Connecticut western news., 1891-03-11
WEDNESDAY, MARCH II, 1891.
MORE ABOUT FORBES MUNSON
The Gowanda Mystery Proves to be 8
 Native of Canaan, Conn.


 The Gowanda Mystery Proves to be a |
 Native of Canaan, Conn. During the past week we have receiv- ed absolute proof that the Forbes Mum son who for the past twelve or fifteen | years has been mystery to the resi- l dents of Gowanda, N. r., is the identi- cal Forbes Munson who was born at Canaan. Conn Feb IT. 1927, and who fled from Canaan in 1861. The editor of THE NEWS has been in correspondence with leading citizens of Gowanda and Dayton and has also received newspaper articles from that section. If any doubts existed as to Forbes Munson's identity they were all dispelled when letter written by Forbes Munson in April. 1890. was on Monday of this week sub- mitted to the editor of THE NEWS in order that he might identify Forbes Munson's handwriting. We are not at liberty at present to publish all of said correspondence or publish the names of the writers, but we take ths liberty to mention few nuggets of information gleaned from said correspondence.
 In the first place, we are assured that the. articles concerning Forbes Munson which THE NEWS reprinted last We'd nesday are substantially correct. In our correspondence with the Gowanda and Dayton parties we gave them fraction of Forbes Munson's history and career up to 1876 and gave them a description of his personal appearance. They assure us that our description of Forbes Nun sn"'s personal appearance fits him ex- actly.
 Forbes Munson struck Dayton about 15 years ago and boarded there several months, having no visible occupation, and was complete mystery. He asso- ciated with no one, dressed showly and had plenty of money. He went from Dayton to Gowanda and for time pur- sued the same mysterious course. Then he accepte a position in an iron foun- dry at Gowanda and it is said he was ill charge of the business and books of the owners. After time the office which he was in charge of was burglarized and the concern failed Then Forbes con- menced getting about him menagerle of wild animals, and had several large vans and cages His transactions in real estate, his building operations. his marriage to young widow named Langson and his transactions with Hi Henry, and with the bank of N. M. Allen & Son were briefly but compre hensively stated in THE NEWS of March yet we copy to-day similar version from Jamestown N. Y. paper of a late date in which Is given description of Forbes Munson's persoual appearance. We wonld also state that Forbes aston ished the natives of Gowanda, inasmuch as he was decorated with diamonds and watch chains which were the envy of every sport, while his horses and carri- ages were of the finest, and his coach man and servants 8 novelty in 8 rural community like Gowanda; still Forbes was mystery-no one knew whence he came, and how he obtained his money. and after many years enquiry nearly ceased. He certainly had a large inc me from some source but no one but himself knew where it came from. His latest wife and child are at Gowanda, and of course are objects of pity.
 The Randolph (N. Y. Register of Mar 8 devotes over a colnmn in giving 8 glimpee at Forbes Munson's career in Gowanda Its version of Munson's t1an- sections with Hi Henry, and with the bank of N NJ. Allen & Son, is similar to the dispatches already published in THE NEWS, yet more in detail. The Register SAYS: "Hi Henry was leading member of the 64th regimental band during the earlier years of the war Since that time he has been successfully managing minstrel troupe and steadily c .lning money by his tact, perseverance. s,d business ability. Speaking of Forbes Munson's lavish expenditures tQ0 6eglslor says No ouo "oo so liberal when collections were taken up at church or elsewhere; when twenty five cents was the ordinary limit the Colonel dropped into the plate bill seldom less than V, often it unro'led a double saw-buck. He was one of the most liberal subscribers to the church lifices that were built in Gowands dur ing his prosperous days; in one instance he defrayed the entire expense of fur nishiug the church parlor and kitchen : complete What his past life had been or the sources of his wealth were secrets -n.ver penetrated"
 Many of the old residents of Canaan and neighboring towns are familiar with the greater part of Fol bes Manson E history, up to the time he struck Day ton aud Cow anda, therefore, HE NEWS does not feel called upon to review that sad but thrilling, yet unparalled. record Suffice to say, iu Canaan he lived like
 prince yet with no visible means oi support until his sudden flight in 1861 revealed many creditors and explained