The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-06-12
A Question Of Identity.
TWO YOUNG MEN GO TO LAW TO DIscov-
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. - II
Err winch IS WHICH.
The papers IN very strange case
are being prepared by well known
law firm in this city. The case is in
action in ejectment, in which the plain
tiff is Joseph B, Metz and the defen.
dapt young man by the name of
Hylebrone, alias Metz. The dispute
between the parties is in reference to
large farm located in the northeastern
part of this State. The defendant in
the action has been living on the farm
for the past FIVE years, aud is known
among the neighbors as Joseph Metz.
The story is long one,and adds anoth-
er illustration in support of the declara-
ton that truth is stranger than fiction.
The story of the plaintiff to his lawyer
is as follows:
Abont nine years ago Joseph Metz,
Teuton, residing in the southeastern
part of Germany, decided to emigrate
TO America. In the summer of 1875
he. with his good wife Catharine and
his five sturdy boys, started for the
United States. From the sale OF his
real estate he realized about $4,000
and with this sum he was able to buy
well-tilled farm with comfortable
dwelling in the eastern part OF the
State, and still have a neat, amount OF
cash besides. He lived on the farm
for FIVE years, but finally the desire to
die in bis native land took such a hold
on him that in 1880 he aud his wife
made a deed of the farm to the suppos-
ed eldest son, the present occu-
pant, and returned TO Germany.
His wife and the four younger
children accompanied him. With the
remaining cash in his possession he
bought farm in the vicinity of his
old home, which at his death, which
occurred about week ago, he be-
queated to the younger member OF his
| family. The strangest part of this mar
| rative transpired after his return to
Germany. Itappeared that at the time
young Metz, the present occupant of
the farm, was born, there lived in the
vicinity of Metz's place woman by
the name of Mrs. Hylebrone. She was
employed at various times as nurse in
Metz's household, and was present at
the time young Metz was born. This
woman made some startling disclosures
| 10 the old man Metz just before his
death, which in substance were about
as follows :r-rI3I,1 9ai .rfa 9li tsH
| At the time of the birth of the child
she also had an infant son, and
although she was very poor she desired
that her son should be raised in af-
fluencc. As she had the entire control
! of Young Metz, she one night shortly
after the infants birth substituted her
own child and took young Metz to
i raise The family never discovered
this, and young Hylebrone grew up to
manhood as Joseph Metz. She said
that she had always regretted the act,
but was afraid to tell the truth. The
real Metz has always been known as
her son. The scenes at the fathers
death bed when these facts were
brought out were affecting in the ex-
treme. The father refused at first to
! believe the womans statement and to
recognize the young man as his son,
but finally, by circnmstantial evidence,
r the truth of the womans statement
, dawned upon him, and he received his
} newly. found son. The revelation was
as unexpected to the son as it was to
7 the father. .55u l r-ll
J A few days later Mr.. Metz died, and,
after waiting short time in the old
, country, the son came to this city to
commence proceedings against the pos
( SCISSOR of the estate in America. He
g claims that he can eject the present oc-
9 cupant, as the deed was made to Jo-
4 seph Metz, and he has the facts in his
e possession to prove that he is the party
: intended. Hylebrone was naturally
: very much surprised when the forego-
t ing statement was made to him. He
e refused to believe it, and declares that
s there is conspiracy to defraud him
t out of his rights, His mother is also
y in the city, having left Germany in
. company with Metz. She says she is
+ very sorry for what she has done, and
: it will be her lifework for the remain
g der of her existence to bring matters
0 out right When the case comes to
trial it will probably be one of the
most sensational ones ever tried
in this State. Mrs. Hylebrone
the author of the deception, is q
good-looking German woman, and
appears about 40 years of age. She
= says that her only desire in doing ii
was to benefit her child, and that she
:, did not realize at the time the terrible
;. wrong she was committing against the
y babes. The farm is worth $25,0OO, al
!, it is in good condition. Metz is mar
I. ried, but has no children, n,-Pitts6urS
y Dispatch. ---- ,----- ------