AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8480, 11 May 1893, Page 5

AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY.

MR W. FREEMAN KITCHEN'S ADVENTURES. [PKESS ASSOCIATION TBIiKQBAM. ] DUNEDIN, May 10. A warrant was issued to-day against William Freeman Kitohon for wife deeertiou. (from our cokhkspondent.) DUNEDIN, May 10. William Freeman Kitoheu, who during the Labour troubles anil political exoitament of 1890 occupied a position in the Labour camp second Only to that of Mr J. Millar, has re-appeated on tho scene under extraordinary circumstances. Last week, ostensibly on the authority of the Wellington post, it wm announced in the ordinary way that Kitohen had gone over to the majority afe Launcestou, after a severe attack ©I fever. A death notice was found on* morning in tho letter box of the Globe office, accompanied by the usual foe, but the management, not having tho customary guarantee of good faith, declined to insert ie; bub when the Time* published it their doubts were dispelled, and followed suit by publishing it. Scarcely hud the unnounoetneut boon mode than intelligence came Melbournewarxle that Kitdhen, or someone very like him, woe still in tho flesh, and had been seen in the island colony, where he was supposed to havo shuffled on this mortal coil.

While hie whilom colleagues were Iα ft state of bewilderment there appeared at Invercargili a fashionably dressed individual, whoso pasteboard bore the inscription "J. Temple Vane, 8.A.," representing Madame Araminta, a clairvoyant. In the course of business ho waut into the Southland Z'itries office, where he had the ill luck to encounter a reoeut addition to the literary staff of that journal, who had been on terms of oloseat intimacy with W. F. Kitohea during hie control of the iilohe. The lynx eyes of thin individual coon penetrated through the now corner's disguise, but for obvious reasons he dissembled, and doubt* leas would have kept his own counsel if Vane, who also represented himself as Madume'e husband, had not sought to fasten some charge, which was utterly groundless, on the reporter. The latter at onco communicated with hie friends in Dunedin, who were put on their guard. When the Southern season waa over, Vane, who had in the meantime been appointed avant courier for the Albu Sisters, found his way to Dunedin, presenting hie credentials in due course at the newspaper offices. At the Globe and Timts bin recognition was instantaneous, but he indignantly repudiated any personal knowledge of Kitchen, beyond saying that the lamented deceased, of whom he had heard, . was hie cousin, and their strong resemblance had often been remarked elsewhere. The editor and accountant of the Globe wore firmly convinced he was none other than Kitchen* while the Times sub-editor and some members of his staff were; equally positive. At) the Star office on Saturday he interviewed * member of that staff, who, however, failed to recognise any striking resemblance, save in voice, and when he commented ou that* fact Vane replied " I daresay I remind you of Freeman Kitchen, whoso cousin I am, but he, poor fellow, is dead and buried in Tasmania," and he volunteered tho information that Kitchen had never been married. It was this piece of astounding intelligence that determined the ** Press gang" to run the man to earth, for some of them had th» best reason for knowing that that woe on unmitigated lie. Meanwhile, the evidence of Kitchen's identity was accumulating. At Balclutlm it was remembered that when he left the Qlobe service ho went round the country and goldiiolds districts as agent for a dramatic company, and in that capacity represented them as Harry Vane and bad acted with them under that name. His copy on, that occasion aud hie advertisement for Madame Araminta were turned up, and on comparison left no doubt that tho writers were one and the came. Other peculiarities helped to fix him, and at the Times office it was noticed he left that office, itftor interviewing the Bub-editor, without any difficulty. Anyone who is acquainted with the peculiarities of the construction of that building knows how tinfrcquent visitors blunder. But this gentle stranger was evidently thoroughly au fait with the surroundings. Vane, however, continued to braxen it out, telling all and sundry who questioned him that it was merely a remarkable case of. mistaken identity, hut the pressman beforementioned stuck to him like a leech, and at last confronted him with such au array of witnesses, who had known him in other days, that he was forced to ; admit that he was helplessly cornered, and ; owned up to the fraud he was practising. 1 What could have- been hie motive in getting his death notice published will \ possibly be revealed when he arrives at Wellington on a charge of wife desertion, A warrant was issued to-day, but at the time of wiring he was lying perdu, and the police have not been able to dlsoover hit whereabout*