Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-08-28

I The story Of another claimant has iu>
/ been revived, which l. only les rcmarkabl
than the experience OF Orton. the Tichborn,
claimant. About the year 1900. Mr.. Thorn
Is Smyth of Staplet0n. GlOuceStersbire
brother Of Sir John Hugh Smyth, Bart.
died, leaving four children. two sons
Hugh and John, and two daughters. and
deyising bis large landed property 10 Hugh
tlr lie, with the remainder u his issue and
fee. and, in default of issue, to John. In
lS24, Hugh, who had succeeded his uncle
as third harone5, died without issue. and
bis brother came into possession Of the e.
tateand title. Sir Hugh was twice married
but had no issue by either marriage Sir
John ai~0 DYING without issue, the property
passed 10 one Of hi~ sisters thence u a Nh
GreyiLe Smyth, in whose possession it was.
when person suddenly presented himself.
claiming the estate IL the legitimate son of
Sir Hugh Smvth. After many DELAYS. the
ease was tried in 1853. The claimant :
story as presented by his counsel in his
opening. and hy his own testimony. was a
remarkable one. His witnesses were nG-
merous, and their testimony, covering many
details, seemed conclusive. IL was shown
HAT Hugh Smvth. while On 4 visit to Ire
land in 1876. formed an intimate acquaint-
ance with Miss Nanderherch. to whom he
was alterwaTi privately married and return
ei with her To England. where the claim
ant was born while his mother was living
in Seciusion at the house Of carpenter.
She died soon after his birth. leaving him
in charge Of Il nurse. Every precaution
had been taken To conceal this marriage
hy both Hugh and his father. ~ por-
ton OF hi evidence. the claimant put in
letter written by Sir Hugh tohi wife, which
was found IN the possession OF the nurses
family, PRAYING that She might have safe
delivery. \ clergyman testified that the
letter wa- in the handwriting of Sir Hugh
In Nav. l>i9. SIR John >myth. then in
possession 90 the estate. acknowledged the
claimant % he the son oi his brother Hugh.
AMI it ais, appeared that during danger
ou~ illness prior To this tine. Sir Hugh, be-
hevin- that the claimant, who had been
abroad i1T several years. was still alive, exc
cutci certain document acknowledging
him a> his legitimate son and heir. This
wa~ a.-1 found among the papers Of the
nurse. and was offered lu evidence by the
prosecution. The iliegilility of the sigma
turc was attributed u the great rr1,trarion
of Sir liGsh at the time the instrument was
executed. Attached % the deed waS a seal
with the Smyth c1it-ot-arms. The Bible
containing tire certificate of sir IIugh'S
marriage with the Young lady wis put in
evidence. ani with 1t the certificate of the
claimant baptism, the scnuincneSS of both
documents being sworn to hv many wit
nc>-c>. d well H. the signature to the deed
of acknowledgement. With such II train of
connected circumstances. and the general
appearance of the claimant. whose manners
were calm and se.i-p0SSeSsed, he gained the
confidence and support of many people.
The counsel for the defence subjected the
had not proceeded far before the audacity
and consummate skill with which the i'm
poster had prepared his case fully appeared.
Ii was shown that he purchased the Bible
in which the certificate of marriage appear
ed at 4 bo0k-Stall the seal with which the
Smv;h c0at-0f-arms was stamped upon the
deed was cut to his order a mourning ring
which he had put in evidence as belonging
to his mother he had also ordered to be en-
gmvel. Ills counsel, who had long remain
ed silent during the exposure, was COM
pletely overcome by the course the case had
taken. but, soon recovering sufficiently, de-
clared with great feeling that latter this ap-
palling exhibition, unparalleled in court
of justice, it would be impossible for Us to
proceed further" The claimant was after
ward convicted of forgery and transported
for twenty years.