The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-27
DoUBLEs IN RsAL LIFs.
Authentic Instances That Equal the
Best Creations OF Fiction.
from the Neto York Herald

Authentic Instances That Equal the
Best Creations OF Fiction.
From the Nelo York Herald.
In an uptown club the other night a con-
versation s2rang up about mistaken iden-
tity. and as il was spun out source Of re-
,nsrkable stories were told. 1t was agreed
that the mistaken identity of the dead is in
nowise uncommon, and that the danger to
business and social interests in this matter
is far more serious than one would think
without rejection. The Insurance com.
uauies realize the ease Of deception.
said one telker: 81 have never seen
play that turns on mistaken identity that
mad il it TO me the slightest improbability,
On that one point at least. / have known
aany people startlingly alike, and as for
twins, everybody must have experienced
the impossibility of telling them apart
Phil Thompson, formerly member Of con-
gress from Kentucky, and bis brother John
are not diStinguishable to many of their
friends when seen separately. The comieal
rnishaps of the two Dromios OF Shakespeare
are entirely reasonable TO me. aud so
throughout the long line of characters III
the romantic drama, which is full OF doubles
"A Celebrated Case has one of its strongest
scenes In false representation. the New
Magdalen' hinges on it. In any case,
sonstion, the dramatic possibilities are
strong. For that reason l like Willard in
IJohn Needham's double The situation is
possible, and it Is intensely interesting TO
look into a mans soul under such condl>
tons"
GREAT CASES.
The Tchborne case is the most important
in the annals Of mistaken identity. It's pro-
portions grew and grew, and the claimant
was backed to such an extent with the
pounds, shllliDgs and pence of believing
sympathlzers that IL 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 age the obese duplicate Of the van
ished baronet could be seen from time to
time emerging from his lodgings in Fourth
avenue, in this Oh y, accompanied by a
pitcher, ia quest Of his mod.cun Of beer,
after the good fashion OF the cheapIy blbu-
lous.
France, naturally enough, supplies the
most dramatic, aud that was the original
tragic happening upon which was based
''lhe Lyons Mail"
TIE facts are as authentic as anything in
history that happened in tho stirring times
that lie around the French revolution. Only
the issue was more tragic than the drama,
Tor the innocent man was hanged.
In Pitival's Causes Celepres" is told the
curious case of Martin Guerre, which hap
pened more than three centuries ago. Mar
Tin Guerre lived at Blscay, and disappeared.
Eight years later his wife was confronted
by her husband" who was identified and
welcomed by her and others. Two children
were born Of the reunion. There was no
suspicion, it would appear from this, for
several years. but for circumstances not de-
tailed, a trial came up.
The man, who had exactly the features,
stature, and complexion OF Guerre," was
put on proof Of his identy. Two hundred
witnesses, equally divided in opinion, were
examined. four sisters of Guerre were posi-
tive that he was their brother. Guerre was
known to oe a most skillful wrestler, and he
was poor one. Queries shoemaker noticed
slight difference in The lines of their feet.
Finally Guerre himself returned from the
wars with wooden leg, and finally the
case broke down. In mis- confession the
interloper told how he had been accoSted by
friend of Guerre by mistake. From HIM
he had drawn the facts upon which he
worked, and had counterfeited the marks on
the body. This Armand de Iihl was hanged
and burned before the house of Guerre.
JIM STEWARDS DOUBLE.
A remarkable case was told by Edward
Gould Butfum, a New York newspaper
man, who had many experiences in Cali
fornia between 1916 and 1857. In 1851 San
francisco was excited over a case of robbery
and assault, Of which the victim was
Charles Jansen, merchant in Montgomery
street. His clerks had left the shop, when
two men entered. One Of them felled hi Il
with bar of iron, and the two men thea
rified the safe Of several thousand
dollars in coin and gold dust.
When found Jansen was brought
around, and was able to give some de.
soripdon of his asseilants. Two men were
arrested just as they we're about 10 depart
on a steamboat up the Sacramento. AT
that time James Stewart an escaped con-
Wet from Australia, was terror. He was
great malsfactor, but had always escaped
conviction. The detectives supposed teat
they had arrested this character. His com
panion gave the name of 10 Wildred, and
the supposed Jim Stewart" claimed to be
Thomas Berdue.
Those were the days of the vigilance COM
mittees. Jansen fully recognized his assail-
ants. Berdue claimed TO have come from a
mining camp with his friend, and that he
never heard Of Stewart Half dozen wit
nesses Identified him as Stewart on the pre-
llmlnary trial, and the prisoners were SEN
fenced to fourteen years In the penlteat. airy.
Mildred was at once taken away, and Ber-
due was sent to Marysville, to be tried for
the murder Of the sheriff of Yuba. He was
there identified and convicted as jim Stew
art. He was to be hanged in three weeks.
In the meanwhile a party OF detectives
one night stumbled upon Jim Stewart and
supposed they had caught the prisoner of
Marysvlne escaping. To make the story
short Jim Stewart confessed. He was
hanged upon California street wharf, the
gallows being the derrick.
The body was taken to an engine house,
and Buffum relates: 81 was fond Of dra-
matte situations, and proposed that we
should send for Berdue. This was done and
IN half an hour he stood in the presence OF
MS dead rival standing by the table on
which Ste wart was lying and gazing upon
ms liked features. lie was like a man look
Ing at his own corpse"
MRplE1n A O xnnAr A.. 0rrrn