Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-11-08
Origin OF the Famous TIchhorne Case.

Mr.. William Stapleford OF 15S Oxford
street, Manchester, England, who, at the
time of the Tichborne estate claim, was
said to have been wanted by the English
authorities, is at present paving visit
to this country. Mr.. Stap'efurd vas, for
many years, a prominent solicitor and
attorney in New Sydney, South Walcs,
and made the acquaintace OF Sir Rohert
Hchborne i'll 1854, when the young man
was making Il tour through South Amer
lea Tichborne and he soon became
friends, aud after less than a weeks ac-
uuaintance the former had told o.apleford
all about his home at TichburIe. En-
gland, and his family, and even confess
ing that an unfortunate alta ashMeht tor
his cousin Laura had been the cause OF
his leaving for South America Besides
the Information he had learned from
! young Iichborne, not then a baronet. h"
had received photograph OF him ase
| parting gift, and they had arranged To
| correspond with one another hefse part
| ing. In the summer of 1854, Roger who
Lad been travelling through the country,
returned to Rio dc Janeiro, ard 9i,pi"-
ford received from him Letter N %,''e
to the effect tha. he wassesA9 10 New
York by ti!f, Bella -, p1 q, amer mat ne
] hHdTot course conclu,ied his friend was
dloyued in her. In 1856 his partner at
Sydncy. William Gibhes, went to Europe,
and Stnpiaiorl gave him the por'fal' OF
Sir Ruger. asking him to see l.ndS licl-
borne in Paris and break to her the news
of Ler sons death, telling him ut the
same time what he knew about the yonng
!, 4 Al, t,A'l lIt.tliNI IN
| Sydney. Sita',l1 1furt. came to New luts ",I
| business for one OF his clients. aud "s.lis
| there received Il letter from Glu''rs. 50.
ing his intention of settling IN !.oiisi'h
! TAis decided him to give up the business
at Sydney. and accordingI y he soil 1t III
1873 and went TO Europe. Wh,n he ar-
! riyaa ut London he could not find Gih'tes,
and consequently he started IN hus!ncss
| for himself 1T No. l2J Queen street, Lon
| don. Z. G, where he remained till i9Io.
In that year lie first heard Of the ui,c'v-
cry Of Sir Roger IicnhorIc, ant. was
very much pleased at the news H..si.'2
| suspicion oC the matter, however, Ia,
| wen; 10 see the claimant, whom he s2a
| in 1871 in London Wien he San !lin
nj 1irS. nc did not think he w..s .si- resA
| Sir roper. hut as.erwIrl c!,nsroa nas
cni.ina. and il. 1872 he "a, :.l'.''nE the
.,;,u,s,es who Identified him. In ls7.
| ha again saw ili.n. w.lo out On hal al
| Manchester. wl@re Stapl"furd had 8ont
meanwhile to live, and at pigeon
shooting at the Bellevue gardens, he ac
Gus, d lin u fraud and threatened Il
,,x,ss Sc linn. The claimant then Informed
him that he was no. SIR Roger Itch
Ap.t. lrt, Il "a
Waron. and tha. lie had been iuduc,s, 4
personste T,clihornebv Stap!efot,i owi
partner, Cibl-s, Of Syd.cy, who hal
first conceived the frani.
Taxing advantage If the information
given him hy s;tapl>forl, Globes had, IN
stead of returning the papers to Lad.
Tichborne, written to her that hcr Sol
was alive and well at Waasa Wagga
Intending to get money FROM her t, sea-
him home After great deal Of cores
p,p,lence. Lady Tichborne bud sen
instructions for her son t' so to Syine
to lie identified by an attorney name
Cubbit there, whom she had employee
as her agent. As Gibhes was known
Cubbit. he got Orton into the scheme
promising him share of the spoils. an
Orton vent TO Sydney and brought Cut
bit over, who. sending favorable repl
to Lady Tichborne, receiveda large sur
of money from her, OF which they a
received a share. At this point Orso
and Cubbit formed the mad project tina
Ofton should really go to England
J personate the young baronet, and, a.
though he acknowledged Gibhes was oI
posed to it as foolhardy. he did go ther,
!. and was identified by Lady Iichborne
and in 1870 he sent Gibbes and Cubb
some more money, on receiving wllic
! they left Sydney. Orton promised Sti
plcford to give up the estate Us soon a
: the trial was over, but. for fear of bein
imprisoned for perjury, he did not ca,
to withdraw them. To save Gibbes An
avoid being mixed mp IN the matte
Stapleford kept back his evidence an
when the fraud was discovered and o
ton sentenced he did not think it nece
/, sary to inculpate his partner, and hi
never. iharefnre, mentioned the matte
to any one since. Gibbes is, howeve
he believes, dead, and he feels no long,
any hesitation III giving 10 the public
true history Of the original Of the fan
GUS Tichborne claim. Danbury Netv