Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-11-14
THE DROMIOs IN REAL LIFE.
Two Prisouers of the same Name, the
same Nativity, the Age. and Identi-
cal In Appearance. Accused Of tho
Same Crime.

Same Crime.
From the New York Sun
Daniel Murphy was called to tho bar Of
the General Sessions, to be tried on an
indictment for robbery in the first degree.
he looked about wonderingly, and when
Edward O'Neil, first officer of the brig
Gambia, mounted the witness stand to
testify against him, he seemed lost in
ainaZement. His counsel, Mr.. William +.
Knitting, noticed his peculiar expression,
and asked him what was the matter.
Why" said Murphy, Il never saw that
man before in my life. He is not the
man who charged me with robbery"
Thereupon Mr. KNITTING suggested to
Assistant District Attorney Rollins that
probably there was Il mistake, and he had
the wrong Murphy. O'Ncil was there
upon asked, 'is that the man who tried
to rob you? ~ 81 think it is" answered
ONeil, but he is dressed little differ
ent, and had Il light mustache the night
met him"
"Havc You any doubt that ills is the
MANI" continued Mr. Rollins.
The case 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 had left saloon ut Market
and Monroe str cts. The policeman who
arrested Murphy was next called, and
was ca tally positive as to the identity of
the prisoner with the IN IN whom he took
to the Madison street Police Station on
the night of the robbery. He suggested,
however, upon being closely cross KAN
ined, that possibly there was an attempt
to entrap him, as he noticed that the
prisoner hsd a blue shirt instead of a
Dolly Warden, carried Il slorched hat in
stead of Il cap, and had cut off his mus
tache
The prisoner, swearing in his own be-
half, said that he had never seen either
the complainant or the officer, and was not
arrested at all. Last Friday or Saturday
(hc couldn't remember which it was) he
heard that somebody had accused him OF
robbery, and knowing himself be limo
cent, he went to the MadisonStrect Pc
lice Station Voluntarily, and WAS locked
up He was not taken to the tOmbs until
Monday. His cross examination showed
that he lived in the same street, was OF
the same &C, and, so far as he knew, was
the Daniel Murphy for whose sin he was
called upon 20 answer, but he stoutly
denied the robbery, or any knowledge OF
1t whatever, and stuck to his story about
the manner and time Of his impr,son
ment.
The jury impressed With his manner Of
swearing, believed him, Notwithstanding
the charge of Recorder Hackctt, which
clearly point out the improbabilly that
the complainant and the officer could
both he mistaken and the uncorrobcra.
ted prisoner right, they gave verdict of
not guilty. Murphy having been dis
charged walked out of the court room.
A few minutes afterward Mr.. Rollins
dispatched one of the Court officers to
bring him back to be remanded, on the
ground that on his own showing lie
should he tried for some other offense
The officer had no difficulty in oyertaking
him as he sauntered toward Chatham
street, and he made no objections to III
lowing the authorities to try him again.
In about ten minutes another officer
brought up from the Tombs another
Daniel Murphy, with information that he
was the right one, judging by the books
Of the prison. The Dromios were placed
at the bar together, and then the mistake
WAS apparent to everybody. The two
men besides having Il common cngnomen
and being IN the same prison for the
same oilensc, were az much alike rs
twins. Indeed it almost needed the little
difference in clothing to enable one to
distinguish them. They are strangers
The second Murphy says he too is limo
cent. They were taken back to prison
handcufied together, and Warden John
son was admonishcd not to let them get
mixed again.