Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-11-14
G. H. Smiths Remarkable Re.
semblance to Half-Brother
Causes Complications
CHARGE OF BleAMY BROUGHT
Plaintiff Was Minnie Goodenoush,
Wisconsin Woman, Who is Not En-
tirely Sure Which of tho Two Men
She Was Welded to-Evidence OF
Woman Looked Plausible.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times RepuOlCdu.
Council Bluffs, Nov. 14.-One of the
most remarkable cases Of mistaken
identity on record was disclosed IN
court here in the case Of q. Henry
Smith, charged with bigamy, who was
brought to trial on the complaint of
Minnie Goodenough, who charged
Smith with bigamy, it developing that
the man the woman married was a
twin brother of the accused, the re-
semblance being SO marked that the
plaintiff, it is understood is yet not
entirely satisfied which of the two
men she was welded to. But the
twin brother who was made the de-
PENDANT, was released.
Minnie Goodenough came here from
Wisconsin in the early part of 1896,
yand at once sWore an information
against g. Henry Smith, who is a
prominent farmer of this county,
charging him with bigamy. She al
legged that she was married to him in
Iowa Falls in 1892, under the name Of
George Goodenough, and that after
two years of married life he deserted
her, came to this county and was mar
ried to Mae Scott, under the name OF
G. Henry Smith. D
The evidence of the woman looked
plausible, and Smith was indicted and
was bound over to the grand jury, see,
curing his release upon bonds. Smltn,
who at that time rather regarded the
matter in, the light of a joke, thought
1t had gone quite far enough and tola
his story. He corroborated Minnie
Goodenough in her statement insofar
as her marriage to George Goodenough
in Iowa Falls upon the date named by
her was concerned, but amazed his
hearers when he said that the man
she really married was not him but
his half brother, who resembles him
so closely that many are unable to dis--s
tinguish them, a singular thing when
they were not twins.
The man Minnie married was sus-
Eected of bookkeeping, and because OF
that left the country. 1t was arranged,
as a matter Of accommodation that
Smith was to receive Goodenoughs
mail, thus complicating matters even
mere when it came to establishing
Smiths real name and relationship
with the Wisconsin woman. Among
the numerous letters which Smith re-
ceived were several from the woman,
who supposed later that Smith was
her husband. Later, in search of in
formation concerning her recreant
husband, she bounced upon Smith with
the consequent court proceedings.
But this did not end the complica-
lions altho it did so far as Smith was
concerned. When Mrs. Goodenough was
convinced of her error SHE appeared in
another role. Minnie was looking for
an attorney and CHANGED to enter the
office of the lawyer who had taken
care of Smiths interests in the bigamy
case. She told the attorney she wanted
to get married and needed advice as to
any legal qualifications that might
stand in the way. She said she had
secured divorce from Goodenough in
Wisconsin. The attorney Immediately
wrote to Wisconsin and found she had
secured a decree with alimony Of $15
q month from George.
According to the laws Of Wisconsin
a Judgment for any sum cannot be
secured without personal service upon
tie defendant Mr. Smith nevershav-
ing been in wisconsin, another nail
was clinched in Minnie's story.
In the meantime Mrs. Goodenough
had left for Hampton, where she said
she was to be married again.