The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-03-12
The Ticbbornc Case in Retrospect.

The Springfield Republican has an H..
teresting resume Of this famous case as
tolows
Now that Arthur Orton-butcher,
horse. thief, impostor and perjurer, has
been snugly laid by the heels in Newgate.
it seems good time to glance back over
the singular comedy in which he has beer
the leading actor. For many months
past, this vulgar jail-bird has succeeded
in maintaining his place as ono Of the
hali.dozen most conspicuous figures in the
United Kingdom. HIS name has been
on all lips his pictures have hung in the
shop windows; his bonds have been
bought aud sold in the market the pa
pers have been full OF him the merits OF
his "claim" have been canvassed at all
breakfast tables. The immense value OF
the property involved, an annual rental
of sl50,0O0,-the romantic character
of the claimants story, the splendid legal
ability enlisted, the number and positive
ness of the witnesses, pro and cou,-all
these things have combined to give this
comedy Of The Tichborne Trial. its un.
precedented run. But the curtain has
been rung down now, and the stage is be.
ing set for the aiterpiece.
Roger Charles Tichborne was a young
English gentleman Of great expectations
His mother was a French lady, and he
spent most of his time in France up to
his fifteenth year. Naturally he spoke
French much more fuently than English
and all who knew him intimately testify
that his English had marked French
accent. He spent some years at the
famous Jesuit college at Stoneyhurst, and
then got commission IN cavalry regi
ment, where he remained three years
longer. At this period Of mis- life he wa.
of gentlemanly manner, moved in the bes
society, read books, was fond of music
and wrote letters which would compare
very well, in point Of spelling, grammar
and sentiment, with those of most youth
full members of the aristocracy. lie fel
in love presently with his cousin, Kat,
Doughty. Her father, Sir Edward, made
himself disagreeable,as the English paren
sometimes will, and the unsuccessful anC
unhappy wooer resolved to sell out, leav,
the service and the country, and try II
forget his sorrows in foreign travel Ac
cordingly he went to South America, -
first leaving his will and sealed pape
with one Of the family friends, Mr.
Seymour A year later he sailed iron
Rio Janeiro on a ship which never cam,
to port. AS years passed away an
nothing was heard of passengers or crew
it became the accepted belief that sh
had gone down at sea, and that all o.
board had persisted.
One person, however, steadily refuse,
to accept this theory, and that perso
was Roger Tichborne's mother. She per
sisted in declaring that her son was still
alive, and il advertising for news of him
La 1866, her faith was rewarded. Sh
received letter from Australia, I'm
grammatical aud full of original spelling
} out with her cons name at the bottom
She replied, received one or two NOR
'cteSiot otN suSu "ioeo W euo hustioiio
TO come home. He came, and she declar
ed him to be her boy, Roger Tichborn,
and died in that belief. Others recogui,
. ed him,-old servants and tenants Of tn
mily,tradesmen whom Roger Tichborn
had patronized, soldiers and non-com mil
I stoned officers who had been in Roge
b richborne's regiment The great majo
, ity Of the relatives indeed gave him th
}, sold shoulder aud openly denounced biz
1 as an impostor. But when the now fan
Gus trial began, scores of witnesses can
forward to testify to his identity wit
the young man supposed to have bee
J ship-wrecked in 1854. He took Il
+ stand himself, aud showed an astoundir
9 familiarity with many facts and even
A which it seemed almost impossible TIL
= any one but the real Roger Tichborr
q could know. At one time bis bonds we
:. in brisk demand, aud it was popular
d supposed that his case was as good
d won. But then came that fearful eros
,. examination. Sir John Coleridge toe
v the impostor 10 hand and fairly turD'
Il him inside out. II was perhaps possib
% that the slandsr Rooer 1ichhorno mio