The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-12-15
THE TICHBORNE ROMANCE.
Is He Sir Roger, or the Butchers
Son?

Anh AAShnOhNE ROMANCE.
Is He Sir Roger. or the Butchers
Son:
The most recent phases and develop.
ments IN the famous Tichborne case in
England are summed up as follows
by the New York Journal Of Commerce. ::
At the last mail datesTthe Tichborne
case had rounded its fiity-frst day. Its
romantic interest holds oat wonderfully.
The most exciting three-volume novels
of the day pale before it. The News
continues to report it verbatim, and the
Times nearly so. The appearance OF
large, solid pages Of the questions and
answers day after day, testify to the
absorption Of the British public in the
great issue. Punch well hits it off by
one of Tenniel's cartoons-"The old
Man of the Sea" showing the cor
pulent claimant bestriding the shoulders
of the lesser John Bull, who staggers
under his load, while scores of Lillipu-
tians throng about, holding up petitions
for national reforms and public
improvements, which the pre-occu-
pied John neither sees nor heeds.
Since the resumption OF the
case, the claimants chances have
picked up greatly. At the close OF the
latest term an unfavorable impression
was left by the testimony Of the man
himself He was amazingly well in.
formed concerning the lite and assocIa-
tons of young Tichborne in some re-
spects; in others densely ignorant. He
translated "Laus semper Dec" as "the
laws of God always" he could not re-
member that there was a Quadrangle"
in the grounds at Sandyhurst College,
where they boy was educated. 1t
seemed impossible that any human be
ing, one remove above an idiot (and the
claimant is a man Of remarkable intel
gence, parrying like a fencer Cole
ridges keenest thrusts), could so COM
pletely have forgotten things that have
been stamped on his childhood. Brit
ish faith in him was shaken. But now
Mr.. Sergeant Ballentine brings out a
Sandyhurst professor of young Itch
borne's time, who testifies that he was
unteachable in the ancient languages;
that he could not have known Latin
enough to translate "Laus semper Dec,
and that no Quadrangle" existed when
he was there For the rest, there Is a
perfect avalanche of testimony, appa-
rently unimpeachable, identifying the
claimant beyond a doubt. Dozens OF
men-officers and privates in the old
Carbineers, countrymen who knew him
in his youth, gardeners, hostlers, cham
bermaids in any quantity, magistrates,
doctors, keen-eyed policemen, repre-
sentatives of all grades OF society, swear
ing that he is the same person, without
reservation.
There is not the slightest room for
doubt is the phrase as common from
witnesses as the Attorney then Solicit
tory Generals query-"Would 1t sur
prise YOU to know p etc, etc, in the
early stage OF the case. All this evil
dence which is not merely the identiti-
cation Of face, form, voice, manner, but
is largely composed of proof arising
rom the claimants accurate recollec-
ton of innumerable incidents known
only to the young Roger and those who
made the tests-this, added to the posi-
tive opinion Of the late Lady Tichborne,
his mother, makes heap OF testimony
which it now seems as II nothing could
overthrow. The Tichborne shares OF
600 each, issued to support the claim
ant have advanced from los TO E40.
The tide of unparalleled English
opinion seems to be strongly with him !;
and that without aid from the news
papers, which take no sides openly. 1t
NAV be that all this will be sent back
when the defense comes on, for it is the
plaintiff Cor claimanD who has had the
innings so far. II he is Arthur Orion,
a butcher, born in Mapping, as the
defense will try to make out, strong
proof of that assertion would be al
forded by the evidence of Orton 8 sisters
who are living, should they be brought
into court and swear that he is their
brother, and the fact be elected that he
has endeavored to buy off their
testimony, it would 60 hard with
him. Being confronted with two
of his sisters in court, some time
ago, he swore that they We're no con
nections of his, and that he knew them
only as sisters of his Australian friend,
Arthur Orton. The value Of human
testimony only would be weakened
more than ever, if against the full re,
cognition of her long lost son by Lady
Ticbborne should be offered the unhes'-
tating Identification of Orion by his
sisters. The Attorney General prob,
ABLY has dramatic surprises in store, and
tbi; NAV be one of them. Commissions
are still out on both sides, hunting for
evidence all over the world Rumor
saws that the real Arthur Orton will be
produced by the claimant as settler.
But as the novelists say, "let us not
anticipate." The enjoyment of all who
read the trial or such scraps OF 1t as
American journals can make room tor
would be marred by disclosing the fu,
ture moves Of either side. The third
volume" or, we should say, the "three
hundred and third" ofthis romance OF
more than Japanese dimensions, Will
tell it all. Meanwhile, the lawyers are
fattening on the estate, or the lien
borne fund, and are in no hurry to
leave such rich pasturage. frooao'e
costs all round, are footed up at quar-,
ter million of dollars. That was gooo
point of Bulpitt, the banker, when ne
ta;J that he had bought Gosford 1.-THE
attendants INTEREST," and the claimant
toce,ber to prevent the lawyers from
mining the Tishborne and Doughty
t"' n The reporters put down