The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-02
DEATH OF ARTHUR ORION
KNOWN TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
AS THE "TICHBORNE CLAIMANT"
Principal in One of the Most Remark
able Criminal Cases of the Century
His Long Sensational Trial.

LONDON, April Arthur Orion, the
Tichborne claimant, died Of syncope yester-
day evening
Arthur Orion, who claimed to be Roger
Charles Tichborne, attracted attention the
world over about twenty-five years ago.
His crime was the first instance in English
legal records in which an impostor assumed
identity with a known person. The stake
he played for was heavy one, title and
vast landed estates, and the degree of sue
cess which he attained previous to the col
lapse of his policy was remarkable, espe-
ciallv so as persons of culture and stand
inc. as we'll 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 "Sr Roger and his family are safe IN
the keeping of good-natured credulity. Inc
story of Orton's career, crime and conVlc-
ton surpasses romance in it's interest. 1t is
best introduced by the relation OF lew
facts respecting the man he claimed to De.
Roger Charles Tichborne was born Jan. 0,
1899 in the city of Paris. He was, AFTER Els
father heir to the title and estates OF MS
uncle Sir Edward observation-disclosures.
After receiving the rudiments of education
in France he entered the Roman Catholic
College of Stonyhurst, England, as SUI
dent. When twenty years old ne became
an officer in the British army. Three years
after that time he made an oHer Oh mar
riage to Kate Doughty, daughter OIL the
gentleman whose heir he was Sne reluseo
him. whereupon he sold his commission ana
went to sea. On June -, 1852, ne lanuee a'
Valparaiso and on April 20, 1854, salleu from
Rio de Janeiro for New YORK. Inc snip
yas subsequently lost, with all on board.
Il roT6
horne Rogers father succeeded to the es-
tates and when he died. June H. 1862, it be-
ing believed that Roger had been lost at
sea. Alfred, his younger brother lhherl'eu
them Alfred died Feb. ~. 1906.
The mother of the missing heir reIusen
to believe that her son Roger was 4 Ia
and in 1865 she advertised for him III Eng"
lish and Australian papers. me next year
Arthur Orion, butcher, known at tle
place of his residence, Wagga WaSga, AUS
fra1ia as THOMAS Castro, claimed to be the
missing gentlemen He employed an dl. ~
ney who opened a correspondence Win o,1t
mother In consequence or THIS She Sent
Orton. alias Castro money wherewith to
pay his passage to Europe, ana receIve1a
him in Paris. January; 1867. she processes 1n SEQ
to recognize im and heneerortIn9 O ui tra tiS
time of her death, March II, 1868, treateo
him as her long lost and resloreu|son. III
his relations with rich and ttleof P et,soii -,
after going to Europe and making claim 70
be Sir Roger. Orion carried nlmSelI VIII wiz.
considerable dignity. The true SIR ~ nog gbe
easv gentility of his early years, AFTER
wears of romantic isolation from the scenes
Of his youth. From the m nrs 20 min, iEe
strangers appearance divided tne laaii il
relatives and friends between those VINO pc
lieved and those who did not accept MS
claims to be Sir Roger Tlc s action
In 1867 1.-The claimant began an actl .
fo1. the recovery of the TichbOrne property.
It was at that time worth about $lzV,VOU
MORTGAGE so heavy were the expenses OF
the litigation The trial was begun III May,
1871, about four years having been spent IN IN
sending commissions to South America anu ~
Australia 1t lasted 1O3 days, TERMINATING III
the nonsuit of the plaintiff, March 2, dooi;
The tables were now turned: Iilii aatIa
proceedings were opened against Ine
claimant" who was charged with perjury.
Iegions of friends assisted him with glLis
of money and by buying o6hds pa esaafe
when he should become their owner. In, Inc
period from April %, 1873, to Feb. rs loIi,
was taken up WITH t i tSe Conviction Of the
prisoner as Arthur Orion. In TINS name ne
was sentenced to fourteen years lmpriSon-
ment He was sent first to MlllDank prison.
from whence he was removed to Dartmoor.
The remainder OF his term, Whlcn was
shortened considerably in reward lot UNI
formly good conduct, was spent at for tsea
prison with the exception of the last lew
DAVIS at Pentonville, London, from whence
he was liberated. An admirer setteo an
annuity of G100 year on him. lie also re-
ceived an offer to appear on the stage.
few sentences as to why the jurors CON
victed him: They were conVlnceo py sn r
testimony presented that the prisoner, Ar
thur orion, was five years younger tnan
Robert Charles TichbOrne. II was SHOWN
that he was born June /, 1884, the son OF
George Orion, and that he was named
Arthur When he returned to London ne
Sought out the Ortons at Wrapping. MS
education was proved to be inferior to that
of Roger He could not speak French,
which Roger spoke better than ne dld Eng
Hsh Some physical differences between the
two men were found to be OF one men IN
their height, ears shaped very unlike ana
the absence of tattoo marks on Orton,
whereas Roger had been marked in MS
Youth Ex-convict orion was a pleasant
looking man, gentle In his manners anu uls.
course There was an air OF refinement
bout him difficult to account for; but Wnat-
ever of mystery characterized his career,
enough was known OF him to warrant the
conclusion that his conviction was Just.
The case was one of the most notable re-
corded in modern legal history. For the
defense in the original action sir John
Coleridge spoke for twenty-six days. DIR.
KeneaIy's opening in the perjury case oc-
cupied twenty-one days. and his speech in
defense twenty-fcur. The lord chief jus
tees charge. described at the time as "a
miracle of talents and of injustice. oc-
cupied from the 10th day TO the lSSth dag
when the jury found verdict in half am
hour 1t covered $50 solid columns In the
London Times. The costs of the prosecu-
ton were over SEQ 600. including &23,6I6 for
counsel fees E1S712 for witnesses and the
like Go 6S for printing, E3.631 for steno-
lion dollars was contributed by the English
people in the shape of bonds TO enable the
claimant to prosecute the case. IT cost the
trustees of the estate so much besides that
they had to mortgage the property.
Robert ReitxeI, Anarchist.
DETROIT. Mich. April 1.--Robert Reit-