The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-11-14

with him and asked after the mother
and sister. Farther up the street he
met village merchant and shook
hands and laughingly said that he had
been east in search of a wife. He
walked to his house, entered and called
to the family and kissed mother and
sister and apologized for having wor-
ried them as he had. He had the age,
height, look and voice of Jared, and at
first the women accepted him as such.
The story he told was a queer one.
He had gone to look at a lead mine
with view of buying. and during the
short time he was left alone he had
tumbled down an old shaft. He knew
no more after that until he suddenly
came to himself one day In a town in
Kansas and found himself a tramp.
The fall had produced concussion of
the brain. and, though treated by doc
tors, he had lost his memory and his
Identity and only recovered his wits
when a constable banged his head
against door in arresting him. He
had told his story, found friends and
been assisted to reach his home.
The story passed all right with the
women for day or two, but as it got
around the village and was discussed
pro and con they began to doubt OF
the five doctors in town four declared
the thing impossible. OF the 1900
inhabitants not more than ten were
satisfied of the truth of the story. The
matter spread until two or three coun-
ties were interested and dozen news
papers were discussing it, and first
and last good many people had their
say about it. The first idea, of course
was to test this Jared Burton's memory
about the events of his life. 1t was a
great point in his favor that he had
recognized two or three citizens at the
moment of his arrival and that later on
he had met dozens of others and made
no mistake except in one instance. He
had seemed thoroughly familiar with
the house and with certain business
matters. and while he did not write
as free hand as formerly it passed
for Jareds chirography. He had with
him the key of his desk; he asked after
certain clothing he had left; he casual
ly recalled various incidents. and he
had settled down as the long lost re-
turned when he learned that his iden-
tity was questioned. He promptly de-
manded the fullest and closest investi-
cation, and the doubters were ready to
make it.
In his boyhood days Jared Burton
had received burn on the foot leav-
ing a bad scar. This man exhibited
the scar. Jared Burton had been bitten
on the calf Of the leg by a dog. Here
was the scar of the bite. He had once
been near death by drowning. Tho
man told OF the incident. He had been
in Chicago with his uncle for a week;
he had fallen Off the roof of barn; he
had been on jury in lawsuit; he had
been robbed by man on the highway.
All these things were told over without
a mistake, together with hundreds of
other incidents. 1t was public inves-
tigation, with everybody free to ask
questions. and it lasted four days.
There were still some who carped after
it was closed, but there was complete
change Of popular opinion, and Jared
Burton was complimented on all sides.
The mother and sister fully accepted
him, and he settled down into his place
unquestioned. Three months had gone
by. and the talk and wonder had all
died out when a blind man came along
one day, He was known in various vii
lagos as "Old Hanson" He sang
songs, told fortunes and performed
tricks and was well liked. Standing on
the public square with a crowd around
him, he sang songs and then asked IL
Jared Burton was among the specta-
tors. Jared stepped forward, and the
old man took him by the hand. 1t was
his boast that, having once heard
mans voice and shaken hands with
him. he could forever after identify
him by the feel of his palm.
This is not Jared Burtonr he ex-
claimed as he let the hand fall.
'But 1t is" chorused dozen voices.
"But l say it is not. 1t is not his
hand | never met this hand before"
''You win believe It is Jared Burton
when | tell you so, won't your" asked
Jared.
mo. You cannot deceive me on the
palm. You are stranger to me-"
There had been an Investigation and