The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-02-04
Identity Sought.
A Case of Peculiarities and Many
Difficulties

Of late about John Dorr Of Boca. Cali
fornia, who is alguest at Hotel Oxford
at this time and who has been at Fair
field trying to establish his identity.
He came east to investigate the circum-
stances Of the disappearance Of George
Kendall, son of the late George ndall,
who died at Fairfield several years ago
having reached the century mark.
Upon arriving here he WAS confronted
with the statement that George Kendall,
the missing son, was born 10 1884, was
81 years old when he disappeared and
thus would, II living, be abou. II years
older than Mr.. Dorr who estimates his
age at 30 years. Mrs Russell, who took
care of the venerable George Kendall in
his latter years. and who was interested
in the estate of Mr.. Kendall, informed
him she was at Sacramento, Cali
fornia about year ago and talked with
Mr.. DORIS lawyer and that he was salts
fled Mr.. Dorr had no claim to kinship
with George Kendall.
Incidentally while looking up the Ken
dali affair and looking over the town of
FART ted he was informed that a boy
named Claiming son of the late Major
John W. Claiming of Fairfield, was
missing in 1855 and never heard from
after, the supposition being that he was
drowned in the Kennebec river. This
caused Mr.. Dorr to institute Inquiries in
regard to this boy. There are circum.
stances connected with the case that
would make 1t possible that the C an
ming boy aud Dorr might be identical.
The age which Is matter Of estimate
on the part of Dorr, would be correct
within a year at most. Charles Claiming,
a son of John W., it is stated, is impress.
ed that there is n possibility of Mr.. Dorr
being his brother but cannot accept it as
fact without further proof. 1t was not
deemed prudent for Mrs. Charming to
see Mr.. Dorr because of her i'll health.
Mr.. DORIS remembrance of the place
he left when, as he supposes, he was
kidnapped is not clear; he remembers
hill which he thinks may have been
Emery hill in Fairfield, yet it does not
compare closely with the hill he has
carried in his mind nearly half century.
He remembers nothing about the river.
His theory is that a young, medium
sized man with light hair took him
aboard a train and after long ride they
arrived at Bridgeport, Conn., The kid
NAPIER abandoned him before they
reached Bridgeport and when he got
there he WAS given over to the police
and found his way to the city poor
house. He thinks he did not remain at
the poor house year.
From Bridgeport he went to Waiding
River, Long Island, where he entered
the home of John j. Woodruff, remaiI-
ing there nine years. He speaks of Mr..
and Mrs. Woodruff with pleasure but
supposes tn may be among the de-
ceased now as they were born about the
year 1925.
After leaving Long Island, Mr.. Dorr
went to sea for time, then was en-
ployed at various pursuits in the states
along the Mississippi and inTexas, then
Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Mon
tana, Washington, and since 1894 has
been in California.
He does not appear sanguine about
getting any light upon his nativity and
family. He purposes to go to Waidinh
River when he leaves here. Ii the
Woodhulls are alive he thinks they can
tell the year be went there and he can
thn t,,n Il
year the Charming boy disappeared. To
the best of his calculation there appears
to be discrepancy Of one year in these
dates. He has liz view visiting Bridg-
port, Conn, but has not much conf
dence that the poor house records will
show what tine he was there. Falling
in getting auy definite information upon
this subject of deep interest to him, he
purposes to return to his California
home.
Mr.. Dorr states that in early life he
had an impeachment in his speech and
could not speak many words. To the
inability to articurte words he attrib.
utes the inability to remember the names
of his native town and of people there,
including his own parents. He seems to
cling to his first theory that George
Kendall must have been toy rather
than a man when he left Fairfi Id, other
wise his father would not have adver-
tsed all over the country for him rs he
understands he did.
Mr.. Dorr is quiet earnest man, about
medium height and sz', has regular
features, broad full forehead and black
hair well sprinkled with grey. He is
somewhat tactiturn but uses expressive
words to convey his ideas. 1t borders
on the pathetic 10 see a man of his years
making persistent effort to ascertain
his real name and place of nativity.