The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-30
A LOST IDENTITY
AT LAST RESTORED
Samuel Remington Regains
Memory and Reason.
Wandered From Philadelphia
While Mentally Afflicted.
Police Found Him in Washington
Suffering From Opium Poisoning
aud Sent Him to the Hospital.

The police department yesterday cleared
up a mystery which has been battling
the authorities of Philadelphia and caus-
ing the relatives and friends of Samuel
Remington, of that city, great concern for
some time. They discovered the identity
of the man who has been missing from his
home at Gas North Eighteenth Street,
Philadelphia, since the 18th inst, and who
has been in this city in two different hos
pitfalls since a few days after his disap-
pearance from his home.
The first seen of Remington since leav-
ing Philadelphia was when he was picked
up in the street about 10 o'clock on the
morning OF January % and sent to the
Emergency Hospital suffering from the eff
fects of opium poisoning. as was exclusive
ly stated in The Times.
The man at that time gave his name as
Samuel Green and his residence as VIII
mington, Del. These were thought at the
time to be fictitious, and purposely so, but
it now develops that the man had no idea
who he was or from where he hailed. He
was in a delirious condition, supposed TO
have been caused by the dose of morphine
pills he had taken. To the physicians he
stated that he was the victim of domestic
troubles and wanted TO end his life. This
story was Simply the 0eluSlOnH OF one not
in possession of his mental faculties.
Remington's case was al once diagnosed
opium poisoning and it was seen that he
was not in a serious condition. the dose
of pills taken had been of such quantity
as to cause nausea. After he had been
treated he was turned over to the Central
Union Mission and cared for until the fol-
lowing morning. On that date he ap-
peared at detective headquarters and, COM
,Iafr NJ laitN tn
mans Hospital for treatment, where be
was detained until yesterday. At the lat
ter hospital he also gave the name OF
Green. During the stay of the man at
Freedmans an effort was made by the hos
pital authorities to discover his identity,
but without avail until yesterday morn
ing.
At that time it was decided that the con-
dition of the man would permit his leay-
ing the institution. He was informed of
this and hailed the news with great JOY.
Suddenly, however, it occurred TO him that
he had no place TO CO. and, worse than all,
that he did not know who he was He
reconciled himself to his position, how
ever, and asked for his clothes.
On searching his pockets in an effort to
find something to indicate his identity he
discovered an only clew, and one which
solved the mystery. 1t was photograph
of his little daughter. He gazed at it for
some moments and finally through his dis
ordered and muddled brain cfept the
knowledge that he held in his hand the
picture of his child. Other thoughts crowd
ed his mind in quick succession until the
whole situation dawned upon him and he
remembered his name.
Upon leaving the hospital, Remington
followed instructions given him by the
rI.-,-isus fyrocoeiv.i uCpocp-
i've headquarters. Here ne met and talked
with c. A. Evans, an operator at the
bureau. Evans remembered his visitor
and, after questioning him closely. made
4 search through an ingenious system of
newspaper police clippings invented by
Inspector Boardman and discovered that
Remington was from Philadelphia and had
been missing since January H. Evans
communicated this information to his visi-
tor and the man recalled the entire cir
cumstances of his disappearance. He be-
came very nervous at the discovery and
was very grateful. He asked that his
people be communicated with. This was
done by telegraph and an answer received
later informed the police that the father
i, of the unfortunate man would start for
this city 10 take charge of him.
Remington, who is 90 years old and
we'll CONNECTED in Philadelphia, is a drug
gist and had, until the time of his disap-
pesTance. been employed by Hance Bros.
& White, wholesale druggists, in the
Quaker City. He is married and has one
child. His domestic relations are of the
happiest kind and he is well thought of
and trusted by his employers.
About year ago Remington had
severe attack of the grip. which left him
slightly deranged mentally. He outgrew
this, however, and was in perfect mental
and physical health until early in the
present month, when he suffered a second
attack of the malady which had pre-
viOusly unbalanced his mind. This latter
attack was rather severe and when the
patient became convalescent, return OF
the mental arrangement was noticed in
a mild form. II seemed to wear OFF, how
( ever, and little or no attention was paid
/ to # until the young man mysteriously
/ disappeared from his home.
! Remington, when seen at detective head
! quarters last night, seemed TO have en-
! tirely recovered from his affection. He
| was not loquacious about his condition or
! trouble. His chief concern was about his
wife and family. He frequently expressed
! the hope that they knew nothing of his
/ doings in this city and was more than
| anxious TO rejoin them. He remembers
having been in Philadelphia on the 18th
| of the month. but his adventures since
| that time, until he found himself in
! Freedman's Hospital, are almost a total
/ blank TO him. He will probably be re-
| turned TO his home this morning in the
| care of his father or some other relative
who will journey here to look after him.
I CsrrYy