He Was Another Man's Son

HE WAS ANOTHER MAN'S SON

The Boy at the University Hospital Proved

A CHEERFUL LIAR

Took the Name and Had the Birthmarks of Anderson's Son But Now Claims a Wealthy Indiana Grandfather

Harry H. Anderson, the boy at the University brought here from the Kalamazoo county house, whom it was supposed, as related in these columns, was the son of a wealthy farmer in New York, or got trace of him by means of a want adv. in the New York World, turns out not to be from New York at all. In fact all the tales the boy told seem to have been fairy tales, except that he was correct in his persistent denial of being G.J. Anderson's son.  He new claims to belong to a wealthy Indiana family.  The story is interesting enough to bear repetition.

The boy was taken from the University hospital to Kalamazoo, Wednesday morning.  The supposed father, GG. J. Anderson, of Kennedy, N.Y., had arrived there a few hours previously and met the boy at the train.  The boy became badly frightened and before the examination was over completely broke down.  Tears rolled down his cheeks and he admitted that he had told many lies.  In fact he said that every story he had told about his life to the county agents and to the Ann Arbor physicians had been lies from beginning to end.  For over two hours the boy withstood the "sweat box."  Under questions he at last completely gave way and after being promised he would not be sent to any training or reform school of any kind he told the following story:

My real name is Frank Vanlue and I am a grandson of David Vanlue, a wealthy farmer living five miles southeast of Argos, Ind. My mother and father are dead, the latter having taken poison about ten years ago.  When I was ten years old grandfather sent me to a training school in Plymouth, Ind. I didn't want to go there but he insisted and when there I couldn't get away.  I was not allowed to write home and never heard from my grandfather.  My sister, Anna, who is a year older than I am, attended the school but was kept in another building. Mrs. Julie E. Work was the principal of the school and used to whip and abuse us until I couldn't stand it any longer. After being there five years three other boys with whom I roomed and myself decided we would run away.  A year ago last last March we did the trick.  Our doors were locked as well as the outside windows every night.  We broke open the door and after some trouble made our escape.  We stole a ride on a freight train to Bristol, Ind., and there we separated.  The other boys' names were Ellsworth Bennett, Virgil Bunch, and Bert Norton. One went to Chicago, another to Detroit and I came to Kalamazoo and got a job in the paper mill.  I have never told my story before because I would rather die than go back to that school.  I haven't heard from my grandfather since I left and I don't know whether is is living or dead. I am 17 years old and have a brother George 12 years old who I think still lives with my grandfather.  My sister is at present working in Bedford, Virginia.  When I left the school she managed to send me a note.  In it she told me to run away if I could and so I did.

The boy says his grandfather is very rich and is about 89 years old; that he has always been very good to him and that he wants to go back to him , but not to the school.

The peculiar thing about the case is that the boy should have adopted the name of the missing son of G.J. Anderson and that the scors and birthmarks of Mr. Anderson's son should tally exactly with those of this boy.  In fact it was some time before Mr. Anderson could be convinced that it was not his son. 

The Kalamazoo superintendent telephoned to Argos, Ind., and received an answer that the man named David Vanlue lives on a farm five miles from the city, as the boy says, and that the greater part of the story told by the boy was known to be correct.