Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-07-14
The TichbOrne Case.

ONE of the most romantic trials on re-
cord is now in progress in one of the Lon
don courts, involving the title and estates
Of an ancient baronetcy, with rent-roll
equal to $150000a year in gold. The case
is briefly this: In 1858 Roger Charles
Tichborne, son of Sir James Francis ITCH
borne, left England for Valparaiso. Up
to April, 1854, letters came from him to
his mother, who learned from them that
he was engaged in travelling in various
parts of South America He also sent
homo birds, some pictures, and some pecu-
liar spurs and stirrups. In the course of
1854 intelligence was received at Tichborpe
that Roger had taken passage at Rio de
Janeiro in April, on the ship Bella, bound
for New York, that she had foundered at
sea, and that the owners and underwriters
treated her as having been lost. No tidings
came of the crew, except that one boat
belonging to the Bella had been met with
on the ocean with no one on board, and it
was taken for granted that the whole crew
were drowned. This seems to have been
accepted as conclusive by all but Lady
Tichhorne, who clung to the belief that
her son was saved, and had presentiment
that she would one day see him again.
Some time in 1858 common sailor pre-
sented himself at Tichborne Park with the
story that he had just arrived from Aus
tralia. He asked for aims, and had con-
versation with Lady Tichborne, in which
he declared that he had heard that boats
crew from a ship, which he thought was
the Bella, had been picked up at sea and
brought into Melbourne. Sir James Itch
borne, the father, did not think the report
worth notice. The mother, however, find
ing in it a corroboration of her cherished
hopes, clung to it as gospel, She
caused advertisements to be inserted in
the Australian papers, and took various
other measures to discover her lost son. All
were unavailing, it appears, until after the
death of Sir James. But in the month Of
March, 1866 she at last received letter
from Sir Roger, written from New South
Wales, expressing the wish to come home
directly, and asking that money should be
sent to enable him to do so. This was
done, and he arrived in Paris to meet his
mother, accompanied by wife and child,
in January, 1867. He being unwell, Lady
Tichborne went to see him at hotel in
the Rue St. Honore. She INSTANTLY recog-
nized him " rs her first-born son, Roger
Charles Tichborne.
Her conviction on this point is strongly
expressed in an affidavit to which she has
sworn, one paragraph of which reads as
follows;
"I am certain as I am Of my own existence, and
distinctly and positively swear that the plaintiff Is
my hrst-born son, the Issue of my marriage with
the said Sir James Francis Doughty Tfchborne (de
ceased). His features, disposition and voice are
unmistAkable, and must, In my Judgment, be
recognized by impartial and unprejudiced persons
who knew him before he left England In the year
1853"
The mothers belief was further
strengthened by constant talks with the
claimant over numerous private family
matters that occurred during her sons
youth, by his reminding her of the articles
hs had sent her from South America, etc.