dressed his
hair, and seen the scar. Other wit
resses followed in the same strain, all
identifying the prisoner as Hoag.
The prosecution here rested. and
there was probably not a man in the
courtroom who was not satisfied that
the prosecution had made out case
that nothing but the most unblushing
perjury could destroy. The scars and
peculiarities of speech c.inched the