The sun., 1873-10-30
TIE DROTIOS SINR ZEAL LIRE.

Two Prisoners Of the SAME Name, the s"mo
nativity. the Srme AGc, nnd Identical In
Appearance Accused Of the same CRIME.
Daniel Murphy was called TO the bar OF
ths General Sessions To- bc tricd on An indict
ment for robbery In the nrst degree. lie looked
about wondcrlngly, and when Edward O'Ncl,
nrst officer Of the brig Gambia, mounted the
witness stand to testify against him he seemed
lost In amazemcnt. His counsel, MIR VIM +.
kiutling, noticed his peculiar cxrresslon, and
asked him what was the matter. "why," said
Murphy, i" ] never saw that man before In my
life. lie Is not the man who charged me with
robbery" Thcreupon MIR. Knitting suggested
TO Assistant District Attorney Rollins that prob
ably there was mis- AXE, and he had the wrong
Murphy. ONeil was thcreupon asked. I" Is that
U.s." answered O'Neil, but he II dressed u little
dinercntly aud had IA light moustache the night
met him.
Have you any doubt that this Is the man,'
continued Mr. Rollins.
None whatever, said the witness.
The sc went on, and O'Neil gave the details
OF the robbery, which he said was committed
on the night of the 18th inst. just after he left
. saloon at Market and Monroe streets. The
policeman who arrested Murphy was next called
and was equally positive aS To the Identity OF the
prisoner with the man whom he took To the
Nadis N street police strttun ON the night OF
the robbery. lie suggested, however upon
being closely crossexamned, that possibly
there was nm attempt to cntrap MIN, IA he
noticed that the prisoner had blue shirt in
stead Of Dolly Warden, carried a slouchcd hat
instead OF a cap, and had cut III his mous taChe
The prisoner, swearing In his own behalf. said
that he had mover seen either the complainant
" the officer, aud was not arrested at all.
Last Friday or saturday me couldn't remember
which II was) he heard that somebody had
sccused HIM Of robbery, and knowing
himself to be innocent he went to the
Madison street police voluntarily and was
locked up, lie was not taken to the
showed that he lived in the same street. was Of
the same age, aud 80 far as he knew was the
Daniel Murphy for whose sin he was called upun
u answer, but he stoutly denied the robbery, ct
any knowledge uf II whatever. aud stuck To his
story about the manner and time OF his I'M
prsonment.
The jury. impressed with the manner Of his
swearing, believed him, notwithstanding the
charge OF Recorder Hackeit. which clearly
plainant and the officer could both he iniStakcn
and the uncorroborated prisoner right, they
gave verdict Of not guilty Murphy having
been discharged walked out Of the court room.
A few minutes afterwatd Mr.. Rollins de-
spatChed one of the court oiiicers To bring him
back to be rcmandcd ON the ground that un his
own showing lac should he tried for some other
offence. The officer had no difficulty In over
taking HIM "a he sauntcrcd toward Chatham
street, and he made no ubIccupn, to allowing
the authorities to try him again. In about ten
minutes another officer brought up from the
Tombs another Daniel Murphy, wi h inf riua-
books of the prison. Inc Druni1us were placed
at the bar together. and then the mistake was
apparcnt.to everybody. The two men, besides
having "A common rOgunmrn, and hciug In the
sane prison for the -aiuc u1cncc. were - much
alike - twins. Indeed, 10 almost needed the
nilc differences ia clothing to enable one TO
Distinguish them. They are ,trdn-er-. IuC See
ond Murphy slY- that hc too i- innocent. Iucy
apd warden Julu u-Ou WIS ddmuul-ueu not to let
theiu get mixed a-i.iu.