Edward Winter:

Pages 187-189 of Napier The Forgotten Chessmaster by John S. Hilbert (Yorklyn, 1997) contain some relevant information on A.W. Fox. It is reported, for instance, that Napier gave the <Fox v Karper game (the occasion being specified as ‘Heidelberg, 1901’>) in his column in the Pittsburg Dispatch of 28 January 1901, misidentifying White as J.W. Fox (who, Dr Hilbert added, was Albert Fox’s father)...

see: http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...

Absolutely!

I find White's reluctance to play this fairly obvious move here and on the next few moves quite bizarre. Equally baffling is that in the face of a K-side onslaught, Black plays irrelevant Q-side moves like 18...Rac8 and 19...Ba8. I'm afraid that this game just doesn't cut the mustard for me.

After <16.Nf5> the only move that doesn't lose quickly is to prevent 17.Qg4 with <16...Qxe4>.

click for larger view

However, the Giuoco Piano game against Karper is peculiar in that A.W. Fox (if it is he) eschews his normal Ruy López, then passes over not just the simpler win pointed out by Chernev but also two easy wins earlier. 13 c3 or 13 a3 wins a piece (Black’s bishop at b4 and knight at a5 are in a tangle), while four moves later 17 Qg4 wins instantly with the double threat Qxg7 mate and Nh6+ with Qxd7. So if the Giuoco Piano is indeed an A.W. Fox game (clearly this is not 100% sure) it seems that, recognizing that he had a cooperative opponent, enjoying the thrill of a brilliancy, and maybe with fond memories of his other Qg6, he declined the easy wins in favour of a flashy finish which he may well have foreseen some way in advance.’ >

https://www.chesshistory.com/winter...

Is it possible that a casual game could have taken place early in January of 1901, made its way from Europe to America and been in print by the 28th of the same month? If the score was sent directly to Napier, perhaps, but since Napier apparently believed it had been played by J.W.Fox. the father, direct communication from Albert or a close associate seems unlikely. Was the father a chess player? Was Albert known on the chess scene before his travels to Europe?

And what of its appearance in the magazine, <American Chess World>, in February 1901? Did it correctly identify Albert? Not being familiar with this magazine, I discovered that January 1901 was its first monthly issue.

(Brooklyn) Standard Union, January 27th 1901, p.8:

<Two games are appended showing the strong and brilliant play of Mr. A. W. Fox, a recent addition to the ranks of the local chess club. Mr. Fox has recently returned from a five years' sojourn abroad, and in a few days will go back to complete an educational course. After June he will be permanently located in this city, where his father, Mr. J. W. Fox, resides. Mr. Fox has the habits of a chess player. Rapid play, the bane of the game, is unknown to him. The most plausible-looking move is not made without premeditation. His genius for the game is shown in the examples given. Mr. F. B. Walker of this city, with whom he played, is, as is well known, no tyro in such matters, and if the other fellow doesn't "get the drop on him" soon he is very likely to be doing the same thing himself.>

There follows the score of A W Fox vs F Walker, 1900

<This game was played at Heidelburg by Mr. Fox against one of the local players. Notwithstanding black's poor development, the game is noteworthy from the remarkable and brilliant manner in which white forced the win.>

There follows the score of....you guessed it....

Well, this certainly explains a lot. And I'm annoyed because I saw this article a few years ago, but some confusion between 1900 and 1901 seemingly stopped me realising its importance to resolving the aforesaid mysteries.

Confirms this game was played in 1900 (or even before), that the score and opponent's name must come directly from Fox, explains how the mix-up between father and son arose, and relegates Napier's role to the margins.