Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-13
TIE RIVAL IMPOSTERS.
The Two Claimants TO the Tichbornc
Estates Meet in Brooklyn.
From Me Ne,o York Herald.

Estates Meet in Brooklyn.
/ From Me Ne,o York Herald.
| Charles Curtis, the California variety
Of the Tichborne claimant, the falsity of
whose pretensions has been fully exposed,
! had an inning yesterday with the govern
ment officials. He was brought before
| United States Commissioner Benedict by
| Deputy Marshal Biggat, who has had him
in custody since his arrest on charge of
! fraudulently obtaining $4,000 pension
/ money by representing himself to be Pri-
! Vate Charles Curtis, OF the one Hundred
/ and Sixth regiment, New York vOlun-
| teers. The complaint charges that
Roger riChbOrne, alias Arthur Orton"-
! and uele the complaint is deteotlVe-"oO-
! tanned pension papeTs which lawfully be-
| long to one Charles Curtis, aud that he
| procured certificate for the back pay
and pension OF Gurus in March, 1885, and
| collected the first pay ment In California
/ and the second in England"
District Attorney WLburs and bic as
sistant, j. l.. Devenny, appeared for the
government and Mr. Moan H. Tibbitts,
late candidate OfIbe Prohibition party for
! City Judge, represented the legal inter
ests OF the accused. The prisoner, who
was nervous and seemingly i'll at ease
| during the proceedings, was tashionably
! dressed, and bad the bearing OF a man
| who was not unfamiliar with the usages
OF good society. He wore spectacles, and
| his pointed gray chin whisker and NOUS
! tacne gave quite military air to his tall,
| erect hgure.
Chief 9 ERIK j. N. Ward, OF the United
! States Pension Office, was the tirst wit
ness examined. The District Attorney
put in evidence a copy Of the discharge
! paper of Charles Curtis, who Is described
! as a private OF First Lieut.. NJ. j. Stearn's
company +. One Hundred and Sixth regi-
ment New York infantry volunteers. He
was enrolled Feb. Il, 1865, to serve Tor
three years, or during the war, and was
discharged from the service June II. 1865,
! 10y reason of the muster out of the de-
tachment. lie is described as having
been born in Canada, 81 years Of age, 5
feet 10 inches in hel&nt, light compile XlOn,
! blue eyes and brown hair, and by OCcupa-
ton CLERK. A copy Of The original dis
charge was given at Washington, d. c..
Oct. 20, 1884.
| When, on the crOss-eXaminatiOn, Mr..
Ward was asked by counsel why he
| called Charles Curtis Arthur 0rUou"
witness replied that he thought that Cur
tbs was the same persOn who made the
claim 10 the T1chborne estate and was
! known as Castro, alias Ortou, alias Itch
borne. The witness attention was called
to the fact that the name Charles Curtis
did not occur in the complaint.
An adjournment was finally had for
two weeks, the prosecution having ap-
parently discovered that there were miss
ing links which would have to be forged
in the chain of evidence before they could
hope 10 hold the defendant.
CURTIS TO BRING OUT A BOOK.
District Attorney Wilbur, on applica-
nj a "a
ductiOn Of the prisoners bail from 81 900
at which il was fixed at the time the ar
rest was made, to 81 900. Two bOndsmen
were obtained, but as they will not
qualify until to-day The California claim
ant was remanded to the charge OF
Deputy Marshal Biggat.
Though at first extremely reticent, and
at the same time irritable on any ap-
| proach beng made by reporters, Curtis
later in the day relaxed sufficiently to say
that there would be no difficulty in prov
| ing his right to the Curtis pension, as
that was his assumed name when he en-
listed. His recent visit to England was
to have his book setting forth the proofs
Of his claims to the TicLborne estate pub
lished, but in England the power OF the
government was such that be was afraid
OF the influence they would bring to sup
press the work. Within three months,
however, be would bring out the book in
New York.
THE "ORIGINAL" THERE.
The partly original claimant of the
| Tichborne estate. Arthur orion, or
Thomas Castro, occupied a seat in "a cor
ner OF The Office of United States Marshal
| Tate about noon. When asked how it
happened mat he was in that particular
place OF all others in Brooklyn, Orion said
he had simply visited the court on some
admiralty business and refused to be in
Ierviewed. When Gusts passed him on
his way TO the examination room OrtOn
looked at MIN sharply and muttered
"impostor." Custis did not hear the re-
marx.
OrtOn's young wife was by his side, and
while they were conyersing tall English
! gentleman. with a slight StOOp, Thomas
OrmsbY, entered the apartment and look
ing sharply at orion, remarked that he
was we'll acquainted with many people in
the part Of England from which he came.
The Two men talked about various people
residing in the neighborbOOd in which
the TichbOrne estates are located.
"Do you recognize that gentleman as
Sir Roger TichbOTneY' asked a reporter
as Mr.. Ormsby was leaving the MarShaPs
room.
"Oh, no; do not see any resemblance
at ALL" replied Mr.. Ormsby. II am
reldblYe OF b0e lICuDOfU6 IdmljY. anu
knew the missing heir when young man.
am positive that could recognize him
II saw him or had a few moments con-
yersatiOn with aim. l am satisfied Sir
Roger was drowned in the Bella. lie had
It deep Gear on his left cheek, the result Of
a terrible kick from horse. That scar
could not he obliterated. Orion has not
got it,"
Mr.. Orynsbv then made his way up
,-ya
| office, " mere he found Charles Curtis, the
other claimant, walking up and down the
room smoking n fragrant cigar, but re-
I fused 10 talk. Mir. Ormsby then said to
the reporter that he thought Curtis rather
sought TO avoid HIM. There was no sign
| of a scar on his face, nor was there, he
said, the slightest type OF feature, form or
manner that in any degree suggested
! family resemblance.
Remarkable Cave in Pennsylvania.
! PITTsBURG, Nov. 6.-Penn Cave, Of