The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-12-20
CuriOsities of the English Courts.

Impostures more successful in their
objects, if not more famous than the
Tichborne case, we're being practiced in
England during the period when the
most interminable trial of orion, the
Mapping butcher, was going on. FROM
several singular cases which we propose
to recount it would appear that supersti-
ton and credulity are rot less rife among
English than among French rustics, and
that the latter, in crediting the miracles
of ou- Lady of Lourdes and o. the food
less girl, are rivaled by the British yoe-
many who become the victims OF quacks
and witchery.
In the diary of the same Orion, other
wise Tlchborne. of whom we have spoken,
was found a somewhat remarkable max
i'm. Child, no doubt,of the burly claim
ants own brain. II was as follows.
couched in rude but pregnant language
''Some has plenty money no brains; some
has plenty brains no money; think
them as has plenty money no brains vas
made for them as has plenty brains no
money"
1t was principle upon which this
great man himself diligently acted, and
which all impostors, before and after him,
carry out. knavery dupes credulitv the
world over; nor does the constant expos
ure of the one have tue easteffect on
opening the eyes of and curing the other.
y curious drama of the knave-rersus-
fool sort was enacted at the pleasant sea-
side town of Hull, England, not long
ago.
Mr.. Henry Jackson, person Of i'm pos
ing presence and glittering eye, had
served in the British army, aud had. after
leaving it.held the dignity of drum IN jor
Of the Hull Rifle Volunteers. But he
had weaIied of war and mock war. and
had made up his mind that his true mis-
sion was rather 10 cure than create phys
ical ills in man. SO be had retired from
the drum msj orship. had fitted up SOM
he and mysterious looking apartment,
and bad announced TO ailing humanity
that. 10y strange gifts and stranger medic
ameits, he was ready 10 assuage its pains
and forever Danish its imperfec,ions. Mr..
Henry Jackson was in the height of sue
cess and reputation when a lusty young
farmer, who was for the monent out OF
health, hearing of the great heaters won
derfuI cures, repaired 10 HIM III ali child
like confidence
This rural gentleman, however, after
passing Though an amazing variety of
treatmenr, and spending, to no purpose.
several hundred pounds, at last awoke to
the truth, and had Mr.. Henry Jackson
indicted at Borough Sessions for obtain
ing money on false pretenses.
The tale unfolded by the duped Dick
EFT, the treatment he underwent, the won
derful medicines be partook of, the gold
en- prom ses made to him, were a revela-
ton.
"Proftssor" Jackson bad first told him
10 blow through tube into glass OF
water, whereupon the water turned i'm
mediately like milk. The professor seized
the rustic by the arm, and conjured him
to lose no time in saying bis prayers, fol
he would not live over two months. Then
began the selling of innumerable bottles
of "Indian remedy" which gradually
made the water turn less milky. Yet
poor Dickett was far from being cured
and had yet hard medicinal road to
travel. First he bought box of stuff
said to have come from India, for which
he paid three pounds ten, with five shil.
lings extra for expressage from Calcutta
Then he was told by the professor tina,
the great Indian balsam merchant OF
whom he had obtained his medicines had
Just died, at the good age of one hundred
and seventy, and that he (the professor)
had been lucky enough to OBTAIN the
mama and bslsams of the aged patri-
arch. The mama, Dickett was assured,
was that which the Israelites used in the
wilderness, and that very little of il
would keep person alive many days.
For box of this Dickett gladly paid
fifty-one pounds. An analysis having