Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-20
Mrs. EsteIIa KimmeI Says
Man is an In
poster.
COLLECTS INSURANC NCE
Returning ProdigaI Recognized
by Old Friends, but OenounC-
ed by His Mother.

Niles. Mich, Sept. 2O.-Still claim
ing TO be the son OF Mrs. Estela Kim
mel, but denounced by her as an i'm
personator of her son, for whose death
she received insurance money, a man
who last night came from the Auburn.
N. Y, penitentiary and was identified
by scores OF people as George Alfred
Kimmel, was uncertain today whether
he would attempt to see his mother"
GONE Is YEARS.
''Kimmel," who says he disappeared
IS years ago and now returns after
$1,000 life insurance has been paid
Mrs. kimmel for his death, said he
had no motive in returning other than
love for his mother. He says he does
not want to cheat any one out of the
$25, 900 or more life insurance which
relatives would receive If they could
prove his death.
WILL NOT FORCE MOTHER.
But | am not dead" declared Kim
mel. He added that If his mother will
not recognize him he will not force
her to. when | disappeared from
home Is years ago" said Kimmel, "un-
doubtedly my family did think l was
dead. Seven years later my mother
proved In court that there was evil
dence reasonably to show I was dead.
One insurance company promptly paid
her $1,000 but another company hold
fng a $4,000 policy appealed and said
it would locate me. The company did
find me in Jail.
FACE TO FACE IN PRISON.
"Then my mother heard of It. but
she refused TO change her position.
Four years ago they brought us face
to face in the Auburn penitentiary.
My mother appeared not to recognize
me. While we were talking the guards
stepped aside, and I whispered in my
mothers ear: What am / to call you
if not mOther?' She looked at me I'm
SILENCE and then whispered, When we
are alone call me mother That was
an outburst of mother love which she
could not suppress.
REGRETS AFTERwARD.
Afterwards she appeared to regret
it. / wonder whether that impulse
Will reassert itself, or whether, while
by my friends. am for
ever to be disowned by my mother7'
'KimmeP' today was still at the
home of Mrs. Harry T. Fox, who rec
ognized him as her cousin. He said
his mother would have to call on him
il she wanted to see him.
IN CROSS EXAMINATION.
Mrs. EstelIe Kimmel today subject
ed "KimmeP' to a Cross examination
"a Inf ha lot % D.
early life In Niles She asked him
why, II he was her son. he had not
written to her during the many years
he was away. When they came face
to face, Kimmel made the first ad-
vances.
"DOST YOU KNOW MIcr'
why. mother, don't you know
me?" he exclaimed. The woman
drew back, saying, "I'm not sure
about that" Then followed a rapid
fire OF questions in which Kimmel
was asked his age, about his father.
and incidents of the boyhood days.
Mrs. Kimmel is not ready TO deny fiat
ly that the man is her son, neither
will she admit his claims are Just
After a conference with the newcom-
er, Chief of Police Francis today de-
clared the man was not KimmeI
COUSIN CONVINCED.
The chief Of police said he had
gone to school with Kimmel and
knew him we'll While other resi-
dents are divided in opinion as 10
he man being "Kimmel," Mrs. Har-
~ T. Fox has accepted the man az
her cousin and is convinced OF his