MARRIAGE MIX-UP.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1920, Page 8

MARRIAGE MIX-UP.

An extraordinary marriage tangle falls to be considered l)y the Totnes (Devon) Justices. The story is one in which two brothers are said to be so much alike that the wife of the one lived with the other without suspecting anything. The persons involved in this amazing marriage drama are Wilfred Reginald Sinclair Hayes, William Hayes, his brother, Mrs Lilian Hayes, wife of one of the brothers, and Mrs E. K Hayes, who might be a. wife of one of the brothers. Details of the 3tran«e story have come to light in consequence of a charge of bigamy against one of the Jfayes and the chief points of the case as outlined at a preliminary hearing are as follows: - A person stated to he Wilf-'ed Reginald Sinclair Hayes. R.N.,, was married at Totnes Parish Church on 'Fehurary 14,1920, to Miss K. 10. Hill, of Totnes, and, as he says, in his brother's name, considering that the latter used his when he married Miss Lilian Phillips in 1915. According to (he story told by his advocate, lie was formerly engaged to Miss Phillips, but his brother he alleged, personated him, and married her. Subsequently the brother deserted her, and the accused man's story is that, .without her knowledge, he then took the place of his brother. Children were born on August 7, 19M, and February 18 of this year. The brothers Hayes are said to be so much alike that they could not be distinguished apart, even by their mother, until Hayes, the accused man, twisted his arm in an accident. 1