New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-08
K|MMEL TELLS Of HIS
JEKYLL AND HYDE LIFE
Man Whose Brain Surgeon
Cleared Talks for First Time
of Events of ID Lost Years.
EVASIVE OVER THE PAST
Knows Who Attacked Him, but
Refuses Details of the Trans
fer of $4,000 in Bonds
TO Testify Again.
lBy Telegraph to The Tribune


Chicago, MAY THE man of mystery WHO
insists he is George A. Kimmel. of Niles,
Mich. sat in a wheel chair at the Robert
Burns Hospital to-day and spoke wistfullS
Of the fourteen lost years of his life. They
ware the years which extended from th~
time the ex-convic skull was fractured
in 1895 until week ago, when he under
went a cranal operation for the removal
Of hone pressure which clouded his memory
They were years of semi-darkness, vague
and dreamlke, according 10 his story.
The interview to-day was the first time
Kimmel had spoken At length since the OPP
Grafton. lie asserted that surgery had
made his brain normal. He said he was
slowly recalling the forgotten incidents Of
his early life. His inability to remember
them in the past has been a potent factor
in his failure to convince Kimmel's mother.
sister and host Of friends that he is NOT
an impostor.
"kimmel' smoked a cigar as he talked
The only indication of the severe operation
was the bandase sround his head.
Like Or. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde.
Doubtless you are familiar with the
story of DR.. Jekyll and Mr.. HYDE" he
began. That story truthfully illustrates
my experience. I have now come into my
real self. My better nature has asserted
Itself"
Then YOU feel the blow upon your head
benumbed your moral as we'll as your
physical senses"
IL certainly do"
What does the period between the time
you were hurt and the present seem like?"
They have been fourteen wasted years.
he replied. They have been filled with
sorrow and anguish They were black
days that | cannot fully remember. We
all have ambitions. and had mine. had
Planned Ia make something really great of
myself 1t is so diseouraging to ,reaizc
that all the time has gone and that 40 use
vas made of it," The mans voice bespoke
regret.
How old are YOU now" was asked
"Forty-three." replied "Kimmel" There
isn't much chance for a man Of my age
nJwadays."
"Kimmel" said he remembered every de-
tail of the smuggling lie asserted he now
knows the names of the three men who at
tackled him. lie admitted II happened on
dark night, but explained that lie recog-
nized the voices OF the trio, who talked as
they beat him. lie grew indignant when
asked as 10 details.
Il left Kansas City in July 1895. for To-
peka' he said Il carried ss,ooo worth Of
So hool bonds Of Creswell Township. The
township had defaulted on the bonds. The
state had guaranteed them. and ! went 10
the State Treasurer 10 get the money,
had been instructed TO take the money with
me. This was poor business. and so ] told
the Treasurer TO send Us draft.
"kimmel" was INTERRUPTED and an Inquiry
was made as to who Instructed him. The
question irrltatcd him, and ne said b."
would be "a fool To tell There were other
times when he was cVasiVe. He said sucn
information would inlure his case. Kim
nels mother and sister are now suing the
New York Life Insurance Company for $50
OG0 insurance on his life. At the trial m
February the jury disagreed The Tetrial
is set for this month.
"Kimmel" seemed to be getting a tTina
confused and Or. Loren Wilder put an end
10 the interview The surgeon said II would
be five or six weeks before the patients
recovery is complete.
"Kimmel' will not be permitted Ia testify
until then in the retrial Of Mrs kimmels
suit.