The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-01-16
Mystery Man Identified

I
terest last Friday night and SATURDAY
through the enterprise of the news
paper associations who distributed
the story of his appearance in this
city and loss of memory, and on Sat.
urday noon he was identified as DR.
John L. Brand, formerly of Cam
bridge, Mass, by his son, Lieutenant
Commander Charles L. Brand, of the
/. S. Navy Yard at Philadelphia.
Commander Brand read the story
IN Saturday mornings papers and i'm
mediately came to this city in quest Of
the man he believed to be his father
The doctor did not recognize his son
at the time, but has become fully con-
WINGED, since, and has recognized not
only his daughter-in-law, but the pho
tographs of his wife and daughter.
DR.. Brand was born in England in
1856, graduated from Kings College
in London, and was an expert in medi-
cal, surgical and scientific lines. He
came to America about 1885 and lc-
Gated in Massachusetts. He studied
many, subjects, of highly techn cal
character, including music, in which
both he and his wife were highly pro-
ficient. He disappeared from Boston
in March, 1917, while suffering from
amnesia, and is now known to have
gone to Brooklyn, where, under the
name of John Barrett he acted as
brokers' agent for stocks. Later he
disappeared from Brooklyn and
later served ten months in the Hotel
Manhattan, New York, as chief ac-
countant, again disappeared on Feb
ruary %, 1919, when he came to
Trenton and devoted his time to
studying at the library of that city.
In New York he went under the name
of Mr.. Smith, and in Trenton was
known as Charles Mally.
He disappeared from Trenton on
December %, and was found at
Moore's station the same afternoon,
and brought to this city in truck
Applying to Mayor Theodore Balder-
ston for lodging he was given a cot
in the corridor of the city jail, and
began to attract attention because of
his intellect within a day or two.
On New Years Day Rev Thomas
j. Bensley, D. D. rector of st. An
drew's Episcopal Church, invited him
to make his home at the rectory,
which he did until discovered by his
son.
DR.. Brands mind is one of the mar
wells of the age. Efficient in almost
every branch of science and technic it
is quite probable that it was this vast
overload of knowledge that brought
on the loss of memory, or amnesia, an
affliction that carried him through
nearly three years of existance with
out knowledge as to whom he was,
and until brought to this city, with
out knowing himself that he had a
lost identity.
DR.. Brand is now making his home
with his son, Lieutenant commander
Brand, 2518 South 22d street, Phila-
delphia. Mrs. Brand has been with
her daughter, Mrs. Archibald H. Sun
derland, wife of AN army officer at
Leavenworth, Kansas, but they will
be reunited within a few days.
The local authorities were working
on clue furnished first by Miss
Christiana Lupardis, at whose room
ing house in Trenton he made his
home, who read first about him in a
newspaper account. At the time of
his disappearance from Boston the
family and friends made an extensive
search, but without avail.
Last Friday seemed to be the ply
Geological day for starting the pub
licity that was destined to restore
him to his family, and within few
hours dozen newspaper men from
the metropolitan dailies and press as
sociations were looking him over and
sending the news to the four corners
of the earth about the mysterious
doctor X" as they dubbed him.
By noon Saturday his plight was
known to practically every English
speaking newspaper reader in Ameri-
ca and England, and few hours later
his successful Identification was like
wise known. 1t was a fine example
of the power of the press, and it has
made DR.. Bensley one of the best
known clergymen in the world, at
this time, scores of daily newspapers
commenting editorially upon the fine
spirit of benevolence that was shown
in inviting the unknown to the prelat's
home. While the authorities were
diligently searching out the available
clues they had, it is doubtful if the
Charles Mally of Trenton, and Mr..
Smith, of New York, could ever have
been connected up with Dr.. John l..
Brand, of Massachusetts, unless the
newspapers spread the news broad