Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-09-19

final discovery and burial.
There was one fact, however, which
should have been published. but which
did not appear In any newspaper nc
count which came under his notice
Nothing was said about his valuable
and noticeable ring, and this omission
was quite perplexing to Sinnott, alias
Seymour.
This mystery I proceed to solve by
explaining that the body on the island
was first discovered by a man named
Wilson Replette, who had been search
ing with a skiff for .Selics Of the disas
ter. He, also, had seen description OF
Seymour. and had recognized the man
on the island by the ring on his left
hand. His cupidity being too strong
for his conscience, he possessed himself
of the ring, and left the body where
he had found 1t. 1t was afterward dis,
covered by others, and buried as the
body Of John H. Seymour.
Not long after the Ben Lewis disas-
ter, news came to Canada of the
death Of an uncle Of the supposed dead
man, in England. This uncle had been
well-to-dO merchant, and his property
descended to John H. Seymour and his
elder brother, David, their parents be-
ing dead. David Seymour was man
of remarkable honesty in purpose and
in action. As soon as he learned OF
this unexpected windfall, his first
thought was to find his brother, of
whom he had heard nothing during
many years, and secure to him that
portion of the property which was
rightfully his. Accordingly, he adver-
tised in a number of newspapers in
Canada and the States, telling John H.
Seymour that he would hear of some
thing to his advantage by communicate
ing with his brother David, at Kings
ton, and requesting all who might be
possessed of any information concern
ing him to send 1t to that address.
This notice came under the eye Of n
gen6eman VINO had known John H.
Seymour IN Alton, and he wrote to
David, informing him that his brother
was supposed to have persisted in a
steamboat disaster on the Mississippi.
Further inquiry brought out the partic-
ulars of the explosion of the Ben Lewis
and Of the discovery and burial Of
what was believed to be the body Of
John H. Seymour. The evidence to
this effect was so convincing that
David Seymour was compelled to be-
lieve that his brother was dead, and
was preparing to use his share OF the
property as his Cwn, when claimant
put In an appearance, representing
himself to be John H. Seymour who
was supposed to be lost.
In pursuance Of my purpose not to
allow my readers to be mystified, al
though this phase Of the case might
be worked up" in a, sensational man.
ner. proceed to state that this claim
ant was no other than Wilson Replette,
of Kentucky, who had taken the ring
from the dead hand Of the supposed
Seymour.
David Seymour's advertisement came
under his notice, and he saw his way
pretty clearly into stepping into a for
tune. He had been careful reader
Of all the newspaper literature in con-
nection with the Ben Lewis disaster,
and was aware that John H. Sey-
mour's peculiar and valuable ring was
a very important element in the ques-
ton of his Identification. as its absence
from the body created doubt as to
whether John II. Seymour had really
died and been buried. 1t Is not at all
surprising that he turned his steps
toward Canada, with the view of per-
sonating John H. Seymour and claim
ing his share Of the property Of the
English uncle.
First, however, he went to Alton. to
learn something about the life and
character of the man whom he was to
represent. He prosecuted his inquiries
so as not to excite suspicion, and when
he had gained such information as
would suit his purpose, went to Kings
ton and presented himself to David
Seymour as his long-lost brother.
David failed to recognize him, as
was not surprising after SO long a
separation, and called for his proofs
of identity. Replette was prepared
with these, and showed the ring. upon
which he chiefly relied to sustain his
cause, with newspaper slips describing
1t minutely, among other distinguish
ing marks upon the persons Of people
who were missing after the explosion
of the Ben Lewis.
To oil nraaf dno1 RI rQvQ tQ
concerning his life in Illinois, and his
experiences in connection with the ex-
r'oded steamer. but gave no infOrma-
ton about the years he had passed in
Canada, or about his parents, relatives
or friends. This he accounted for by
saying that severe attack OF fever.
during his residence in Illinois, which
had nearly carried him to his grave,
had also entirely destroyed all memory
Of his former life.
David Seymour was almost but not
quite convinced that this man was
really his brother. Before acknowl-
edging him as such. however, he con-
scented, in Difference to the advice Of
his lawyer, to write to Alton, request
ing some Of the former acquaintance
Of John H. Seymour to come on to
Kingston and identify him.
Some men came to Kingston from
Illinois i'm answer to this request, but
not the men expected. They were de-
tective officers, provided with a requi-
sition from the Governor Of Illinois,
for the arrest of John II. Seymour on
a criminal charge. AS this requisition
was of no effect in Canada, they de-
coyed Replette across the river into
New York, where he was arrested and
taken to Illinois.
When David Seymour discovered
that the man whom he almost believed
to be his brother had been kidnapped
and carried away, he was highly indig.
nant.
He FASTENED to write to the lawyer at
Alton. with whom he had previously
communicated, and was getting ready
to 60 to Illinoir, when he was con-
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