The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1910-03-25
Which Was Richter 2
lens. by T. c. Mcclure.

Albert Richter. de WAS at mat Ilne
tventy-eight years old and had consid-
.rabIe landed property. Richter was a
Ouiet retiring man, respectable and
honest and well liked, and at the date
va give was keeping company with a
voung woman. They quarreled about
something, and he suddenly disap-
roored. He was living with his moth
~ 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 a year.
A Richter had no brothers or sisters
the government took charge of his
nroperty after one year and held it in
trust while a 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
bome-that is, a man claiming to be he
sppeared. He entered the house one
svening, hung up his hat on the same
old hook and then turned and EN-.
braced his mother. He used to be clean
shayen. Now he had whiskers. That
was the only difference the mother de-
tected. He was welcomed as her long
host son, and of all the people who
came to see him no one questioned his
identity. Richter claimed that he had
rome 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-
bic, but it came about at length. After
the meeting the woman said she doubt
Cd 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.
Il was the woman with whom he had
Quarreled that wrought his downfall.
he stated the cause of the quarrel, and
be 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 than 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 no had
quarreled with. He inquired after
twenty different persons, made his way
about the house as IL he had been born
In 1t, and the mother rather reluctant
" 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-
1erred to 1t 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
tnere was one man that set q trap
Ior him. The woman who had exposed
the other had now immigrated to Amer
1ca. This Richter claimed that he had
been In England all the time, running
truck garden near Manchester. In
the next village to Konisberg was q
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 DO
very familiar with the town. The raS-
cars downfall soon came. He could
not name five streets In fact. he could
Ieii no more of the city than any one
VINO had given 1t careless glance on
tne 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,
ana two of the four employees of the
Iarm 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. !
~ was plan enough to the people that
lne three impostors had seen and talked
WIN Richter. In fact. they must have
Deen chums of his to Hnd out what
they had.
Sl1 months after the disappearance
VI the third lmpostor the real Richter
returned, but It was to be looked upon
aS rascal. His mother had become
20 frightened that she dared not say
whether he was the real son or not
AL said that he looked the same a.
Nueh he went away. but he did not act |
quile the same. He was more silent |
Snu morose. The government officials
a.1