The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-09-12 00:00:00

THE TICHBORNE CASE.

An Act of Parliament passed in the late Session, of
considerable dimensions, occasioned by the litigation
of " the Claimant,'' has just been issued to authorize
the raining of moneys on the security of the Tichborne
and Doughty estate. The Statute, which has been
printed as a private Act, is to be admitted in all Courts
as evidence; it extends, with the schedules, to 106
folio pages, and the recitals comprise 65 pages. There
are 24 sections and four schedules setting forth the
various properties in Southampton, Middlesex,
Lincoln, Buckingham, and Dorset forming the Tich-
borne and Doughty estates. The recitals commence
with the settlement of the Tichborne estates in 1806,
and trace the property down to the present time, hi-
chiding the several suits by the 'Claimant," his con-
viction, and the objects of the parties in raising the
money to meet the costs and charges which had been
incurred in protecting the estates from the " Claim-
ant," and which could not be accomplished without an
Act 4 Parl t, in pursuanceof an order of the Court
of Chancery. After ret.iting the various charges which
had been made and giving other information, comprised
in nearly 50 pages, it is shown that of £lOO,OOO, which
bad been antimd to be raised on trusts, E 1.5,500 re.

mained unraised. The Act states that Roger Charles Law of Mortmain did not allow money to be left
Tichbonie left this country in February, 1853, for the for buildings, and he always conscientiously abstained
purpose of travelling in South America, where he ar- from using any money contrary to law. It was
rived, and afterwards took a passage in the Bella from left for the college, and he regarded it as for col-
Rio Janeiro to New York, and sailed in the ship in loge work ; but he did not expect to get it for
April, 1854, and the vessel, "soon after she left Rio de twelve months, and he never reckoned any money
Janeiro, was lost, and all on board, including the said till he had got it. But he regarded that legacy
Roger Charles Tiehborne, then perished." That, in 1866, as a great blessing, for from the day that he was
"one Arthur Orton, who had been in various employ- informed of it he had had more applications every
menta at various places in Australia, and was there day for admission to the college than he had had for a
known as Thomas Castro. get up s claim to be the said whole month before, and he did not know whether
Roger Charles Tichberne, alleging that the said Roger they would not soon have 200 students in it. When
Charles Tichborne hail not perished at sea, but that be he had determined on the erectionof the college it was
waa saved by a vessel which landed him at Melbourne a very singular thidir that this piece of ground should
liott 46
at or bout the end of July, 1851." The Act prayeeds just come into the market. It was be land of
wit ' e proceedings adopted, by Orton, who b re. parish, he believe 'arid the edi t require co
fe as "the Claimant 'fa]om his arrival ingng- yeerationriliowe he had 4pe g there, am.
lan °Wards the end of Damber, 1866, when he one soul -NM hol eternelf life 'that meeting,
aaarimed the name and fitle of "Sir Charlee Doughty'. so he did not think he should call in the Arch-
Tichborne, Baronet," and states that in consequence bishop ]]f Canterbury to consecrate it. They had,
of the claim various suits and proceedings were inati- however, consecrated it in this way. He and
tuted in the Court of Chancery, in the Court of Corn- the students went into every room in the build-
mon Pleas, and in the Court of Probate, which suits log, and there prayed for the blessing of God.
were set forth in a petition to the Court of Chancery.. It was the most crooked piece of ground he ever
In 1866 a suit in Chancery was instituted for the pur- saw, but almost every inch of it warn covered.
pose of placing the person and property of the infant The shape of the ground aeoounted for there being
heir, Sir Henry Alfred Joseph Doughy Tichborne, oetsgog rooms, one above another; they filled a
under the protection of the Court. In, FebruaryT tiornerfand completedthe covering of the entire ground.
1873, an order was made on the petition of the infant re wodld desalhe the building • they came its at the
at heir, by his guardians, that proper atria, should be ' front dhor, which they must do if they came in at all,
taken to raise the costs and charges incurred by the for there was no other, and they came into a room
proceedings of "the Claimant" out of the corpus of which was a long one, but was divisible into three..
certain properly set forth, and a draught of a Bill When Used ale one room it was available for a Sunday
in Parliament was ordered to be prepared to effect school, and once a year it would be used for the con.
the objects mentioned In the petition, and aliso ferienee of former etudes:Ltd. Oppueite the front door
