The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-03-19
A REMARKABLE CASE.
A Young Man Twice Wooes
and Wins the Girl He Loves.
Through Mental Disorder He Is Led
to Wander from Home, and For
gets All About Events of
the Past

gets All About Events of
the Past
AS the finale to an exceedingly singu-
lar and at the same time a romantic
case, information was lately received
to the effect that William +. Higgins of
Sandusky. and Miss Edith Marchus, of
263 Forest street, Cleveland, were mar
red i'll that city some time ago, thus
joining two young people who were
separated for months by unprecedented
circumstances.
Several months ago the medical au-
thorities were nonplussed by the pc
culiar maladp which afflicted Mr.. Hig-
gins, and to this day there has been no
satisfactory explanation of it made.
The young man is about % years of
age, and up 10 the summer of 1895, lived
with his parents in Sandusky. He went
to ElYria, where he obtained a situation
ON the electric railway, and one day in
August of that year, while at work as a
lineman, an insulator fell from a cross
top and struck him on the forehead. At
ne time he complained of a peculiar
sensation about the head, and as time
passed by he daily became more con
fused in his thoughts. Fearing that he
would be i'll, he returned home, and was
prostrated for four weeks. When he had
recovered his health apparently, he re-
turned To Elyria and reentered the en-
Ploy Of the railway company.
One Saturday evening he announced to
his landlady that he was going home tn
spend Sunday, and she became alarmed
when the young man did not return.
Mr.. Higgins, the father, went to Elyria
in search of his son. That was the first
intimation that anyone had that mis-
fortune had befallen the young man. IL
was thought for time that the young
man had been murdered for his money.
This idea was exploded when his bank
book and a sum of money were found in
his valise. The father returned home
thinking ne would never see his son
again. He communicated with the au-
thoritieS of various cities, asking for
information regarding his son. Re
ports came of strange young mon in
various sections. and the father
travelled hundreds of miles to identify
his son. SO many disappointments
awaited him that for a time il seemed
hope was vain.
One day a friend of the family told
the father that he thought he had seen
VIII in st. Louis. Mr.. Higgins at once
left for that city and found his son.
The father was OveriOyed at the re-
covcry of his son and threw his arms
around the neck of the young man. The
CONSERVATION and horror of the father
can hardly Toe imagined when the son
said: Excuse me. but / do not know
YOU" Then the terrible truth flashed
across the mind of the father, and he re
allied that his son had lost his memory.
The father worked with the young mau
for hours trying to recall to him scenes
Of his home and mother. but all to no
avail. The young man said he remem-
hered nothing antedating his living in
. boarding house in St. Louis. Whcr,
&c came from. he. said, ne did not know.
He said. however. he was deSirouS 90
solving the mystery of his past. and ac-
ceptcd his fathers invitation to return
home with him in the hope that his
memory might be awakened.
1t was supposed that when young
Higgins would arrive home and see his
mother he would again be himself IT,
every respect. But he did not. know her
Though she wept on his shoulder and
repeated to him all those fond names
she used in addressing him when he WAS
infant AMI growing child. He could
hot recall ANYTHING of his past.
Then delicate surprise was ar
ranged for him, which, ii was
hoped. as last resort. would awaken
his memory. Miss Edith Marchus. of
263 Forest street, this city. whom Mr..
Higgins had been engaged to marry i'm
October. 1895. was sent for. She ar
rived, and was much moved bv thr
presence of her lover, whom she had
mourHed as dead for so many months.
The Young man treated her with re
spect. but his demcanor plainly indi-
Gated that Miss Mlrchus. whom he
would have married but for his mis-
fortune. was rs n stranger to him. Miss
Marchus had formerly lived i'm San
duSlly. and having moved to Cleveland.
she was prevailed upon 10 remain at th,.
Higgins home for several days. in the
hope that constant association would
rekindle young Higgins memory.
All efforts failed. however, but Mr..
Higgins developed a strong attachment
for Miss Marchus, which ripened into
love, and they were finally married in
this city.-Cleveland Leader