The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-11-26
FROM THURSDAYS DAILY.
A VERY STRANGE CASE.

A VERY STRANGE CASE.
Yesterday Maj. John G.. Lewis returned
from visit to Fort Worth, and in con-
versation with him something very pc
culiar was learned about Mr.. s. n
Louices, who, until within the last few
days, has been connected with the Dris-
kill hotel in this city as one of the night
clerks. Mr.. Louices came here about
month or six weeks ago and secured
the position at the Driskill, that he held
until his departure. When he left here
several days ago he secured letters from
the chief clerk at the Driskill to a Mr..
Davis, in the hotel at Fort Worth.
When he arrived there in the evening
Mr. Davis happened to be on, and as
Mr. Louices approached the counter to
register Mr.. Davis recognized him as
an old Fort Worth boy and held out his
hand to him, calling him by his real
name, which is Carter. Louices did
not seem TO recognize him. After
registering, Louices asked for Davis,
saying that he had a letter for
him DAVIS said that he was the
party and asked why it was that Louices
did not recognize him. Davis eXpostu-
lated to the effect that I.ouices ought
to know him. inasmuch as they had slept
in the same room in Fort Worth some
years ago for over year. Louices still
declined to admit any acquaintanceshlp,
and denied that the name Davis called
him by was his. Davis was slightly stag
gered at this, and gave way. About this
time another acquaintance drlfted IN,
and was likewise turned down by
LOuccs declining to recognize him.
I.ouiccs then went to his room and the
two old acquaintance down stairs be-
gan TO bet so as to whether LOuices
was really the man they thought he was
or not Mr.. Davis said that if he was
the man, he thought his father was ny
ing in Fort Worth and ought to be able
to identify him. The father was sent for,
but said that his son was dead. Being
assured by these two gentlemen that
he was not only not dead, but that he
was in the hotel the father became very
much excited and went to the hotel ut
once. Here Louiccs was brought out
and the father recognized him as his
son at once. Louces declined positively
to recognize his father, and said that
his father was dead. The old gentleman
though his heart would break at his SOM
refusal to recognize him. He told
Louces that he could prove that he was
his son by looking at broken tooth |
in his mouth and Il mole on his back.
Investigation developed that the two |
marks of Identification were plainly in (
evidence. Still Louiccs declined 20 rec
ognize his father or any of his old friends.
The matter in nutshell now is that
after an investigation up to date it de-
velops that some five or six years
ago Louices left home in Fort Worth and
went to South America. While there
he was taken with a violent attack OF
fever and was very sick for several
months. Upon recovering, his mind was
a blank as regards anything happening
prior to his sickness. He knew abso-
aptely nothing at all about his parentage,
nothing about his home and nothing
about any of his surroundings or his
name. He had started life anew from
the date of his recovery from the at
tack of fever under n new name, and
he knew absolutely nothing about where
fortune had cast his lot prior to that
date.
1t seems from reports that before 60
ing to South America he was married
in Fort Worth, and his wife died there
before he left. He remembers nothing
at all about it, He does not remember
his father or any of his family. lie is
as n stranger in strange land. His
father has been busy during the past
few days trying to fasten some old
IreeollectiOns in his mind, but up to the
present time, according to reports, with
ont avail He will take him to the old
home, near Fort Worth, where his sis
Ter anu tHe ldIiilly i've, anu WncTc lnc |
old homestead now stands, and in this
way he hopes to be able to bring back |
the old days of boyhood that have long
since been driven out by the clouds of
forgetfuness and the darkness of time.
The case is one of considerable inter
est, and from reports it has excited no
end of speculation and talk in the Pan
Their city. Mr.. Louices is. perfectly IA
tional now, and has been ever since his
recovery from the fever. He knows
everything that happened since his re-
covery, and knows exactly what he has
done, but prior to the spell of fever life
is a blank to him. His is one of those ,
mysterious cases of mental darkness that
has ever successfully puzzled the medi-
cal world. From now on it will be the
constant effort of the parents of the ,
young man to, by associations and gen
tie reminders, wean back the tide of ,
memory and place their son once more
in a position where he can know old
friends and recall the scenes of happy
boyhood days.
When he left home he had some bank
stock in Fort Worth that was of some
value, and it has lain there untouched
during his absence. He did not even re-
member ever having possessed any stock.
His case is more strange the further in
yestigation goes.
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AN J\JDOpTk Nrp DIEEEpENCE