The Sun.
London, England, 1834-09-13 00:00:00

COURT OF REQUESTS.

THE TWO SCHNACKENBURGERS.—JONES V. SCHNACICENBURGER.
The plaintiff in this case was a surgeon, who sought to
recover from the: defendant, an " operative schneider," the
sum of 1/. 17s. for professional attendance and medicine.
COMMISSIONER to the defendant—What is your name ?
Defendant—Klaus Schnackenburger.
COMMISSIONER—Do you admit the debt ? Defendant—
Mein Got ! no. I not see Mr. Yones pefore.
The plaintiff seemed astonished at this declaration, and
said, " Never saw me before, Mr. Schnackenburger! Why,
didn't I apply the leeches and blister myself when you were
ill in bed ?" Defendant, shaking his head—" Nay, nay, nay ;
I not see you, Mr. Yones, pefore."
COMMISSIONER—Mr. Jones, are you sure this is the
person whom you attended ? The plaintiff said he was
quite positive he was the same person. He had attended
him himself for upwards of a week, and his assistant had
also called on him several times, and could identify him.
If the case was adjourned for half an hour, he would fetch
his assistant, and the boy who left the medicine.
The COMMISSIONER consented to the adjournment, and
when the case was again called on, Mr. Jones produced his
assistant.

Mr. M‘Naughton, after looking round among the persons
present, pointed out the defendant as the person whom he
had attended.

Defendant : Ada! Herr Ira! I tell you Mr. Naughty,
it was nicht me.

Thomas Simpson, the errand-boy, also identified the
defendant, whom he had several times seen when he left the
medicine.

Defendant : Der Teufel—you would all schware mine
life away ; you vould—you vould—Mein Gott—Mein Gott
—you vould--

COMMISSIONER : Restrain your temper, Sir.
Defendant : Resthrain mine temper ! Der Teufel ! Dat
is eashey to say. I tell you I not the person.
COMMISSIONER : Three persons have sworn that you
are, and we must accordingly make an order on you for the
payment of the amount, in which decision the other Com-
missioners concurred.

When the defendant heard this, he called out as loud as
he was able, " Klaus—kom hierein" (Nicholas, come in) ;
which call was immediately obeyed by a person, who, when
he came in and stood alongside of the defendant, excited
the astonishment of the whole court by the discovery that
he was the exact counterpart of the defendant.
COMMISSIONER—Who are you ?—He answered, Mein
name ish Klaus Schnackenburger. The witnesses stared
at him, and then at each other, and seemed quite dumb-
founded ; and Mr. Jones appeared as much astonished as he
would have been had one of his patients risen from his grave.
The defendant, after having for some minutes enjoyed
their confusion, addressed the plaintiff, and said, " Mr.
Yones, vill you schware it vas me dat you did but de
plishter ant de leesh on?
The plaintiff appealed to the Commissioners whether the
case being decided, he ought to answer that question?
The COMMISSIONERS, after conferring together, told him
that when they made the order on the first Mr. Schnacken-
burger, they did so on the faith of his (Mr. Jonls's) state-
ment, and the evidence of his witnesses, who swore to the
defendant's identity. Now that there was a second Mr.
Schnackenburger, who so exactly resembled the first, that
it would be difficult, were they mixed with the other suitors,
to decide which was which, the case was altered.
COMMISSIONER (to the defendant)—Where do you live,
Mr. Schnackenburger ? Defendant--Numbro dree, in
Yorge-street.
COMMISSIONER (to the other)--:And where do you live ?
Klaus—Numbro dree, in Yorge-street.
The COMMISSIONERS then told Mr. Jones that, as it ay-
peared they both lived in the same house, they must re-
scind the order, for fear should it not be paid, and an exe-
cution was issued, the officer might take the wrong one ;
but if Mr. Jones would now swear which it was whom he
had attended, and undertake to exonerate the officer should
he make a mistake, they would let it stand.
Mr, Jones, after a few minutes' consideration, and atten-

tively examining them both, declared that he Ivo quite
able to swear which it was. A cli?
The COMMISSIONERS then rescinded the order, ano
-
missed the case, to the evident satisfaction of the Lvir.
Schnachenburgers, who, we understand, are cousins ,-,e
man, of course), and who, it is supposed, adopted the a"
ruse to get rid of the debt.