The Washington herald., 1910-08-26
LOST FIFTY.TWo YEARS.
Abandoned in 1858. Man VIII Now
Attempt TO Solve Mystery.

Attempt TO Solve Mystery.
From the Philadelphia Telegraph.
Abandoned in a carpet bag hfty-twc
years ago. when he was but nine days
old. Alfred sommers Molyneux. Of es
Grove street. Jersey City, has determined
to devote the remaining years Of his life
If necessary TO clearing up the mystery
Of his birth.
Moiyneux IS the name he got from his
adopted parents. Henry and Betsey Molly.
neux. who took him into their home "a
replace son who was born the day he
was found. September 10. 1855 and died
the next day. Both his adopted parents
are now dead. While they lived. Molyneuz
respected their wishes and did not at
tempt to solve the mystery OF his birth
1t was not until he was twenty-eieht
years old that he even knew thar he
was not their own son.
He was then told how the Garnet bag
fitted with air holes. in which he was lef,
TO his fate. had been found aboard a
train on the Amboy division Of the Penn
sylvania Railroad.
A man and woman had boarded The
train at Princeton Junction Thew occu.
pied separate cars. The man carried the
carpet bag He left the train before II
reached Perth Amboy ferry. and the bag
was found beneath the seat he had filled
There were no cries from the bag. a sleep.
ing potion having been given the child
There were some 500 or more passengers
wrhn
Among them was Mrs King, OF jersey
City. who took the baby to her home
The following day Dr. Lutkins. her phy.
sician, told her OF the loss OF the Molly,
neux's. and his fear that Mrs. MoIyneu,
would not survive unless she had a child
to replace her dead baby.
Molyneux believes that one OF his par.
ents was English. and that he was borr
al Washington. He also has reason Il
believe that he was heir TO considerabl,
wealth.
When he started upon the search fol
his relatives he learned that when he wal
between six and seven years old. or jus
at the close OF the civil war, tall, darl
stranger. who looked very much as h,
looks now, made inquiry IN Jersey Cit
for an abandoned baby. he called upoI
DR.. Lutkins, and the doctor. who hac
promised Mr.. and Mrs Molyneux that h,
would never disclose the history of theI
7so7'r9 ST.. misled him an sent hin
away without enlightening him. The mar
said ne must ind the child OF the recor,
OF his death in order 10 settle Up a biz
/ estate IN Washington.
When he was seventeen years old Molly
neuX was taken before a justice OF peac
named Allen. and Mrs. Molyneux had hin
sign some papers. telling him 10 be sur
20 sign his full name. Alfred Sommer
Molyneux." He did not know what IN
papers contained.
When he was twenty-three years oil,
Frederick Payne. brother OF Mrs Molly
neux, asked him one day 70 sign tw,
papers. which he said were application
for position at Washington for a friend
After he had signed. AIolyneux becam
suspicious and asked 70 see the papers
Payne ordered him from the Office.
MolyneuX attempted 70 compel Payne
through proceedings in the Court o
I Chancery. 20 disclose the nature Of tn
papers he signed. but because he coul,
not swear that he had suffered PROPERTY
! loss the effort failed.
For over twenty years Molyneux ba.
been employed by the Lackawanna Rail
road, and he now holds a responsible Do
sition at the shops at Hoboken. He mar.
ried Anna Eichs IN 1895