The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-09-14
THE AMERICAN TICHBORN
From the Chicago Tines

The Tichborne case, which has been
dragging its slow length along so many
months in the English courts, and which
has woaried out 90 many juries and advo-
Gates, has at last found parallel in this
country in Q case which bids fair to excite
an equal degree Of interest, and to consume
- much time and money and patience.
The amount of money involved in the lit
igstion 10 $40, o00, 000 or real estate VAL
! ued at that amount, which 10 much greater
than the value Of the property TO which
Arther Orion claimed 10 be heir, and
which has brought upon him the present
trial for perjury and forgery.
The Of name the American claim
ant 10 James Turnbull, and he
hes brought suit in the Pennsyl-
vnia courts for the recovery Of 1000 acres
Of coal lands ct or near Mauch Chunk,
valued a. $4,000 900. His father died
forty years ago In . hospital after life Of
dissipation, during which, 1t 10 stated,
these lands passed into other hands by
tax purchase. At the age OF 10, the son
left Philadelphia on sea voyage and was
wrecked. He was picked up near the
Island Of 81. Thomas, and after his recov.
| cry from the effects Of exposure he went
| TO Central America and worked on the
Isthmus Of Panama, until the California
Gold stories attracted him TO that region.
He made several fortunes in California,
which he lost at the gaming. table, and,
becoming tired Of this kind Of life, went
to MEXICO and thence to Texas, where his
sccentricities in the cattle business created
spopular prejudice against him. He then
started again fer Mexico, and on the way
to Mszatlan narrowly escaped death by
the explosion Of the steamer he was on.
During his short stay at Mazatlan, he was
robbed by gang Of Mexicans and loft for
dead, with twelve dagger-wounds in his
body. Recovering from these, he went to
the Peru silver mines, and bought piece
of land said have silver deposits. Failing
to ind them, he sold out to another party,
who found the silver almost Immediately.
He then went to Chilli and worked under
Meiggs, the railroad contractor, and WAS
on . fair way to accumulate handsome
fortune, when his rowing, reckless dispo-
sition induced him 70 60 TO Brazil, and
try to get the superintendsncy of dia-
mond mine. Failing in this, he wandered
through South America for several years,
and finally turned up in MEXICO again.
Meanwhile, tho divorced wife Of his
father became convinced that the prop
srty in question rightfully belonged to her
son, and she therefore put tho matter into
the hands Of lawyer, who commenced
searching for the wanderer. Letters we're
written in every direction, and ADVERTISE
ments inserted in all journals Of ell coun-
ties, but IL was Of no avail. One day, how
ever, in 1871, letter from James Turn-
bull, dated in Mexico, was received by tho
mother, and An agent WAS sent TO Mexico
TO confer with him, the result Of which
Was that he determined to return TO Phil
adelphis. To apthe climax OF his event
full life the steamer bringing him to Phil.
adelphia cApsized, and he once more mar
rowly escaped death. Upon his arrival
| in this country, arrangements we're At once
made for commencing suit, and eminent
lawyers have been engaged on both sides.
II the American claimants rowing pro-
pensitiss do not induce him TO wander OF
before tho case comes to close, . long and
interssting trial may be expected, unless
the Pennsylvania claimant like the recent
Oregon claimant, should turn out to BE- an
imposter.