The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-05-04
MISTAKEN IDENTITY.
Curious Incidents Taken From
Police Records.

soas III different towns in different
parts of the West as Tascott. the Chi
cago murderer. is not to be wondered
at. Stranger .'identifications" have
happened. although it is a common
theory that there are no two men
exactly alike in their personal appear
ance except when they happen to be
twins. But that is = mistaken idea
the records of our police and criminal
courts abundantly testify. Therefore
it is not surprising that so many differ
ent men have been arrested in various
parts Of the country for w. B. Tas-
colt, who is accused of being the burg
lar who murdered A. j. Smell. the
Chicago millionair In each of these
cases certain marks said to belong to
Tascott have been discovered. yet the
arrested persons have in turn clearly
established their own identity and i'm
nocence.
The cases 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 bc OBJ
tanned, and the sensation caused by the
crime was almost forgotten. when it
was 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
turned ont 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-
scented The forged check and received
the money. Despite his high charac-
ter the grand jury indicted Redmond
and he was placed on trial. 1t 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-ofiice. where
he met John Sontag. book-keeper for
the Germania Fire Insurance Com
pany. He at once asked policeman
to arrest Sontag. saying that he was
the man who had stolen his watch on
Sixth avenue car some ten days be-
fore.
Are you sure he is the mans' de-
manded the officer.
"Yes. can not be mistaken" was
H.. Binns' reply.
On their approaching Mr.. Sontag.
the aecuser said: 'Iwish you to return
the watch you robbed me Of"
After a stare of surprise Mr.. Sontag
laughed and replied: your watch!
What do know aoout it?"
As Binrs persisted in his accusation.
Son:ay was arrested and arraigncd be-
fore Justice Bixby ut the Tombs. when
the complainant repeated his state
ment.
You are quite positive that this is
the right man?" said the magistrate.
Yes. sir; po-itive."
''This is dreadful mistake" ex-
claimed the prisoner. seeing that his
position was becoming desperate. Il
never saw the complainant before. I
am a respectable man. and was in bed.
at home. in fremont. when he says
the robbery took place"
Sontag was held for trial. but before
the grand jury acted upon his case it
was proven 10 be one of mistaken iden-
tity.
In 1851 Captain John Buckson lived
with his wifi, Nancy. in the village of
Seakonk. near Providence. r. L The
husband was fifty years of age. while
the wife was many years his junior
They did not live happily together. and |
Captain Buckson was glad when
his coasting schooner WAS on a
cruise. One evening in July u
neighbor heard the Bucksons having
high words. and. looking through the
window. saw the Captain nervously
lingering :. piece of whipcord while
listening to the vituperation of his
wife. The next day the cottage was
but the fact attracted no at
tention. rs it was supposed that
Captain Buckson had gone 70 sea
again. and it was not uncommon for