Lucio and Simplicio Godino
Lucio and Simplicio Godino | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 8, 1908 |
| Died | Lucio: 24 November 1936 (aged 28) Simplicio: 8 December 1936 (aged 28) |
| Spouse(s) | Lucio: Natividad Matos Simplicio: Victorina Matos (Natividad and Victorina Matos were identical twin sisters) |
Lucio Godino (March 8, 1908 – November 24, 1936) and Simplicio Godino (March 8, 1908 – December 8, 1936) were pygopagus conjoined twins from the island of Samar in the Philippines.
In 1929, at the age of 21, they married Natividad and Victorina Matos, who were identical twins. They would later perform in various sideshow acts, including in an orchestra on Coney Island and in dance with their wives.[1]
The twins were also gifted a motor car by their foster father, which was later involved in a motor vehicle accident in September 1929. The Morning Avalanche reported that Lucio Godino was driving at high speed when their vehicle struck a carabao cart, injuring its driver. Both twins were arrested and subsequently sentenced by a judge to five days' imprisonment for reckless and drunk driving. However, Simplicio appealed the case, arguing that imprisoning Lucio would also mean incarcerating him, despite his innocence. The appeal was reportedly successful, and the twins were released in October 1929.[2][3]
After Lucio died of rheumatic fever in New York City, doctors operated to separate him from Simplicio. Simplicio survived the operation, but died shortly thereafter due to spinal meningitis.[4]
References
- ^ "Lucio and Simplicio Godino". Archived from the original on 2009-05-24. Retrieved 2009-06-02.
- ^ Ocampo, Ambeth (December 13, 2011). "Siamese twins". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ^ "Judge Releases Siamese Twin To Avoid Jailing His Brother". The New York Times. October 12, 1929. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ^ Spencer, Rowena (2003). Conjoined twins: developmental malformations and clinical implications. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-7070-4.