The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-01-06
A REMARKABLE CASE.
4 Young Man Twice wooes
and Wins the Girl He Loves
Through Measal Disorder Ho Il L4d
to Wander from Home, and For.
gets All About Events OF
tho Past.

tho 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 E. Higgins, OF
Sandusky, and Miss Edith Marchus, Oh
263 Forest street, Cleveland, were mar.
ried In 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
cuiiar malady 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 to the summer of 1895, lived
with his parents in Sandusky. He went
to Elyria, where he obtained situation
on the electric railway. and one day in
August of that year. while at work as q
lineman, an insulator fell from a cross
top and struck him on the forehead. At
the time he complained of a peculiar
passed by ne daily became more con-
fused in his thoughts. Fearing that he
would be i'll, he returned home, end was
prostrated for four weeks When he had
recovered his health apparently. he re-
turned TO Elyria and reentered the em
ploy of the railway company.
One Saturday evening he announced to
his landlady that he was going home to
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
insimation thai anyone had that mis-
fortune had befallen the young man. It
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 he 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 men in
various sections, and the father
travelled hundreds of miles to identify
his son. So many disappointments
awaited him that for time it 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 overjoyed at the re-
covery of his son and threw his arms
around the neck of the young man. The
CONSERVATION and horror of the father
can hardly be 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-
ahzed that his son had lost his memory.
The father worked with the young man
for hours trying to recall TO him scenes
Of his home and mother, but all to no !
avail. The young man said he remem- |
bered nothing sntedstin his living in |
I boarding house in St Louis. Where |
he came from, he said, he did not know. |
BE said, however, he was desirous OF !
solving the mystery OF his past, and ac-
,epted his fathers invitation to return
home with him in the hope that his
might be awakened.
1t was supposed that when young |
Higgins would arrive home and see his
mother he would again be himself ,n
very respect. But he did not know her,
llthOugh she wept on his shoulder and
epeated to him all those fond pAmes
The used in addressing him when lie was
In infant and growing child. BE could
rot recall anything of his past
Then a delicate surprise was ar
anged for him, which, it was
loped, as last resort, would awaken
us memory. Miss Edith Marchus. Of
63 Forest street, this city, whom Mr..
Eggins had been engaged To marry in
October, 1885, was sent for. She ar
ived, and was much moved by the
resence of her lover, whom she had
ncurned as dead for so many months.
he young man treated her with re-
pact, but his demeanor plainly indi-
ated that Mss Marchus, whom he
you'd have married but for his mis-
ortune, was as q stranger to him. Miss
farchu5 had formerly lived in San
usky. and having moved to Cleveland.
be- " as prevailed U:on to remain at the
GceiDs home for several days, in the
ope .hat constant association would
ekindle young Higgins memory.
All efforts failed, however. but Mr..
Higgins developed strong attachment
Dr. Miss &archus. which ripened into
we, and they were finally married in
as citY@Cleyelnnd Leader