Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-11-15
AN UNEXPECTED WITNESS.
BrOOklyn's TichbOrne Claimant Reeoe
mixed by n Sailor.

From the New York Times, Nov Ii.
The latest claimant to the title of Sir Roger
TichbOrne, the man who Is known as "Charles
Curtis and "Cnarles Ogden Ferris" and who
has been on trial Tor a week in the United States
court in Brooklyn, for Illegally obtaining a
United States pension rightfully due to one
Charles Curtis, was discharged yesterday by
Commissioner Benedict for lack of evidence
This was done with the consent OF District At
torney WILDER, whose own witnesses had sworn
that the prisoner enlisted and served as Curtis
AS Curtis started to leave the court room he
sioner Benedict, charging him with obtaining
this same pension under pretense OF having lost
his four fingers in the war. when, according to
the afndavits Of his alleged daughter Mrs
Shelly. and her aunt, Mrs. Earl, he confessed In
1879 That his fingers were chopped off by fall
ing log. This warrant was made out in the
name of Charles Ogden Ferris. The prisoner
pleaded not guilty, ana the trial went on.
The first witness was Special Pension Exam
tue papers produced by the prisoner. His tes-
tlmoIy was introduced to prove that Curtis had
his fingers. MIR. Shopp said that Curtis had
Willingly produced these papers, and had stated
to the witness that his real name was Rpger
Charles Iichborne, and that be was born in Paris
on Jan. 5, 1929. Curtis told the witness that
he was wounded in the right hand in 'front.' of
Petersburg on April 2, 1865, and that 1. urseon
amputateu his fingers on the batLie field. He
never went to a hospital. n few days later the
war ended and he returned to Brooklyn.
d
up old sailor lounged into the court room and
inquired in a gruf voice if "Charlie Ferris was
being tried" A couple OF reporters got hold of
the Did fellow and had learned that he had
known the prisoner tor fifty years, when the
district attorney sent for the stranger ard in a
lew minutes put him on the stand. He proved
to be John Dick, OF No. Is Tullman street.
He came 10 Brooklyn fifty years ago. when he
was eight years age. "Charlie Ferris, that
fellow siLtln' right over tuere," he said, "Was
the third boy met. 1t was down in the old
fifth ward, On Nassau street, and and
Charlie-him pointing to the prisOner)-got to be
chums. 1kuOwed his father and mother and
his stepfather and rve seen Charlie OFT and OH
Tor fifty years. We Went to the war together
with the Thirteenth regiment and Charlie en-.
listed afterward with another regiment
The witness said he met Ferris in BROOKLYN
shortly after the war closed, and was positive
tuat ut that time the ialters hanus had their
hess that lie had married again and was going
to California. in 1879 The witness saw INN
again III Brooklyn. Ferris then Told him that
he was going. to see Pos .master McLeer in re-
gard to Il pension. The witness noticed then
that 1Our OF Ferris fingers were gone, and, all
fingers intact, he supposed that he had lost
them i'll BATTLE He did not have enough IN
tereSt III the mater, however, to ask Ferris
about it.
AT the close of Mr.. Dicks testimony the hear
ing was adjourned until "Wednesday next. Fer
rls Was taken back To ituynlOnu-sLieet JAIL.
After the court closed Dick was told by d re.
1icnUOrue. MIR. DICK said: lie amt no Sir
Roger anybody. Amt knowed him siuce ne
WAS little tau? Dlun't he KNOCK around with
US .eIIOwS, and didn't 1 work III PoIiion's sulu-
yard with him? He's u salinakcr, that = what
he Is, and he's tryin' to put Oh Jugs and IL