The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-03-13
The Tichborne Baronetcy Case

before the conquest, and ever since, in spite of
revolutions and intrigues, has inherited the
same land. Similar possessions in other parts
Of the country-including a property in Gal
way, Ireland-have been added to the origi-
nal estates, from time to time; but these
changes took place so long ago that the latest
of them is old in history.
From the time of Henry II. till 1920 the
principal representatives of the family were
simplex nights. But when Queen Elizabeth
died, Sir John de Tichborne, knight, who was
at the time sheriff of Southampton, acting on
his own responsibility, went directly to Win
CHESTER and there proclaimed James VI. of
Scotland her successor, as King James I. of
England. After the monarch had been set
tied on the throne one of his first acts was to
reward his Hampshire champion, and Sir
John de Tichborne was created baronet and
his four sons were knighted. He was also
made custodian Of the castle of Winchester,
which was settled On him in fee form.
The baronetcy has come down to his de-
scendants in the present day, and Sir Alfred
Doughty Tichborne, baronet, who died a
short time since, was the last bearer of the
hereditary dignity. The career of this gen
tleman was wild and reckless one, and the
English public recolect seeing his name ih
the court OF. bankruptcy. His net income
$4,000 per annum-was not sufficient, and
in fact Sir Alfred was terribly embarrassed
One Of his first acts in succeeding to the title
and estates was to purchase yacht at a cost
of 70,OOO and five hundred stand of the
best breechloading rifles for his own private
shooting The estates became heavily mort
gagged but the Jews who lent the money felt
perfectly secure. On Christmas day last,
however, there landed in England, from the
steamship Celia, from New York to London, a
gentleman whose presence appears to have
had the effect of falling bomb she'll among
Jews and Gentiles who lent money on the
Tichborne estates-no other, in fact, than the
rghtfu owner to the estate, Sir Roger Charles
Tichborne, baronet Never before in the family
history has sostrange an incident been known.
The official books record that Sir James
Francis Doughty Tichborne, baronet, of Itch
borne Hants, born 1884, succeeded his brother
as tenth baronet in 1853. He had at this
time two sons, viz: Roger Charles, bern in
1929, and Alfred Joseph, born 4th September,
1889, who married in 1851 Teresa Mary,
eldest daughter Of Lord Arundel. There
were of this family also two daughters who
died. Thus the eldest son and heir Roger
Charles, was, when his father became baronet
in 1858, twenty-four years Of age, and his
younger brother, Alfred Joseph, was fourteen
years old. In 1862 the father died, but in
the meantime the heir, who had been subject
from childhood to nervous attacks, took his
departure from England, with the intention of
visiting America and the colonies at the anti
podes Some time before the death Of Sir
James news came to this country that the
ship in which Roger Charles took his depart
ure to Australia was lost off Cape Horn, with
all on board. The sad intelligence was con-
frmed by the fact that nothing was afterwards
heard Of the lost heir. So the younger brother
took the title and estates However, he had
no son to succeed him, and when lie died, a
few months ago, it was thought by many that
the title would be extingushed in that branch.
But his lady bore a posthumous child, and
great rejoicing was made when the infant was
formally declared heir of the line.
But now comes the extraordinary part of
the story. Although the ship (the Edinburg,
| believe) in which Roger Charles sailed, was
lost, with nearly all on board, he himself,
with four others, managed to scramble into a
boat, and, among the icebergs of the Cape,
four dreary days and nights held on to exist
ence. Picked up by vessel bound to Val pa
raise, Roger Charles landed in South America,
his whole property being suit Of clothes and
a borrowed hat. A good Samaritan, named
Thomas de Castro, a Spaniard, took compass
sion on the castaway, and lent him such aid
that he was enabled 10 live comfortably, and
at the same acquire knowledge of the peo
pie among whom he was SO strangely thrown.
He wandered among the different States for
two years but when at Callao he made the
acquaintance of sea captain in the Austria
liam trade, be accepted a berth as ships stew
ard, and in that capacity landed in Melbourne,
Australia. In grateful remembrance of his
Spanish friend he assumed the name of Thomas
de Castro and leaving the ship at Melbourne
sought work as shepherd in the interior Of
the colony. He readily obtained employment,
and by attention to his duties very soon re-
ceived the confidence of his employers and
the settlers generally. About this time he
learned through the English papers that his
father, Sir James, was dead, and that the
titles and estates had been assumed by his
brother, Alfred Joseph, to whom he was very
much attached. Thinking that as he was
considered dead it would be better to let his
brother enjoy the title for a time at least, and
besides the rowing wild life of an Australian
settler was suited to his taste, while he enjoyed
better health under the Southern sun than be
ever did in England, he made up his mind to
remain ncognto and settle down in the coun-
try. Years rolled by, and Thomas de Castro,
alias Sir Roger Charles Tichborne, baronet,
became the manager and owner of butcher
ing establishment in Walla Wala, near Sid
ney. He prospered in business, and Mr. de
Castro became known in the settlements as an
excellent butcher and an honest man.
But the romance would not be complete
without the usual tale of love, ending with
happy marriage. Thomas de Castro, the
butcher, fell violently in love with Mary
Byrne, daughter of plasterer. In due
time the marriage took place, and there were
high times in the rancho for week before and
a month after the event Mrs. de Castro,
however, was utterly ignorant Of the previous
history of her husband until sor'e few months
since, when Sir Roger declared himself the
rightfu owner Of the Tichborne estates. He
was moved to this course when his lady pre-
ia I Of bo