Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Two old acquaintances positively identified a man who had lost his memory as C.J. Brandon, a prominent businessman from Malta, Montana.

The man had walked into a Spokane police station the day before asking for help “finding himself” because he had lost his memory. The Spokane Daily Chronicle ran a photo of the man.

O.B. Nelson, of Malta, was visiting Spokane and saw the photo. He went to the Coeur d’Alene Hotel and positively identified the man as Brandon, a man he had known for eight years.

Then, a traveling saleswoman went to the hotel and also positively identified him as Brandon, a man to whom she had sold large quantities of goods.

Brandon, however, said he did not recognize either of them. However, a few phone calls established that Brandon had been missing from his home, his wife and his child for five weeks. Mrs. Brandon was on the way from Malta to Spokane to be reunited with her husband.

Brandon said he hoped that the sight of his wife would revive his memory.

Meanwhile, Brandon was besieged by doctors and brain specialists, who offered to examine him and treat him.

The manager of a local vaudeville house, knowing a sensational story when he heard one, offered him a booking as a stage act. Brandon refused.