Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-11-08
THE CASE OF ASSUMED IDENTITY.
Arthur orion, Alias Thomas Castro, Who
Claimed TO be Sir Roger Charles.
nfehhoua

Arthur orion, Alias Thomas Castro, Who
Claimed TO be Sir Roger Charles.
TichbOne. @
Interest in one of the most rH-
markable cases on record is revived
by the liberation of Arthur orion,
who has completed his term of i'm
prisOnment, the usual deductions
for good conduct having been made
The ex-convict is usually known as
"the TichbOrne Claimant" He
has been a notorious public charac-
ter, for many years, and will con-
tinue to be AN object of interest
down to the time of his death. HIS
crime was the first instance in Eng
lish legal records in which an im-
postOr assumed identity with q
known person. The stake he play
ed was a heavy one, title and vast
landed estates; and the degree of
success which he attained previous
to the collapse of his policy was
remarkable, especially so as persons
of culture and standing, as well as
myriads Of ordinary people, believed
that "the Claimant" claimed no
more than his just rights. This
theory is still held by many, and
the interests of the false "Sir
Roger" and his family are safe In
the keeping of gOOd-natured ere
dulity. The story of OrtOn's career,
crime and conviction surpasses
romance in its interest. 1t is best
introduced by the relation of few
facts respecting the man he claimed
to be.
Roger Charles Tichborne was
born January 5, 1929, in the city of
Paris. He was, after his father,
heir to the title and estates of his
uncle, Sir Edward Doughty Itch
borne. After receiving the rudI-
ments of education In France, he
entered the Roman Catholic College
of StOnyhurst, England as a student. |
When 20 years old he became an |
officer in the British army. Three |
years after that time he made an |
offer of marriage to Kate Doughty, |
daughter of the gentleman whose |
heir he was. She refused him,
whereupOn he sold his commission
and went to sea. On June 10, 1852,
he landed at Valparaiso, and On
April 20, 1854, sailed from Rio de
Janeiro for New York. The ship
was subsequently lost with all on
board. At the death of Sir Edward
observation-disclosures, Rogers father
succeeded to the estates and when
he died, June IL, 1862, il being
believed that Roger had been lost
at sea, Alfred, his younger brother,
them. Alfred died Feb
ruary p, 1868, three months before
the birth Of his heir, who will take
the estates and title upon attaining
his majority.
So far there seems to be slight or
no chance of the most audacious
assumption Of identity with the
lost Roger being successful.
The opportunity was due to the
of the mother OF the
heir. She refused to believe
hat her son was dead, and in 1850
for him i'm English and
A australian papers The next year,
A rthur OrtOn, butcher, known at
he place of his residence, Wagga,
Nagga, Australia, as Thomas Cas-
70. claimed 10 be the missing gen.
Ieman. He employed an attorney, II
Who opened correspondence with
he mother. In consequence OF i
his she sent Orton, alias Castro, I
money wherewith TO pay his pas /
age to Europe, and received him I
4 Paris, January, 1866. She pro-
aesed to recognize him, and hence 4