The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-12
WORD May DECIDE
Whisper May Establish Identity
of Mysterious NY. Prisoner.
Pathetic Letter From Man Who
Claims to Be G. A. KfmmeI.
SAYS HE HAS SCARS
Pleads That Some One Be Sent
to Meet Him.
SchoOlmate of kfmmel Defends
Alleged lmposter.
SAYS He HAS SCARS

Niles, Mich. Sept 12.-Just one
question: fraternal one-given in a
whisper, is to solve the identity of the
man who represents himself to be
George A. Kimmel former Niles bank
clerk, later a banker of Arkansas City,
Kan. whose disappearance thirteen
years ago and his sudden turning up
in prison at Auburn, n. Y, has made
his case a celebrated mystery.
Writing from the prison, Kimmel
says the word he will whisper to some
of his early friends will prove his
identity. The letter, written to Henry
Kephart Of Berrien Springs ten miles
north of here, is path etic, as follows:
your welcome letter I received last
night. 1t put me in gloom, almost de-
spair. You say when get out OF mere
to write and tell you where / am. w hat
does that mean Has Mr.. Noel and
other friends forsaken me? Is no one
to be here to meet me2 If there is not
may as well give up hope of ever
coming to Niles. Mr.. Noel was very
kind. offering to send people here to
meet me. Has he changed his mind
Is Harry Fox coming to meet me?
have never been in any trouble here.
Do you and others realize what an
awful position | am in: mother want
ing me dead? I awake nights with
the thought, Mother wants me dead
There is not enough money in the uni
verse to tempt me to wish for her
death, or anyone else,s. If I am the
imposter they say am why don't they
all could see me and Judge for them
seIves2 Is It honest for them to put
obstacles in the way to prevent my
coming and then tell the people it's all
my fault, my not coming?
says He Is III.
Henry, I am i'll; have the hay fever
or asthma. I have it every fall.
have not been able to lie down for
three nights This great disappoint-
ment has not helped me any. It's
good of you sending me the magazines.
7 enjoy them and appreciate your
kindness. If any should say it's not
necessary to send anyone to meet me,
put them down as an enemy, no mat
ter who it is. VIII you have your son
write note to w P. Lardner, 2O7I
First National Bank Building. Duluth,
Mimi? Thank him for his noble, kind
letter. 1t does me much good to know
I have one friend who has the courage
to openly defend me. I will write him
as soon as I can. Tt has always been
a sorrow to me that Teddy and Messrs
Wood and Graham have taken the
stand they have. Some say if they
could ask me one question they would
know if am George Kimmel. If it's
a fraternal question that must be
whispered I will gladly answer it,
Il have the marks on my arm that
Billy Lardner put on They are dim,
but there. Also the scar in my eye
viii gladly show to friends There isl
also another scar, made when / was a
boy, I think only mother would recall
"a souvenir Of a cherry tree in our
yard at home.
T hope your eyes. are improving.
please answer this quickly, with
all facts, good or bad. Ny love to
Aunt stevens, Mime and Lille VIII
write them as soon as I can Ny love
to Harry and Francis. With best
wishes and love.
"GEO. A. KIMMEL4'
An Old SchooImate Defends Him.
Since the above was first printed the
following letter appeared in the Niles
Star:
Editor star:-In the event Of the
coming of George A. Kin1mel among
US again. I feel that a few words in
his behalf may not come amiss-
Pictures of him are being shown at
every opportunity which might mis-
lead.
..The man who viii soon be here does
not look like the George Kimmel who
Ised to be in the bank, and those who
expect to find that wsll b. disappoint-
ed.
In the years that have passed he
has grown to look very much more
like both sides of his family than he
used to- Both the Johnson and KIM
rpel look s very striking He does
not have the manners of the criminal
he is said to be. but just such man
ners as the son of his mother would
have.
He speaks and acts like a gentle
man, ard, although he occasionally
that was also a family peculiarity,
more than a proof of ignorance on his
rart. His personality IS very strong
aud anyone who knew George Kim
mel and who wants to know him
row can't be mistaken. His de-
meanor was courteous and gentlaness
itself. although it is cot strange, all