Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-01
HANCHETTE'SDO
He Turns Up In San Fran
cisco.
How He StartleS the Missing
Mans Friends.
Mrs. Hamchette and Her Mother See
the Man.
Even Hanchettes Children Think He Is
Their Father-A Peculiar Case
of Resemblance.

OF Resemblance.
H. J. Hanchette, the missing secre-
tary of the Los Angeles chamber Of COM
merce, has a double in this city, says
the San Francisco Chronicle OF Sunday,
who for several weeks has created no
end OF trouble for the friends and rela
tives of the absentee.
Hanchette disappeared in May last at
Chicago, where he had gone as manager
of the California Citrus fair. Since then
Mrs. Hsnehette and her two children
have been residing in this city with her
parents, DIR. and Mrs. Edgar M. Griffith.
Mrs. Hanchette came here originally to
investigate what looked like a most
promising clew. An insane man had
been arrested at Woodstock, ILL.,, Han
chette's birthplace and old home. From
photographs and descriptions sent to
this city there was for time every
reason to believe that the Woodstock
man was none other than the missing
Hanehette. Then, Just as the wife was
about to go east to identify her husband,
word came that the captive had been
positively recognized as an escaped in
mate of the Elgin, ILL.,, asylum.
Then began Mrs. Hanchette's expert
ences in San Francisco. They have been
trying in the extreme, and woman of
less patience and endurance could not
have stood them. Hanchette's double
appeared here.
One day the children returned from a
visit to friend in the neighborhood.
Mamma, oh mammal We have seen
papa!" they cried. Mrs. Hanchette was
all attention, and listened eagerly to the
children's story. 1t was that man re-
sembling in every detail their father had
passed them by in the street. They ran
up to him and called him "papa," but
he passed on without needing them. The
children were certain it was their father
whom they had accosted, and could not
account for his strange conduct.
A few nights later telephone message
woke DIR. Griffin from his sTumbers.
"Come down and identify Hanchette,"
was the message. The doctor lost no
time in getting down town to well
known saloon. Sure enough, there,
talking to the bar tender, was man the
very image of his missing son-in-law.
Only when DR.. Griffith heard the voice
did the illusion disappear.
From his appearance alone,' said
Dr. Griffith, II could never have been
convinced that man was not Hanchette,
but as soon as he spoke every vestige of
the resemblance seemed to fade away in
an instant
- The bartender had engaged the
stranger in conversation and held him
there on various pretexts until the doc
tor could arrive. Then the stranger de-
parted, not even leaying his name.
Only day or two after this Mrs.
Hanchette was riding in a sMcAllister-
street cable car. There sat her husband
opposite her. For moment she could
not speak, only glare at the man to
whom she longed to say husband.
But when the power Of speech returned
to her and she arose to accost the
stranger he turned to friend and began
speaking Then she knew it was not
her husband, but the shock had been
a terrific one to her, and she immedi-
ately left the car and returned home.
again, Mrs. Griffith and Mrs. Han
ehette we're crossing Golden Gate avenue
at McAllister street. A light carriage
dashed by, driven by bearded, hand
some-looking man who gave both ladies
start. The wife called out and made
as though she would run after the We
hicle. Then she remembered her ex
perience in the street car and gave in to
the assurances of her mother that it
would be folly to attempt to stop the
rapidly disappearing carriage. To this
hour, though, neither lady is entirely
convinced that the driver of the vehicle
was not the missing husband.
I1t,w II Nlavr r,k.o t5r.s.N
merchant, thinks he knows Hanchette
in saloon under the Merchants Ex-
change, he found himself shoulder to
shoulder with man whom he knew
must be Hanchette.
"Hello, old mani" said Mr.. Laws,
grasping the stranger by the arm.
"Why, where have you been keeping
yourself. Hanchette?"
Explanations followed. 1t was not
Hanchette, and now John Laws is not
so very certain that he knows anybody
or anything. II could have sworn that
was Hanchette," F" said he to Chronicle
reporter the other day. Elf l ever run
across him again I'll make him give an
account of himself. Ii he's not Han
chette I'll make him tell me why he
amt and who he is. / should have
questioned the man then, but was so
astonished that he did not recognize me
that | almost lost my head"
There are numerous other instances of
the friends and relatives of Hanchette
in this city being misled bv the remark
able likeness OF this double to the miss
ing man. A few nights ago, it is said,
this man who looks like, ,Hanchette went
into the Palace hotel grillroom and or
cred luncheon. Several persons re-
marked his resemblance to Hanchette.
but no one accosted him.,
That tired feeling is entirely overcome by
Hoods Sarsp sparilla, which creates an appetite