Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-07-15
Which Was Richter ]?
lcopyrisht. 1905. by T. {. Mcclurc.l

twenty-eight years old and had consid-
cradle landed property Richter was a
quiet. retiring man. respectable and
honest and well liked. and at the date
we give was keeping company with
young woman. They quarreled about
something. and he suddenly disap-
pearcd. 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 year.
As Richter had no brothers or sisters
the government took charge of his
property after one year and held it In
trust. while II reward of 5000 was Of
fered for Information concerning him.
When five years had passed and not
a 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-
tccted. He was welcomed us her long
lost son. and of all the people who
caIue 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 a meeting as long as posi-
Bile. but 1t 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
uc IcptdtGt SOllc Vi liz NOIuS tuul
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
3 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 II he had been born
In it. and the mother rather reluctant
ly accepted him for what he claimed
to be. There were four 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 a trap
for him. The woman who had exposed
the other had now immigrated to Amer
ica. This Richter claimed that he had
been in England all the time. running
a truck garden near Manchester. In
the next village to Konisberg was n
young man who had passed three years
in German mercantile house in Man
chester. He was got to come over and
question Richter. who claimed to be
very familiar with the town. The ras-
calls downfall soon came He could
not name five streets. In fact, he could
tell no more of the city than any one
who had given il a careless glance on
the map He tried to bluff it out. but
the government officials were notified
and he was arrested. tried and received
sentence of twelve years.
Six months later the third Richter
appeared. but he didn't carry his
game far. When questioned by the
mother he gave many correct answers
and two of the four employees of the
farm Were ready to declare that he
was the real Albert Richter when the
fellows nerve failed him, and he dis,
appeared before he could be arrested
1t was plan enough to the people that
the three impostors had seen and talked
with Richter, In fact. they must have
been chums of his to find out what
they had.
Six months after the disappearance
of the third impostor the real Richter
returned. but it was to be looked upon
as a rascal His mother had become
so frightened that she dared not say
whether he was the real son or not.
All said that he looked the same as
when he went away. but he did not act
unite the same He was more silent |