The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-04-02

Summary of the TfchbOrne
Case-PFeViOusH History of the
Claimant and his Bold Stroke
for an Estate.
The conviction and sentence of
the Tichborne claimant for perjury,
as announced in the dispatch, will
give interest to a summary of the
marvellous facts in connection with
the case. The circumstances may
be briefly stated as follows:
Sir Roger Tichborne's mother
was married August 1, 1927. Her
son, Roger, was bornd at Paris on
Jan. 5. 1929. Educated principal
ly abroad, he went into the army,
where he was first cornet and after
ward a lieutenant in the Sixth
Dragon Guards. He retired from
the regiment in 1853, and in the
same year took passage on board a
ship bound for Valparaiso. Letters
came to his mother up to April,
1854. In that year news arrived
that he had taken passage at Rio in
April, in the ship Bella for New
York. The Bella was never heard
from, save that one boat belonging
to her was picked up at sea with no
one on board.
In 1858-four years after-a sailor
presented himself at sTichborne
Park, and asked to see the lady OF
the manor. He told her that anOth-
er boat from the Bella had been
found at sea and taken into Mel
bourne, on board which boat her
son Roger was, and he was now liy-
ing in Melbourne, The most of
Rogers family were wholly incred-
ulous as to the story of the sailor,
but his mother caused advertise
ments to be made, as che result of
which in 1866, eight years thereaf-
ter, she received a letter from the
claimant, saying he was her son
Roger, was anxious to see her again,
and asked for money to return.
Money was sent him, and in Jan
uary, 1867, by the way of Panama
and New York, he arrived in Paris.
At an interview with Sir Roger
mother, the claimant succeeded in
convincing her that he was the long
lost Roger. Strengthened by this
recognition, he determined to com
mence an action to recover the Itch
borne estate. Four years were
spent in getting up testimony and
making preparations, and at last in
1871 the trial of the case begRn-the
longest trial in the legal history of
England. The opening and sum-
ming uE of the various counsel took
about a month each. The Jury sat
the greater part of year, when on
March 6, 1872, having expressed
their opinion that further testimony
was needless, the counsel of the
claimant consented to be non-suited.
On the same day the claimant, who
called himself Sir Roger Tichborne,
but who is called by others Arthur
Orton and De Castro, was arrested
for perjury by a bench warrant.
Confined for short time in New
gate, he subsequently found bail,
and on April %, 1873, the criminal
trial commenced. It has lasted
nearly a year. The testimony as to
the identity of the prisoner has been
wonderful. Witnesses were brought
from all parts of the world, who
swore with equal positiver ess, now
that he was the real Sir Roger, now
that he was Arthur Orion or
Thomas Castro. At last, however,
an end has been reached, and the
prisoner convicted. And everything
seems to indicate that he is one of
the greatest impostors that ever
lived. The trials from first 70 last
are estimated to have cost both sides
and the Government something like
E500,OO0 sterling.