The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1891-04-10
DOUBLES IN REAL LIFE.
THE EQUAL OF THE BssT GRE
ATOMS OF FICTION.
England Furnishes tho Most Important
Case OF Mistaken Idcntity--Othcr
CRscs with Remarkable
Features.

Among a numbor OF New 1Orkors
recently tho conversation turned upon
the subject Of mistaken identity. 1t
was agreed that the mistaken identity
Of the dead Is In no wise uncommon,
and that tho danger to business and
social interests in this matter is far
more serious than ono would think
without reflection. Tho insurance
companies realize the ease OF do
ception.
Said one talker: II have never
seen d play that turns on mistaken
Identity that had in it to mo the slight
est improbability, on that one point at
least. ! have known many people
startlingly alike, and as for twins,
everybody must have experienced tho
lmpossibility Of telling them apart.
Phil Thompson, formerly member Of
congress from Kentucky, and hi.
brother John are not distlnguishable
10 many OF their friends when seen
separately. The comical nishaps OF
the two Dromios Of Shakespeare are
entirely reasonable to me, and so
throughout the long line Of characters
In the romantic drama which is full OF
doubles. "A Celebrated Case has ono
Of its strongest scenes in false imper-
sonation. The New Magdalen' hinges
on 1t. In any case, either Of outward
Identity or nero impersonation. the
dramatic possibilities are strong. For
that reason l like Willard In John
Needham's Double The situation is
possible, and 1t Is intensely interesting
10 look into mans soul under such
| conditions"
Tho Tichbornc case is the most i'm
portant In the annals OF mistaken
Identity. Its proportions grew and
grew, and the claimant was backed to
such an extent with the pounds. shil-
lings and pence OF believing sympath-
izers that 1t became kind Of civil
conspiracy against great estate. The
story is recent and familiar and, as is
known, the structure of the claim fell
apart, and year or two ago the obese
duplicate OF the vanished earl could be
seen from time to time emerging from
his lodgings In Fourth avenue. in this
city, accompanied by n pitcher in
quest Of his modicum of beer after the
good fashion OF tho cheaply bibulous.
He is probably living to-day in New
York or Brooklyn. England. then,
furnishes tho most imposing case.
France, naturally enough, supplies
the most dramatic, and that was the
original tragic happening upon which
was based "The Lyons Mail"
Tho facts are authentic us anything
in history that happened in the stirring
times that lie around the French revo-
luton. Only the issue was more tragic
than the drama, for the innocent man
was hanged.
In Pitivals Causes Cclcbresr is
told the curious case of Martin Guorro.
which happened more than three CEN
turtles ago. Martin Gucrre lived n,
Biscay, and disappeared. Eight years
later his vito was confronted by her
husband" who was identified and
welcomed by her and others. Two
children were born OF this reunion.
There was no suspicion. II would mp
pear from this. for several years, but
from circumstances not detailed trial
came up.
The man who had exactly tho
features. stature and complexion OF
Guerre." was put on proof OF his idcn-
tity. Two hundred witnesses, equally
divided In opinion. were examined
Four sisters OF Guerro were positive
that no was their brother. There were
but two points against him. Guerre
was known 10 DO most skillful
wrestler and he was n poor one.
Queries shoemaker noticed n slight
difference In tho lines OF their feet.
Finally, Guerre himself returned
from tho wars with wooden leg. and
tho case broke down. In his
confession the interlopcr told how he
had been accostcd by friend OF Guerre
by mistake. From him he had draw n
the facts upon which no worked and
had countcrfeitcd tho marks ON the
body. This Armand de Till was
hanged and burned before the house OF
Guctrc.
A remarkable case was told by Ed
ward Gould BufTum. New York
newspaper man, who Ind many cxpc-
ricnccs In California between 1876 and
1857. In 1881 San Francisco was ox-
cited over u case OF assault, Of which
tho victim was Charles jansen. IA mcr-
chant on Montgomery street Ills
clerks had left the shop, when two men
cnto-,d. One OF them fclled him with
II bar OF iron, and the two men then
rinod tho safe OF several thousand dol.
lars in coin and gold dust When
found Jansen was brought around nnd
was able To give some description OF
his assailnnts. Two men wcru arrested
Just us they were about TO depart on q
steamboat up tho Sacramento. Al tina,
time james Stewart, nn escaped convic,
from Australia, wns terror. lie WINS
n great malefac,or. but had always ca.
capped conviction. Tho detectives sup.
posed that they Ind arrested this char.
actor. His companion gave tho name
OF 10 Wildrcd and tho supposed Jim
Stewart" claimed 10 be Thomas Bertluc.
Those were the dnys Of tho vigilance
committees. jansen fully recognized
his assailants. Borduo claimed "a
have come from n mining camp with
his friend. and that no Ind never
heard OF Stewart. Half dozen wilt.
no-scs identified him ms Stewart on IN.
preliminary trial. md the prisoner
were sentenced 10 fourteen years In
tho pcnitentinry. Mildred was nj
once taken nwny. md Bcrduc was sent
to Mnrysyillc 10 be tried for the muir.
dor Of the sheriff OF Yubn. Ito wa,
,boro identified md convicted IN jim
Stewart lle wns To DO hanged Ia
three weeks.
In tho meanwhile u party Of doioc
tlvos ono night stumbled upon Jim
Stewart md supposed thoy had cnugh
the prisoner Of Marysvillo escaping.
To malto the story short. Jim stownr-
confessed. lio WIS hanged upon Cal