The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-01-22
NOTABLE CASE
NEAR THE END
Daniel B. Russell Seeks to Prove
His Claim as Heir to
Fortune.
SI,OOO,OOO ESTATE AT STAKE
Friends of His Youth Are Unable to
Identify Man Who Was Absent "a
Years and Who Is Seeking to
Establish Claims.

Boston. Mass, Jan. 22.-The most
notable Identity case ever tried before
an American judge. a case rivaling in
interest and resembling in many re-
spects the famous Tichborne case in
England a generation ago, is now
nearing the close of its trial i'm the
MddIcsex probate court in East Cam
bridge. For nearly four months the
public hereabouts has followed with
intense interest the daily court pro-
ceedings which are expected TO prove
whether the North Dakota ranch
man calling himself Daniel Blake Rus
sell is really the son of Daniel Russell
n shrewd and daring imposter. For
weeks the trial has formed n staple to-
pic OF discussion throughout New
England. And, with the end of the
trial in sight. it may be said that
public opinion lin regard to the val
idity OF the claim seems TO be as much
divided as at the beginning of the
famous case.
The trial has been cnlivened with
romantic features, surprises and SEN
sations which would find difficulty Of
belief if appearing i'm a work of fic-
ton. At first sight 1t would appear
to be an easy matter for a man to
prove his identity in a community
where he had passed his boyhood un-
iii his eighteenth or nineteenth year
and where many friends and relatives
who had known him intimately as
youth were still living. And, on the
other hand, il would seem preposter-
Gus for a man to believe that he could
son in community where that per-
son had spent his youth and was still
well remembered by friends and rela-
tves. And yet, friends, relatives and
the general public who have followed
the testimony day by day seem unable
to agree on the solution of the ques-
ton.
The testimony of the man who is
trying to establish his identity as the
long lost son of the late Daniel Rus
other son half interest in the Million
dollar estate left by the elder Russell,
Is stranger than many tale of ro-
nance and adventure. In his fight for
recognition the claimant has told on
the stand, i'm a simple way and with
remarkable memory, OF the events
which took place in the home which
he says he left in Melrose "a years
ago For time he lived the life of
a tramp, getting from one part of the
country to another as best he might.
He has worked with circuses and as
a deckhand, shod horses i'm blacksmith
shops, and spent winters i'm lumber
camps and mills I'm the Northwest
Finally he landed i'm North Dakota.
There he was successful i'm specula-
tions In hay and in cattle lands. ana
became manager of ranches and a
prosperous land owner.
TO support his claim as Da~'el Blake
Russell there have been prcG iced in
court upwards of so Witness. TO iden- |
uly the claimant as the son of Daniel
russell. or these, some have known
MN for 40 years. They knew him in
umately in many cases, and were
acquainted with the peculiarities and
characteristics of his youth. with the
presentation of these witnesses, Sen
o'or Leslie A. Simpson of North Da-
ho'a' who Is conducting the case for
"e plalntiif, rested his direct case.
10 oppose this claim, the rcspon-
uehts have stated that the claimant
IS an impostcr--not Daniel Blake Rus
"cli' but James Delbort Ruseau. who
was born OF poor parents i'm Bombay.
~ H. In 1865, three years after the
"ruh Of the rlghtful heir. They have
"ouuced a man and woman In court
70 testify that they are the brother and
SISTER respectively. OF the claimant.
,''u Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Ruscau, who
nave claimed him as their son. Nu-
"''rous others have taken the stand
20 say that he is the Jim" Ruscau
mno'n they knew in northwestern New
iorK as backwoodsman, blacksmith
ana circus hand.
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