Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-10-24

The TichbOruc claimant was discharged
from prison ON Monday. after ten years
confinement. His discharge will bring
his case to the surface once more, and Il
most remarkable case it is. Roger Charles
Tichbornc, child born January >, 1929,
of an ancient English Catholic family,
was, after his father. heir to the title and
estates of his uncle, Sir Edward Doughty.
He led Il wild. adventurous life. and the
last known of him is that he arrived at
Valparaiso ON June 49, 1888. and having
crossed the Continent eastward April 20,
1854, he sailed from Rio for New York ON
the Bella which was lost at sea. His
father succeeded to the baronetcy, March
,, 1888, and died June II, 1862 The bar
onetcy then passed to the second son, Al
fred (l{oger being presumed to he lost,
who died February -, 1866, and was sue
ceeded by his posthumous son. Sir Henry
Tichborne, born May rs in that year. In
1853 Sir Jamcs's widow, hoping Roger
might yet he alive. had advertised for
nm in the English and Australian papers.
In 1850 her advertisement was answered
10y one Thomas Castro, Il butcher at Wag-
"a Nagga. Australia, who pretended to
be her son, asserting that he had been
saved from the wreck of the Bella.
Aitcr some correspondence with Lady
Iichbornc, Castro sailed for England
where lac arrived December ~ lSGj
In january. 1871, ne joined Lady Tich
borne at Paris and was hy her accepted Il,
her SON. though most OF the other mem
bcr~ Of the family rcpudatcd him. In
March ne filed q bill against the trustee,
Of the estate and, having been occupied
in the interim i'm outaiuing witncSsc.
and testimony. brought the actor
for the recovery of the estates valued
at >!4,0oJ a year. to trial May H.
ISIS Lady Tichbornr had died March r.
ISL still believing Castro to he her son
The trial lasted at one session lob days
and with APPOINTMENTS till March &. lS12
when the jurors declared themselves con
WINGED that the claimant was not Sir ROC
cr and he was nonsuited. The principal
points against him were his ignorance o
French, which language the true Sir ROge
spoke admirably. and of the incident,
happening during his sOiOurns in France
the dissimilarity of the handwritings o
the two men their marked physical differ
Australia to avail himself of the large bal
anCcs at Sir Rogers credit, though he wa
pressed tor money, and his own action il
seeking out Immediately on his return t,
England the OrtunS, family of rattle
humble life, to whom he presented himscl
and sent his photograph rs Arthur Orion
The claimant was indicted for perjury II
Thomas Castro, otherwise Arthur Orton,
put on trial April %, 1873. and after tria
of lsN days duration, convicted Fcbruar
-, 1874. and sentenced by Sir AlcXande
Cockburn to fourteen years penal servi
tude The trial was one of the most ro
markahle in modern times and attracte
attention the world over. \ large and no
uniniluential minority of the English pee
pie were thoroughly convinced that tn
claimant was really the lost Sir Roger. am
many were the manifestations of publ
sympathy in his behalf. In many respect
his clam wa, ii very plausible one. and tn
case will 90 down into history as Il notabl
one.