Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-06-21
was now in the heart of New York

VI dppediiiS u any OF my IrlenuS LOT
aid. Fortunately had gold watch
for which ! had paid 5000 the year be-
fore. 1t never occurred to me that I
might pawn II until saw the three
balls on a pawnshop at Third avenue
and Fourteenth street. entered the
shop and hooked" my watch for SIS.
With this money in my possession
l regained confidence. had always
been able to make my own way in the
past. In fact. l had always been a
money-maker. Why not again? So
determined to start anew in life. I
would forget that had ever been
Ralph A. Clarke. In the future l
would be B. R. Benton. The name
came to me like an inspiration.
read of my escape from The
Knobs. and even dropped into po-
lice station to see if general alarm
had been sent out for me. Finding
out there was general alarm for me
and that might be arrested at any
moment and returned to the sanitar.
ium, decided had better leave New
York.
Practically all Of the SIS had OBJ.
tanned for my watch had been spent
for food and shelter during those
three days. In fact had less than 10
cents when l crossed over to Jersey
on the ferry and took the trolley to
Trenton. AT Trenton managed to
get a freight train. which landed me
at Perryville. Md.
There contractor was tearing
down an old railroad bridge. and ap.
piled for work as laborer. The boss
scanned me for a moment. He told
me frankly that he didn't think Id do.
but that. as he needed men, he'll give
me a Job. So started to work at
once for $3.50 day. found cheap
boarding house across the river and
began my career as B. R. Benton. For
four weeks worked at this job and
saved enough money to buy ticket
for Richmond. Va, where expected to
get position at the American Loco
motive Works.
Succeeded In Business.
I was successful in getting employ.
ment at the locomotive works in
Richmond, and remained there until
April. 1907. BY that time had &C.
cumulated nest egg from my saw
ings, and l began to look around for
some better way of making money
l answered an "ad." and got posi-
ton as salesman with the Columbia
Shoe company. but left Its employ for
better position as travelling sales
man for Smith & Hemenway of New
York. sold safety razors for this
concern all over the middle west and
south. l gave my name as B. r. Ben
ton and my home as Richmond.
While working for this concern
met man who was travelling for the
Parker Chemical company of Chicago
and through him got Job as sales.
man for that concern. My headquar-
tiers were located at Richmond, and
my business brought me into contact
with prominent and influential per-
sons there. made good commissions
as salesman and constantly added to
my savings. Two years ago deter
mined to embark in business for my
self. With DR.. w. H. Parker, one of
the leading physicians of Richmond;
DR.. Ferguson Of the state board of
health. and two others organized the
Chemical Supply Company. i became
its secretary and general manager.
and later, upon the withdrawal Of DR..
Parker. its president
AS B. r. Benton became acquaint-
ed with Miss Mamie Proffitt of No.
314 East Cary street, Richmond. two
years ago. and on March 30 Of this
year we were married in Washington
by the Rev. E. H. Sven of the Second
Baptist church. So determined was
to forget that had ever bsnn Ralph
A. Clarke of Brooklyn that l did not
even reveal my identity to my bride
until after we were married. Then
when l was induced to come to New
York and reveal my identity it was no
longer possible to keep my bride in
ignorance.
During the five years l lived in
Richmond saw many of my old
AAASAaos anu VIC VI t1Clis VIII hSlCu-
am of Brooklyn. stopped me and ask
ed If was not Ralph Clarke. met
his eyes calmly and told him he was
mistaken. Rowland ]. Shines, another
old friend, was not so easily deceived
He saw me in the grill room Of
Strumpf's Hotel in Richmond on the
7th of last January and Immediately
hailed me as Clarke. tried to throw
him of, even insisting that had new
er heard the name Clarke before. but
he knew me too well and was forced
to admit my identity. We had dinner
together and spent an evening talking
over old times. Before he left me he
was pledged to keep my secret on con-
dition that meet him in Washington
on Jan. 80.
Returns to His Aged Mother.
When met him at the Raleigh ho-
tel on that date he pleaded with me to
release him from his pledge Of se-
crecy. He argued that it was unfair
to keep my family, especially my aged
mother. in ignorance of my fate. So,
principally for the sake of my mother,
agreed to let it be known that Ralph
A. Clarke was still alive. Shines in
terested Berpard ]. York. New York
lawyer. in my case. He had known
me in the old days in Brooklyn. and
when the necessary affidavits that l
was alive and sane had been prepared
he had no difficulty in having the
courts set aside the commitment and
return the s27,737 in cash which the
Hamilton Trust company was holding
in trust for me. Justice Blackmar in
the Supreme court. Brooklyn. signed
the necessary papers on April a.
What next? don't know, am too
we'll known in Richmond as B. R. Ben.
ton to discard that name. but of
course Ralph A. Clarke is my rightful
name. haven't had time to solve the
perplexing complications which have
resulted from nv strange career