The Washington herald., 1907-06-28
WHOLE PAST BLANK
Charles Brewin Can Recall
Nothing of His Family.
HIS WIFE MAY GIVE HIM UP
Man Who Disappeared from Bur-
IinGtOn, \. j., Few Years ago
Found Plying His Old Trade.
Neither His Sons Nor His Brother
Can Revive the Faded Memory.

Newark, n J., June Z7.-One Of the |
strangest cases Of dual Identity or per
sonality on record has just come To light |
Once there was a man by the name
Of Charles P Brewin. and for thirty /
years he was the prosperous head Of |
family, respected by a community, and
sound Of mind, but a strange alteration
occurred in his personality, his appear
ance changed, his manner, habits Of life.
his mentality, and his memory became
those Of another, being, and to-day he
has no more idea he ever was Charles
p. Brewin than that he was Napoleon
or Caesar.
He is now Charles Johnson. A New
York doctor told him so, when ne was
in a hospital in this city, and to the
erstwhile Brewin ii is so.
Wife May Have TO Give Him Up,
Brewin's wife visited him, but he did
not know her. and she fears she VIII
have to give him up. He will be pres
ent al a family reunion at the homo Of
his brother, William, in Psvonia on Sun
day, when his family hope they can
make him know them.
Mr. Brewin lived in the staid old town
Of Burlington. \ J One morning four
and a half years ago he disappeared
! from hts home, and the only clew 70 his
wanderlngs was the finding OF his hat
/ on q Jersey Central ferryboat here. His
| family hunted the country for him. but
could find no trace. At length they gave
| him up for dead and mourned him as
such
/ Alfred Woolman, a trolley conductor,
an old friend OF BreWin, found the trans
] formed man last Monday. The conductor
was running into Plainheld in his car
/ when he spled a little old man sitting
| crumpled up in the corner OF the car.
| Woolman extended his hand and ex-
/ claimed:
"Why, Mr. Brewin. where have you
/ been? We all thought you were dead,
Old Trade. New Identity.
The weakened little mystery turned his
quiet eyes on the conductor. and an
! swered:
You are mistaken; am Charles John
son. I never heard Of Mr.. Brewin.
Woolman was sure Brewin vas the man
before him, and argued the case.
L am sure you are Charles p. Brewin
the Burlington tailor. who disappeared
four years ago Have you been ill?'
"Au I know is that I am Johnson. Yes.
I am "A tailor In Plainfield, but Brewin?
/ I never heard the name before.
The conductor notified the old mans
family. and his son Frank and his brother
William, Of Pavonia, went to see him
He was working away N a little shop.
~. a
with tears in his eyes. and cried out:
"Oh, father thank God We have found
YOU"
Guess you're wrong" said the tailor.
I never had a son; never was married in
my life"
The boy nearly tainted The brother
spoke up.
Charley, don't you remember me, your
brother Bul2 Don't you remember when
/ hit you OF the lip and made that scar?
We were boys then
No" the old man said, sadly. Il had
no brother Bill. ! do not know how that
scar was made and he resumed his
sewing
There. see that key-ring2' said the
brother. Uncle Ned gave you that
long ago. Here, III show you how 10
open IT, Don't you remember what a
puzzle Il was 70 the boys?'
Does Not Know His Relatives.
The brother opened the trick ring with
pin, much to the old mans astonish-
. ment. but the feat did not recall the lost
memory.
Brewin was a deacon in the First
/ Baptist Church at Burlington for many
! years. and belonged 20 the Grand Army
+ Of the Republic. He fought throughout
the civil war, and II is believed he wa:
. injured by a sunstroke, and that this
caused him. forty years later, % forge
himself and become another man. 4
stranger case Of dual personality Ia!
I neverc0me TO the attention of physicians
Il know I am Charles Johnson" tn
E old man exclaimed time and again 70 his
family. "A doctor-Dr Fithian-told M
{ that was my name in New York. Tha
- was two years ago
b. Two years and a half preceding his hos
pital experience are blank 10 him.