The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-24
A DRAMA OF FRAUD.
A WONDERFUL TRIAL.


A London correspondent of the New York
Times writes: Thank goodnessl the Itch
borne case is over at last. 1t is, perhaps,
more than a coincidence that within a week
or two the Gladstone ministry has been ex-
ploded, and the Tichborne claimant convict
ed. 1t is true that it has taken rather longer
than was necessary in each case to expose
the lmposture, but il Is some satisfaction to
reflect that they have both been got rid of at
any rate. for time. Arthur Orion disap-
pears from public life for fourteen years,
but possibly we may hear of the other claim
ant again before that period is over. In
the meantime there is evidence that
human intelligence still operates to
some extent. The judges did not
take their seats upon the bench this
morning until ten O'Clock, but, at least an
hour before, there was large gathering of
barristers in wigs and gowns waiting in the
corridors for admission. When at last the
doors were opened, there was a desperate
rush and struggle for places, and in some
cases the gentlemen entered without their
wigs, while in others the wigs got in with
out the gentlemen belonging to them. At
least half of the body OF the court was filled
with harristers, and they also competed
vigorously for places with the gener-
al public behind, who, however, were
a very select public, inasmuch as
they were all admitted by tickets,
which it required great favor TO obtain. A
little before ten the claimant came in as
usual, attended by his black boy. Old Boyle's
son. He took his place at the little table in
front of the seats reserved for the queens
counsel; produced his well-thumbed pocket
dictionary and laid it on the table; took off
his yellow dog-sl<in gloves and then, turn
ing round, shook hands with Doctc Ken
nealy, his counsel, but without looking him
in the face or saying anything to him.
He looked rather pale, and there was
an affectation Of ease and cheerful
ness, which was betrayed by keen,
furtive glances from under his eyelids
at the jury and by certain restlesSness of
demeanor. There were sone letters waiting
for him, and he began to read them and to
write answers, and continued to do so, or to
pretendtO do so, for some time after the
chief justice had been speaking. Next, with
a shout of warning from the ushers, the
judges took their places, first the lord chief
| Justice, then Justice Mellor, and thirdly,
| little Justice Lush. On certain saints days
the judges wear a gala costume of red and
white tippets, but to-day was an ordinary
day, and they wore only their plain blue
serge gowns, with large cuffs of ermine.
THE CHIEF JUSTICES ADDRESS.
Without moments pause the chief Justice
resumed his address in a rather low, level
voice, seldom rising above conversational
tone. He did not read the address, but de.
livered it extempore. He had been speaking
for more than a fortnight, and after the first
day or two, during which Roger Tichborne's
early life was sketched with mastery effort,
the summing up had been rather a disap-
pointment, especially to the bar. 1t was
known that the chief justice meant to make
an effort to distinguish himself IN what
would probably be the last great case he
would have a chance of TRYING but the ex-
pectations which had been excited were very
far FROM being fulfilled. The summing up
was spun out to most inordinate length,
and was so overloaded with minute details,
that it must have been rather a bewilder-
ment than an assistance to the Jury, suppos-
| ing-which is an insult TO their intelligence
that they wanted any assistance after all
they had heard. With an enormous mass
of evidence before him, it was his business
jury the really salient and essential points,
while clearing away all that was irrelevant
and worthless. Instead of doing this,
however, during the greater part OF
his address. he went through the evil
dence in the most microscopic detail,
ofa dnst which che should G fstSez
have been his duty to dissipste. The way
in which he weighed and balanced petty
matters seemed almost to suggest that un-
less the jury were satisfied as to the way in
which the claimant had obtained every par
|
the benefit of the doubt His remarks this
morning, however, were brief and to the
/ point. They occupied only an hour and
three-quarters, and anybody who wishes to
get at the gist of the case has only to read
this part the address. All that was really
necessary to be eaid ought have been said
| in two or. at the outside, three days; and
indeed the chief justice did, at last, put the
pith of his observations into less than a
couple of hours.
PALPABLE FRAUD.
L need not repeat what he said as
it will be fully reported in the newspapers.
He went over the different questions which
have been raised, asking first whether man
who knew so little of Roger Tichborne's life
and family circumstances as the defendant,
could possibly be Roger, and next whether a
man who was mixed up with Arthur Orton
in so many ways. and who was to be traced
to the same place, at the same time, and to
the same occupations as Arthur Orton, could
be more artistic and conclusive than the way
in which the net was thus thrown over
the claimant, and then drawn close so as
to render an escape hopeless. Incidentally
the Chief Justice referred 70 the attacks that
had been made on the court by the claim
ants partisans, and especially to the outrage
Gus and insulting conduct OF DIR. Kenealy.
to whom he administered a severe rebuke,
which was applanded by the bar, though the
applause was Immediately checked. He had
never, he said. heard such disgrsceful Ian
guage in court of justice and he hoped he
never should again. He accused DIR. Kenealy
of havingon one occasion deliberately lower
ed his voice so that an attack upon the bench
should reach only the reporters, and not
those against whom IL was directed, and stig-
mstized such conduct as cowardly as well as
dishoporable. III he had distinctly heard
what was said, he should have instantly pun
ished the offender. In thanking the bar for
ceived from them, and in appealing to them
to Justify his treatment of this case, the
chief Justices voice faltered aud his words
were, for 9 moment. interrupted by
emotion. He went on to urge the
jury not to be deferred from doing
their duty by threats OF popular disfayor,
and to point out to any member OF that