The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1910-09-23
Which Was Richter?


berg, Germany. q single man named
Albert Richter. He was at that time
twonty-eight years old and had conSid-
cradle landed property. Richter was
quiet. retiring man, respectable ana
honest and well liked, and at the date
we give was keeping company with q
young woman. They quarreled about
something, and he suddenly disap-
peared. He was living with his moth
er. and II was shown that he got up
about midnight and left the house.
That was the last to be seen Of him for
many q year.
As Richter had no brothers or sisters
the government took charge OF his
property after one year and held 1t In
trust. while a reward Of $500 was Of
fered for information concerning him.
When Eve years had passed and not
Q thing had been heard of the missing
Richter he suddenly appeared at his
home-that Is. a man claiming to be he
appeared. lie entered the house one
evening. hung up his hat on the same
old hook and then turned and en-
shaven. Now be 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 a girl came
back to her old home on a 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 II 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.
lie 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 thnn 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
QuaPreled with. He inquired after
twenty different persons, made his way
about the house as If he had been born
In 1t. and the mother rather reluctant
y accepted him for what he claimed
10 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 q child by accident about the time
Richter went away. This man re-
ferred to Il and gave the particulars.
For a 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 q trap
for him. The woman who had exposed
the other had now Immlgrated to Amer.
Sca. This Richter claimed that he had
been ir England all the time, running
q truck garden near Manchester. In
the nsGt village to Konisberg was .
young man who had passed three years
In Q German mercantile house In Man
chester. he was got to come over and
| question Richter, who claimed to b
very familiar with the town. The ras-
cal's downfall soon came. He could
not name ave streets. In fact, he could
tell no more Of the city than any one
who had given 1t a careless glance on
the map. He tried to blur 1t out, but
the government of1cials were notified,
and he was arrested. tried and received
q sentence OF twelve years.
/ Biz 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.
II wis plan enough to the people that
the three lmpostors 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
~ . rascal. His mother had become
% frightened that she dared not say
whether he was the real son or not
All said that he looked the same a.
when he went away. but he did not act
quite the same. He was more silent