The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1908-11-28
Which Was Richter?

In the year 1888 there lived at KOnis-
berg, Germany, single man named
Albert Richter. He was at that time
twenty eight years old and had consid-
cradle landed property. Richter was q
quiet, retiring man, respectable and
honest and well liked, and ut the date
we give was keeping company with a
young woman. They Quarreled about
something, and he suddenly disap-
peared. He was living with his moth
er, and it was shown that he got up
about midnight and left the house.
That was the last to be seen of him for
many a year.
AS Richter had no brothers or sisters
the government took charge of his
property after one year and held it in
trust, while reward of $500 was of.
fered for information concerning him.
When five years had passed and not
q thing had been heard of the missing
Richter he suddenly appeared at his
home-that is, man claiming to be he
appeared He entered the house one
evening. hung up his hat on the same
old hook and then turned and en-
braced his mother. He used to be clean
shaven. Now he had whiskers. That
was the only difference the mother de-
tected. He was welcomed as her long
lost son, and of all the people who
came to see him no one questioned his
identity. Richter claimed that he had
gone away to America because Of the
quarrel with the girl, who was now
married. The government was notified
of his return, and steps were being
taken to return his property when
something happened. The wife whom
he had quarreled with as girl came
back to her old home on visit. When
she heard that her old lover was home
again of course she wanted to see him.
He lodged meeting as long as posi-
BILE, but it came about at length. After
the meeting the woman said she doubt
ed the identity of the person. Other
people began to wonder, and finally
the mother was the only one that did
not doubt The government took the
matter in hand, and Richter was
forced to submit to an examination.
1t was the woman with whom he had
quarreled that wrought his downfall.
He stated the cause of the quarrel, and
he repeated some of the words that
had passed between them, but he could
not describe the interior of her fathers
house. He could not tell how many
presents he had given her.
Within less than two hours the man
who had even fooled the mother Of the
missing man was pronounced an i'm
poster and sent to Jail for trial, and in
| the end he got fifteen years in prison.
Just two years after his exposure an
| other Richter turned up. He walked
into the house as cool as you please,
and almost the first question he asked
was about Katrina, the girl he had
| quarreled with. He inquired after
| twenty different persons, made his way
about the house as If he had been born
in it, and the mother rather reluctant
ly accepted him for what he claimed
to be. There weIesfour persons on the
farm that had been employed there
for many years. This Richter greeted
them all by name as they approached
him to shake hands. One of them had
lost child by accident about the time
Richter went away. This man re-
ferred to it and gave the particulars
For week the mother watched him
and asked questions, and at last she
was satisfied and accepted him. Most
Of the neighbors did the same, but
there was one man that set traI
for him. The woman who had exposed
the other had now immigrated to Amer
lea. This Richter claimed that he hat
been in England all the time, running
truck garden near Manchester. IL
the next village to Konisberg was ,
young man who had passed three year
In German mercantile house In Man
chester He was got to come over ant
question Richter, who claimed to b,
very familiar with the town. The ras
calls downfall soon came. He coul,
not name Eve streets. In fact, he coul,
tell no more of the city than any on
who had given it careless glance o.
the map. He tried to bluff it out, bu
the government officials were notified
and he was arrested, tried and receive
sentence of twelve years.
Six months later the third Richie
appeared, but he didn't carry hi
game far. When questioned by tn
mother he gave many correct answer
and two OF the four employees of th
! farm were ready to declare that b
was the real Albert Richter when til
fellows nerve failed him, and he di
appeared before he could be arreste,
1t was plan enough to the people this
the three impostors had seen and talke
with Richter, In fact they must hay
been chums of his to find out VIII,
, they had.
, Six mouths after the disappearan,
Of the third impostor the real Richt'
returned, but it was to be looked upc
as a rascal. His mother had becou
so frightened that she dared not SO
whether he was the real son or nc
. All said that he looked the same |
when he went away, but he did not a
| urita tho Same He was moro afla,