Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-12-20
A BoDIE STORY.
A Strange Case of Changed Endenti-
ties-A Mat for Scientists
30 Crack.

Cuine lHIO tnlS pace lew uayS since mar
who is a living evidence of an astonishing
freak of nature. There is an episode in
his history OF the most astounding and phe
nomenal kind. This man goes by the
name of John Jarboe, though his real
name is George Roberts. Upon this change
of names hangs a most wonderful tale.
Many may think the story about to be re-
lated mere fancy sketch, but its truth
can be substantiated by number Of repu-
table men here and in Nevada. To begin /:
In small town in Western Illinois there
lived wealthy family by the name of
Jarboe. It's members consisted Of the
father, mother, three daughters, and one
son christened John. Hard by lived u
MIS- Roberts, "A widow in reduced circum-
stances, with an only son, named George,
who was about the same age as young
Jarboe. John Jarboe and George Rob-
erts grew up together, went to the same
school, shared each others pocket mon
ey, and we're the closest of bosom frierds.
A short tune before the Rebe llion broke
out the elder .Iarboe died. :. About the
time Fort Sumpter was bonn 5arded. young
Jarboe, then a lad of some sixteen sum
mers, took his share of his fathers es.
tate and went to the wilds of Colorado
At Denver he opened saloon, and did
thriving business for years. Young
Roberts answered the first call for volun-
teers, and went South with one of the first
regiments of Illinois troops. He served
through the war and came home at its
close II tall, handsome youth, but with
his head prematurely bald. 1t must here
be remarked that John JRrboe had very
dark features and an abundance of straight
black hair, while young Roberts was u
fair haired, blue eyed and ruddy>cheeke
blone. Shortly after Roberts return
from the war he received letter from
Jarboe, inviting him out to the growing
city of Denver. Roberts went, and tor
many years the two friends were insepa-
rable. They lived at Denver, Central
City, Golden, Blackhawk and other places
in Colorado, md always together. About
1873 they came to Utah. And now comes
the strange part of the story. Some five
years ago the two were occupants Of
cabin in Bingham Canyon, Utah Terri
tory. n rude log hut covered with dirt
roof One night the roof gave way, and
fell in on the two friends, while asleep in
bed. Early next merning the neighbors
extracted them from the ruins. Both had
sustained severe coniusions about the
head, and were for many hours in n com-
atose state. The first to recover was Jar
Doe, but strange to relate, his first utter
ance was "Did Jack (Jack was the name
George used to call Jarboc) get killed."
Those around the bed asked who he meant
and he replied, Jack Jarboe, of course. ="
They told him he himself was Jarboe, but
he got angry and swore he was George
Roberts. Seeing it was useless to argue
with him. his attendants dropped the
subject, thinking that he would recover
from his strange delusion in n few days.
Next day Roberts recovered conscious
ness and singularly enough, inquired the
first thing, "Is George dead ?" In VAN
the tried to persuade him that he was
George Roberts ; ho insisted that he was
John Jarboe. During their interim Of
inscnsibllity the two friends had completes
ly changed their indentity. Thus Jarboe
insisted that he was George Roberts, and
Roberts as stoutIy affirmed that he was
John Jarboe. Their friends and acquaint
ances thought they must be crazy for
awhile. but ii was soon seen they were
perfectly sane upon every other subject
1t was no use to show them theit photo
graphs taken before the accident. They
could not account for the change in their
ective appearances, bat they remained
perfectly positive of their identity. After
"a while it became "A sore subject with them,
and they would consider any allusons to
it an insult. There was much talk of the
affair at the time, but it finally died out
as everything does. At last the two
friends went on a visit to their old home
in Illinois. Roberts presented himself to
the mothers and sisters of Jarboe as the
spurned. Jarboe went to Mrs. Roberts
as her son, but she declined TO receive him
AS such. When she saw her son she fell
on his neck, but be disengaged himself
and told her he was not her child. The
poor mother was nearly crazed with grief
at this repulse. Mrs. Jar5oe and her
| ted 10 smother him with kisses and ems
/ braces, but he kept them off, telling them
/ they were mistaken. Their sorrow and
amazement cannot be described. Our
| two friends held consultation and con-
GLIDING that their relatives had gone dat,
| Immediately set out for Nevada. They
have been roaming around the various
mining camps of eastern Nevada ever
since, most of the time in company. Jar
Doe, who represents himself as Roberts,
was in Nye county, Nevada, some months
ago, and, as before stated, Ro berts, who
calls himself Jarboe, came into Bodie a
short time since. This is one of the
strangest eases on record, and is a nice
little Tut for scientists to crack. There is
no doubt about the authenticity OF the
story.
The subject for conversation al an
evening entertainment was the intelli-
gence of animals, particularly dogs.