for the payment of expenses incurred in obtaining they would see a room called the colporteur's room.
an Act of Parliament. Further, the Statute details _ The Colporteurie Society had become so large that it
the conviction of "the Claimant" for perjury, when req'ulred a room for its business]. It bad been very
he was found to be "Arthur Orton," and sentenced to successful, it required a large capital, and its operations
fourteen years' penal servitude—seven years' on each were carried on throughout the whole of England. Oa
count. After a statement of the Tichborne and the left aide of the passage there warn a room which
Doughty estates, the Act declares that it is desirable looked like a kitchen, and it would be used for that
that trustees should he appointed to carry into effect purpose once a year, and then there was a room
the provisions of the Statute, and that Henry which he might call the common room of the
Lamplugh Wickham and the Hon. Edward Ignatius students. Coming upstairs they come to the lecture
Arundell were willing to act as such trustees, and had hall, which would hold about 406 persons, besides 100
been approved by the Court of Chancery. In per- in the gallery. Just outside there was a little room
silence of the order of February, 1873, the wets, for him and for general business. Then there
charges, and expenses thereby ordered to be moderated were four class-rooms and an octagon room for
had been settled at the sum of 1'91,677 12s. 24., as ap- scientific lectures. The rooms were ad high, so as
peered by the certificate of the Chief Clerk (Mr. Bird) to allow of good ventilation. Upstairs, on the second
of Vice]Chancellor Bacon, dated the 9th of May last, floor, was the library, which was] lit from the top. He
And that Vice-Chancellor Bacon had settled the wanted to have a really good library, and his notion
draught of the present Act, as also the appointment was to have the college second to no Dissenting college
of the trustees mentioned, which objects could in the kingdom. There was no reason why they
not be effectually accomplished without the authority should not. They had unlimited funds. Money was
of Parliament. The sections are enactments to always to be had by asking God for it. The other day
carry out the several objects. The "liabilities to be a person told him that he supposed he must be very
raised" include the sum of £91,677 12e. 2d. as costs rich. He told him in reply that he was richer than
and charges settled, and also costs and charges. in. any Jew; that he had got more money than the Rothe-
curred not exceeding £155 9s. 84. previoualy advanced, childs, for when he required any money he had nothing
and also the costs and expenses of all parties in obtain- to do but to ask God for it; that if it were good for
ing the present Act. After express directions as to him that he should have it, he had it; and if it
the manner in which the several objects of the Statute were not good, he was the better for not having it.
are to be carried out, and also as to the duties of the If they had but faith in God He would always
trustees and the supervision of the Court of Chancery, give them what they required. Ile intended to make
the last 'section is in the following words :—" Thie Act the trust deed of such a character that in case of his
shall not be a public Act, but shall be printed by the death—and brethren were always reminding him that
several printers. Sc, the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, he should die, and he was thankful to think that he
duly authorized to print the Statutes of the United should—he would lease it so that any other college
Kingdom, and a copy thereof so printed by any of might come and occupy the building if this should be
them shall be admitted as evidence thereof by all given up; or that it might be used for any purpose for
Judges, Justices, and others." The description of the the honour and glory of God, so that should any other
estates, their extent and rental, occupies nearly 30 college arise in London which should want a building
pages of the schedukea annexed to the Act, in a future time they should have this. But while he
was alive he thought it most likely that he should
carry it on in his own way, and he hoped that those
who would follow him would carry it on much better.
There was about 85 or 86 years for which he had paid
all the ground rent except about I:2 a year. He
added, amid loud cheers, that never man in this world
had had better or kinder friends than be, and that, as
they had now borne with him for twentymne years,
he hoped they would never see any cause for falling
out.

th4,l

corti•

Brief addresses suitable to the occasion were after-
was delivered by the Rev. F. Tucker, the Rev. Dr.
Burns, and other ministers, and the proceedingsdosed,
as they began, with prayer and a hymn.