The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-06-05
Historical Doubles.

Few historical characters have had
more counterfeit prasentments than
Sebastian of Portugal, who, being found
missing after battle against the Moors
in 1878, was represented by succession
of impostors for years afterward. Con-
corning one of these historians are yet
in doubt In 1898 q man presented
himself to the Venetian Senate, claim
ing to be the last heir of Portugal, es-
capped from twenty years captivity
among the Moors. He possessed great
personal resemblance to the last Prince.
was acquainted with secrets concerning
the Royal family, and had certainly
strong evidence to produce in favor OF
his claims, but he was decided to b,
another of the long series of impOstors
who had assumed the title of Sebastian,
and was sent to the galleys. To the
close of his life, however, he persisted
in his tale, and its truth is one of the
many historical mysteries that are new
err likely to be cleared up. Russia, too,
has had its historical doubles" Many
counterfeits arose to personate that De-
metrius, son of the Car, as Grand
Duke of Muscovy. who was murdered
in 1000. In 1878 an impostor arose who
asserted that he was Peter Ill. He led
an army against the Empress Gather
inc, but was defeated and executed in
1775. There were many claimants to
the title of Louis XVII. In the present
century man named Eleazar Williams,
residing in Canada, was believed by
many persons to be the unfortunate
Dauphin, who it was said had been Sc
cretly conveyed to America by faith
full servant. instead of dying in the
Temple.
In our own day was there not the
Tichborne trial, concerning which opin-
ions were so greatly divided? A yet
stranger case Of disputed identity oc-
Cured in the sixteenth century. A
certain Martin Guerre, residing in
the province of Haute Garonne, left
| his wife and family and disappeared
for eight years. At the end of this
time he apparently returned to his
home, and was received without
suspicion by the relatives. Martin
had number of peculiar marks which
the new conner also possessed; the re-
turning prodigal was also conversant
with all the most private affairs of the
family, and knew secrets that the wife
had revealed to her husband alone.
Three years passed away, and two more
children were born to the supposed
Martin, when q doubt of his real iden-
tity began to arise. 1t is not clear what
first reused suspicion, but the rumor
once set afioat evidence began to pour
-. All OF 1noot e. xoo
to believe that the reputed Martin Guerre
was only " doppelganger" of the real
man; that he was in fact certain
Arnauld du Tilk, who had made the &C
quaintance of the real Martin in Flan-
ders, and traded in his likeness and the
possession of information obtained from
Martin to personate his comrade to his
family. In the midst of the discussion
the real Martin returned home, but his
appearance. instead of mending matters,
only
"Made the case darker,
Which was dark enough without"
Some swore positively that the first
claimant was the real Martin; others
were equally certain that he was an i'm
poster. The case went for trial, and
the real man succeeded in proving his
identity, the counterfeit Martin (alias
Arnauld du Tilk) being hanged. He
confessed his deception before his exc
cution. In the seventeenth century q
long lawsuit dragged on in the Paris
Courts concerning a question of disputed
identity. A man claimed to be the heir
of Calvinist family named De Caille,
who had quilted France at the Reyoca-
tion of the Edict of Nantes. The de-
ception was proved at last, but the acct
dental resemblance between this adj
venturer, Pierre Mege, and the de-
ceased De Caille, whom he attempted
to personate. was strong enough to de-