The Osceola times., 1888-09-15
MISTAKEN IDENTITY.
Curious Incidents Taken From
Police Records.


,o1s in different towns in different
parts of the Wost, as Tascott the Chi
esgo murderer, is not TO be wondered
at. Stranger 'identifcations" have
happened, although it is common
theory that there are no two men
exactly alike in their personal appear
snce except when they happen to be
twins. But that is n mistaken idea
the records OF our police and criminal
courts abundantly testify. Therefore
Il is not surprising that so many differ
ent men have been arrested in various
parts Of the country for W. B, Tas-
coti, who is accused Of being the burg
lar who murdered A. j. Smell. the
Chicago million aire. In each of these
eases certain marks said 10 belong to
Tascott have been discovered. yet the
arrested persons have in turn clearly
established their own identity and i'm
noccnce.
The eases of positive yet mistaken
Identification Of persons are exceeding
" numerous. The records of the New
York police are full Of them.
Some forty or fifty years ago a
forged check for a large amount was
presented at the counter of the Bank of
America in this city. For several days
no trace of the forger could be OBJ
tanned, and the sensation caused hy the
crime was almost forgotten. when it
wss revived by the teller causing the
arrest Of man he saw standing at the
door Of the City Hotel on Broadway,
near Chambers street. The prisoner
turnel out to be Mr.. Redmond. the
proprietor Of the hotel, and he vehe-
mently denied all knowledge of or
completely in the forgery. The teller.
however, persisted in identifying Mr..
Redmond as the person who had pre-
scnied the forged check and received
the money Despite his high charae~
ter the grand jury indicted Redmond
aud he was placed on trial. il was
then clearly shown, despite the posi-
tive testimony of the bank teller, that
the latter was entirely mistaken. and
the prisoner was acquitted. The real
forgcr was never discovered.
In the month of January, 1880. Le-
onidas Binns, of No. 800 Hudson street,
entered the New York post-oflicc, where
he met John Sontag, book-kceper for
the Gcrmania Fire Insurance Com
pany. He at once asked n policeman
to arrest Sontag. saying that he was
the man who had stolen his watch on n
Sixth avenue ear some ten days be-
fore.
'Are you sure he is the mani" de-
manded the officer.
"fes, can no, be mistaken" was
Mr. Binns' reply.
on their approaching Mr. Sontag.
The accusor said; "a wish you to return
The watch you robbed me OF"
After a stare of surprise Mr.. Sontag
laughed and rcplicd: Your watch!
What do know about itpn
AS Binns persisted in his accusation,
soniag was arrested and arraigncd be-
lore Justice Bixby Mt the Tombs when
'he complainant repeated his state
ment.
ion are quite positive that this is
The right man?' said the magistrate.
Yes, sir; positive"
This is n dreadful mistake" ex-
elalmed the prisoner seeing that his
position was becoming desperate. Il
never saw the complainant before. ]
am respectable man. and was in bed,
AZ nome, In fremont. when he says
INC robbery took place"
sontag was held for trial, but before
'ne grand jury acted upon his case il
was proven 10 be one of mistaken iden-
tity.
Ia 1901 Captain John Buckson lived
s"n his wife. Nancy. in the village of
Seakonk. near Providence, RI The
husband was fifty years of age. while
yn mc wiie was many years his junior
c"! "o! ana not live happily together, and
tt'p'aih Bnckson was glad when
MS coasting schooner was on a
,ase, . One evening in July n
h,snoor =, heard the Bucksons having
sn ws words. and. looking through the
Sa, "aow, saw the Captain ncrvously
rscr'ng piece of whipcord while
wIse Isu'ng to the vituperation of his
AZ ihe next day the cottage was
,f'ed' ,"s.,' but the fact attracted no at.
Cs",u,' Con' rs it was supposed tnat
sst;s s'h buckson had gone 10 ses
S' eaa i was not upcommon ier