The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1903-11-21

aut 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 caule
under his notice, and he saw Hls wa!
pretty clearly into stepping into fof-
tune. He had been q careful reader
Of all the newspaper literature i'll con-
nartion with the Ben Lewis disaster
ara was aware that John RI. Sey-
,nour's peculiar and valuable ring was
very ,r,portant element IN the ques-
ton OF his Identification, as it's absence
from the body created DOUBT a. 70
whether John II. Seymour haa really
died and been buried. 1t is not AT All
surprising that he turned MS Steps
toward Canada. with the view OF per-
ssuatine John II. Seymour and clam
ing lis share of the property OF the
English uncle.
First, however, he went to Alton, TO
learn something about the life ana
character Of the man whom he was 10
represent. tie prosecuted his inquiries
so as not to excite suspicion. and when
he ted gained such information as
would suit lis purpose, went to hings-
ton and presented himself 10 Da'lo
Seymour as his lorg-lost brother
David failed to recognize him, as
was rot surprising al.er so long a
separation. and called FOR his proofs
Of identity. Replette vas prepared
with these, and showed the rinS. upt.a
which he Chiefly relied to sustain his
cause. with newspaper slips describing
it m,nutely. among other distinguish
Inc marks upon the persons OF people
who were missing after the explosion
Of the Ben Lewis.
He also had a great deal to relate
concerning his life in Illinois. and MS
experiences in connection with the ex-
ploded steamer, but gave no 1nforma-
ton about the years he had passed in
Canada, or about his parents. relatives
or friends. This he accounted for by
saving that a severe attack OF 1ever.
during his residence in Illinois, when
had nearly carried him to his grave
had also entirely destroyed all memory
Of his former life.
David Seymour was almost, out not
quite. convinced that this man was
really his brother. Before ackno"l-
edging him as such, however. ne con.
sented, in Difference to the ADVICE Oh
his lawyer. to write to Alton, request
ing some Of the former acqualntances
Of John II. Seymour to come on 70
Kingston and identify him.
Some men came to Kingston from
Illinois in answer to this request. but
not the men expected. They were de-
tectiye officers, provided with requl-
sition from the Governor of Illinois,
for the arrest of John H. Seymour on
criminal charge AS this requisition
was of no effect in Canada, they de-
covcd Replette across the river into
New York. where he was arrested ana
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 lnclg-
| nant.
He hastened to write to the lawyer at
Alton. with whom he had previously
communicated. and was getting ready
to 30 to Illinois, when he was con-
| fronted by another claimant to the
property which his uncle had left.
This was no other man than John
H. Seymour himself. He had been 1v-
ing in Tennessee under the name OF
Sinnott, and he, as well as Replette'
| had kept I'D with the current literature
| OF the Ben Lewis disaster. David Sey-
mour's advertisement had luckily come
| under his notice, and he saw no reason
why he should not 90 and take posses
sion Of his property. Canada was not
| the United States. and he did not sup
! pose that any search would be mace
| for him. as he was believed to be Gead.
He went to Kingston, accordingly,
and presented himself to his brother
| who did not recognize him, as 1t was SO
long since they had met, and who told
him Of the claimant who had lately ap'
| peared wearing the ring that had be-
loneed to John Fl. Seymour. The real
John H. had no means Of identifying
| himself, except by bringing TO tne
| remembrance OF his brother scenes and
incidents. and words in connection
| with their early life which were known
! only to themselves. This process was
| successful after a while. the relation
ship being admitted by David Sey'
| mour. and the proof being satisfactory
even to his lawyers.
As for Replette. it was soon d1scoV'
! cred at Alton that he was not the man
he had represented himself to be. ano
he was set at liberty. He fastened to
Kingston, but letter from Alton nae
reached David Seymour previous to Ms
arrival, and he only experienced loss
in being forced to give up to John II
Seymour the ring which had played
such q prominent part in this little
drama.
The Seymours went to England
where they received and divided theil
property. and where John II. 1s stii
living. in spite of e1tradition laws.
! l might have worked up these Incl
| ao,+s into GcanSn tional story. but the