Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-12
is IT HANCHETTE?
THE MISSING MAN SAID TO HAVE
BEEN SEEN.
Robert Farrell Claims to Have Seen Him
at Tehama-His Letter About the Af-
fair-Stiu His Story Is Doubtful.

H. Jay Hanchette has been seen in
California during the past week, accord
ing to Robert Farrell, who wrote the
following letter which was received at
the chamber of commerce yesterday:
"CHIco, CAL, Sept. 8, 1891.
"MY DEAR WIGGINs: You will be as
much surprised as I was, when tell
you that l met H. j. Hanchette this
morning. / got on the train this
morning at Tehama to come here,
and the first man got my eyes on
was Hanchette. Now, you will think
1 am mistaken, but 1 am not. know
the man too WELL worked with him too
long.
81 went up to him, slapped him on the
shoulder and called him by name. All
he would say was that 1 was mistaken;
but know that am not. In looks he
has not changed bit. His beard is just
the same, but his clothes are not 50 good
as they were. He is now wearing
one of the suits he used to wear in Los
Angeles. His actions are the same, but
his voice is changed, and is very much
harsher.
ITO one party here he gave his name
as III. J. Mitchell. At the postoffice this
evening he inquired for letters as John
Blackman. To me he gave the name of
Hamilton. The only thing he would
admit was that he had a wife and child.
He said he had never heard of the city
of Los Angeles. He said he was going
to the new mines, Pine Nut. in Nevada.
'Now there is no use. l cannot be
mistaken. This is Hanchette; not his
double, nor his ghost, because ghosts
don't smoke cigarettes.
81 leave here Friday for Greenville in
Plumas county. l am travelling for the
Cooperative Cigar company OF San
Francisco; and in about three weeks
will be in Pine Nut. My health is about
as usual, but am considerably shaken
up over meeting Hanchette.
81 am certain there is no mistake in
this. If you care to answer this direct
at Susanville, Lassen county. Also
send me two or three Los Angeles pa
pers. Have not seen one since l left.
Had letter from home yesterday
Hope this will find you we'll.
81 remain, yours truly,
.taa ROBERT FARRELL"
AS will be seen by bis letter Farrell
is positive that the man he saw on the
train was Hanchette. He knew the
MISSING LHdu very WelI, NdNlnS De6n
employed on the HERALD while Han
chette was city editor.
His letter created considerable excite
ment among those who were made
aware of the information contained in
it, but after careful consideration, the
officers and number of members of the
chamber of commerce are led
to believe that the man whom
Farrell took for Hanchette was
the person encountered by Mrs. Han
chette and others in San Francisco, and
who has come to be known as "Han-
chette's double" -
1t is argued that Farrell must have
had some doubts about the man he saw
being Hanchette, or he would not have
taken the slow process of informing his
friends in this city. 2
A strange feature OF the story is that
the man gave three names. 1t would
seem that person endeavoring to hide
from his friends, If that was the purpose
of the man, would not cause suspicion
to be directed to him by giving three
different names.
Hanchette's friends here are hoping
that the story is true and that the miss
ing man is really alive. A dispatch was
sent TO officers at Chico giving the facts
contained in the letter and requesting
search. No reply had been received
when this was written.