The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-15
BARNES IS FOUND
Man Who Disappeared Myster-
iOusly Three Years Ago
Is United to His Wife and Other
Relatives.
MEMORY WAS RI.ANK
WAS A BLANK
Until He Accidentally Met His
Brother I'm Quebec.
Made 100000 During Period
of Mental Alteration.

| patch from Charles E. Barnes, dated
! Cannes, France. to a friend in this city,
was received yesterday, announcing
| that he and Mrs. Barnes had been re-
united in Europe and had arrived at
Cannes on their second honeymoon.
They will soon return to America.
This makes the final chapter in one
of the most wonderful cases of lost
memory and dual personality recorded
in America.
Three years ago Mr.. Barnes, then
manager of the New York office of the
Blickensderfer Typewriter company,
prosperous and the devoted husband of
a beautiful wife. mysteriously disap-
peared from the Fall River line steam
er Priscilla while en- route to Boston.
For weeks rigorous search was made,
but even his wife lost hope, and it
was believed he had met with foul play
or had committed suicide.
William Barnes, the brother of the
missing man, is in business in Quebec.
While walking to his office last Feb
ruary he met a man whom he thought
to be the perfect double of his brother.
He stared at the man. who looked up.
With startled looks both gazed at each
other. Charles Barnes-for the sup
posed double was the real brother
reeled forward and fell into his arms,
calling: "WillI Will! what is matter :?
Where am I?'
The chance meeting on the street
had in a flash called back the lost
identity. and the memories of the past
came surging back to the mind. which
had been blank to all that had occur
red previous to the landing of the
Priscilla at Fall River.
''Where is Kate? Where is my wife?
Have 1 been ill?' were some of the
questions which Barnes asked his
brother in quick succession.
Reunion With His Wife.
The story of his disappearance and
the belief of all of his relatives that he
was dead was told to him. Mrs Barnes,
who had been in straitened means, was
in Europe chaperoning party of girls,
and as soon as her address. was learned
Barnes cabled her. On receiving her
reply he sailed to join her.
The most remarkable feature of the
whole marvellous tale is the fact that
during the years that Barnes was un-
aware of his identity he amassed more
than 100000 by fortunate investments
in timber and mining claims in Mani
toba.
The adventures of Barnes during the
three years of his strange mental lapse, !
and the remarkable manner in which
his memory was restored, were told yes |
terday by Mrs. Henry A. Buttz, wife of
the president of the Drew Theological
Seminary and aunt of Mrs. Barnes, at
her home in Madison, N. J.
T..
recovered his memory. We missed each
other OH the ocean, he going to his wife, |
and we were returning home" Mrs. |
Buttz said. Il have, however, received
letters from my niece, and although l
do not know all of the details I have |
been informed of all Of the essential |
facts.
''Mr. Barnes remembers nothing as to
how he left the Fall River steamer. He |
first became conscious and normal, eX- |
1T t.,
lumber camp in the northwest. All of |
his past was a complete blank to him |
and he began to work with the men in
the logging camp. From his cards he |
that his name must be Charles
E. Barnes, and so continued to use his
real name For several months he re-
mained in the camp. Then he got tim
ber land and established a business for
himself. His financial success was
but nothing of his past came
back to him.
His business often took him to
Quebec, and it was on one of these
trips that he met his brother. My
husband and I were in Rome with
a cable to my husband. 1t was ar
ranged for Mr.. Barnes to join his
wife; it was impossible for her to re-
turn, as she was chaperonfng a party
Of six young women on a tour OF Eu-
rope.
Mr.. Barnes says he does not remem
Der that he was injured or received
any shock while he was on the steam
ar. He was quite run down from busi-
ness cares and had taken the trip to
Boston by sea in the hope that it
would afford relaxation. He says he
IAN remember nothing that occurred
1n the trip
Police Declared Him a Suicide.
Mr.. Barnes disappearance created a
sensation. The police here and in
Boston searched for weeks for a clew
md several arrests were made on a
heory of foul play. The police even
ually declared the case one CT suicide.
When the Priscilla arrived in Fall
River Barnes hat and coat, with arti-
lies of toilet were found in his state
.oom. How he left the ship is as much
mystery as ever. but friends now be-
ieve that Barnes, who is a powerful
WINNER Jumped into the water as the
-essel was nearing her dock and swan
Lshore The officers of the boat de-
lared he had not gone ashore by the
Usual means.
After her husbands disappearance
drs. Barnes was obliged to earn her
,wn living She became the matron Of
he Bordentown Military Academy
nd remained in that position until ]
ast September, when she took the
,arty of young women to Europe. lt
The properties Mr. Barnes has ac- !
,os.ts Timber was the only object !
le had in view when he purchased
hem, but as that was cleared off !
edges of copper ore were discovered.
The most singular thing, perhaps.
n Mr.. Barnes case is that although he I
he return of his memory he has not ]
orgotten his life during the three 1
ears and retains a keen grasp of his
usiness affairs.