New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-27
Cause of the Ticilborne Tria! Collapse.


The Ti'ibune's London letter says the co.,
lapse OF the Tichborne trial is understood
as being due really to the claimants failure
to raise the money needed to GO on with 1t.
His solicitors it is said, notified him some
time since that they were ont of funds, and
that his counsel could not be expected to
proceed with the cross-exanlnation of wit
uesscs for the defense unless more money
was forthcoming. Thereupon the claimant
called together all his friends and explained
to them that all the money they had here
tofore contributed was likely to be lost for
want of little more. 1t is possible more
might have been had but for the surprising
line the jury took.
What carried the jury was the evidence
of Lord Bellew, that the real Sir Roger was
tattoOed, and the admitted fact that the
claimant has no corresponding marks.
An officer in Sir Rogers Old regiment is
alleged to have written letter declaring
shat Lord Bellew is entirely mistaken, and
that ON the occasion OF the tattOolng Sir
Roger was one Of the officers who person
ally refused to have anything to do with it.
The name of the officer is mentioned freely
in conversation. but there is none to repeat
it AS matters now stand. 1t is obvious that
the claimants solicitor and counsel, with
such evidence in their possession, would
not have yielded to the suggestion of .he
Jury, if the claimant had been able to pro-
vide the means to continue the case. The
verdict OF the jury will not change the
minds of those who have stuck to the claim
ant from the beginning. and stick to him
now. and their number is large.
Ir the man is an impostor, he is one of the
cieverest scoundrels who ever lived. He
puzzled bis own counsel. Sergeant Ballan-
tvne said months ago that he could not
make him out, and that the only thing he
was certain of was that he could not lie
Arthur Orion.
His solicitors, Mr.. Rose excepted, seem to
have had mistaken confidence in the genu-
ineness of his claims. Society. which might
naturally be expected to take sides with the
family and against the butcher, has always
been divided, and the legal profession it
self has furnished some stout partisans for
him.
Three days ago the claimant was visited
bv journalist whose name everybody in
America would recognize if | gave it, one
Of tie best known and one of the most
cynical and skepticai writers on the Lon
don press. After conversation OF two
hours, this writer came away avowing his
conviction that the man he had just seen
was the true Sir Roger. l know others,
inst as little likely to be carried away by
sympathy or imposed upon by mere
shrewdness, who scott at the verdict OF
this jury. saying that they themselves have
subjected the man to more searching tests
than any he has undergone in court, and
that he has come out OF them triumphantly.
He was supported in his claim by the
evidence of eighty-tiye witnesses c0mprls-
ing the Baronets mother, the family soilcl-
tor, one barOnet, six magistrates, one gen
era, three colonies, one major. two cap
tans, thirty-two non-comlnissioned officers
and privates, several citizens, seven tenants
OF the estate, sixteen servants OF the
family, and twelve general witnesses, WHO
ali svore to his identity.