The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-01-18

Chicago, III, Jan. 16.-Sranger than
fiction Is the story Of Alexander
Kesche. which was laid before Attor-
ney John Mason Duffy in the Unity
building yesterday 1t deals with
man without an identity. without
known relative and without name,
for Alexander Kesche is only an as
sumed name, although it is the best he
could do.
Kesche's story told to the attorney
is indeed strange. The tracing of tle
meager threads of his life may lead
TO the solution of a London murder
and kidnapping Of international
prominence. The story runs as fol-
lows:
Kesche Is about 81 years old and
the first he can remember was when
lad of about or he was taken
from large. white house in the coun-
try. where there were servants and
people who gave his mucl attention.
His abductor wore a long beard and
walked him through a rough, desolate
way until the poor child was so tired
the man picked him up and carried
him. The boy fell asleep and when
he awoke he was In woman's lap
the ensuing events except t1at they
lived for some time In a richly fur
| nished apartment in the city of Lon
| don. The woman was very kind to
| him. but the man hated her and him.
Kesche remembers they moved many
| times and seldom stayed over few
weeks or months in any one place.
| His story of the woman's death is
Il t1l1 81 fa1l
1--WE kept living like this until
was about II years Of age. Then one
! day | passed the woman's room as
she lay on the bed and she beckoned
to me. 1he nurse was asleep in an
other room. l crept in on tip toe and
put my arms around her neck. She
seemed dreadfully sick. She motion
| led for me 10 bring her some Ink ant
paper and pen. When she had then
she wrote a title short note. There
were about four lines to ii. and ther
she signed it. / could not read II
because | think II was in that for
eign language.
Then she motioned me to get hel
travelling bag. quietly. She took ou
a package OF paper money and some
gold and silver coins. She pulled me
close to her and pressed them all II
my hands. III never forget how sh'
spoke to me, because she seemed t.
be in great pain.
"'You are not my son. she said
you have been taken away from
home. This man has killed me. HI
will kill you when l die. Get to Am
erica at once, and these papers vii
take you home
fHer right side was wrapped wit
bandages. There was blood on them
Since then l have thought she mus
have been shot or stabbed. The mex
night, while everybody was asleep
slipped out of the house and ran dow
into the business section.
about month later | was attacke
and the paper taken from me. althoug
the money was left. A short tim
after l shipped to America with
Russian sailor by the name Of Ale,
, | ander Kesche To this day / do nc
know my real name or who I am
After tnis narrative the man tol
how he had stayed with Kesche unit
the latter sailed from America In al
other ship He said that as he ha
been kept in ignorance of his famil
!, talked in his presence In a foreie
, tongue. he could not remember an
!. thing by which he could establish b
real identity. Since he parted fro
the sailor he has kept himself by wor
ing on ships and during recent yea
has sailed on boats that ply the gre
lakes.
The money that had been given hi
!, by the strange woman supported hi
!. for three years. Until recently he b.
= not interested himself greatly abo
his origin. On telling his story
some friends lately he was advis
y to see Mr.. Duffy as a lawyer.
Duffy referred the man 10 a priva
detective agency.
81 am greatly interested In find!
= out my real name" said the man
l. mystery. "Some day / may want
e. marry and pass my name down to l
u children. Alexander Kosche hims
u is liable 10 reappear. | think Il
= little paper Of which I was robt
would have revealed who l am"