New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-05
An Echo OF the Tichborne Case.

Some eighteen months viii have to elapse
before Young NJ Joseph Tichborne attains
his majority and enters into possession Of
the extensive estates of his father, Sir
Henry Tichborne. who died SO suddenly of
apoplexy last week. Immediately on his re-
turn from shooting expedition in Africa.
Sir Henry was one of the greatest hunt
ers Of his day and 1t IS no secret that
among the causes which led him 10 spend so
much OF his time in the wilds of Africa,
Of India and of the most remote portions
Of Asia in the pursuit Of every kind of
big game was the persecution TO which
he was subjected from his childhood until
his death by crenks, who were forever en-
6eavoring % see him OF writing 70 him let
ters, many Of threatening nature, claim
ing 90 have discovered clews or proofs posi-
tive of the existence Of his uncle, the miss
ing Sir Robert Tfchborne, who, born in 1880
would now be q man eighty years old
About thirteen years ago the information
thus rendered appeared SO plausible that
Lady Tichborne whose husband was a.
The time IN Central Africa actually consd-
cred II necessary for the sake of his in
fsrests to travel all the way 10 Australia
for tfe purpose OF investigating the his
tory Of an elderly inmate of the public
ldnetfc asylum at Sydney, who it was as
serted, WIS the missing Sir Roger. Nor
was II until she had spent a good deal
OF time and money in connection with the
matter that she able 10 ascertain
the mans true antecedents which showed
conclusive1y that he was not the missing
haronet.
OF course, young Sir Joseph. like his
father before him, will hold the TichboTne
baronetcy and estates subject TO the reap
pearance Of the missing Sir Roger Itch
borne. or else Of his legitimate descendant
in the male line. But there is little pros
poet Of this, and before long the statute Of
limitations VIII, at any rate, outlaw any
such claim so far as the estates themselves
6rc concerned.
Every claimant TO tte baronetcy and es-
t7tes that has turned up within the last
Eeif century. since the posthumous birth of
The late Sir Henry, in 1866. has proved TO be
p fraud the most notable case being. Of
course, the Wrapping butcher and eX-con-
Wet Arthur orion, whose pretensions 70 &c
te missing Sir Roger were Endorsed by ~
number Of foolish people. The latter fur
nished him with the money that enabled
him not only 20 live IN luxury, until finally
exposed and sent 10 Jail. bur also to brin;
about one OF the causes celebre Of the nine
teerth century.
Perhaps the most drastic incident Of <he
trial. and che which contributed more than
ANYTHING else 10 his defeat and TO his ex-
pcsUre, was furnished by the real Sir Rog-
e-s cousin and charming fancee. the daugh-
te- Of SIR Edward Doughty, and who died
few years ago as the wife Of Sir George
Radcliffe. When she was seventeen years
old she became engaged 70 the real Sir
Roger, but her father insisted that she was
I1171r7z IN wed and she should -.r,;r
fvvc or three wears % test her own heart
sro that Of her betrothed before marriage
= was on this that Sir Roger sailed on that
voyage from which be was never 10 return
leaving behind him in hey possession paper
hIclosed IN a sealed envelope. on which he
Tad inscribed a VOW TO build a chapel 70
TIE Blessed Virgin if he should be married
10 his cousin within three years.
TIE claimant, on its being intimated to
rim ii court thai the real Sir Roger had
lsft some sealed Instructions before his de-
partUre, anc OH being asked what they con-
sisted Of, boldly asserted that he had be
raSed h.s young cousin. and that the
document cons Sted Of instructions as 20
Ter care IL the event Of her becoming
Mother. i was then that the opposing
oouasel. 20 the dislnay OF the claimant. pro-
cuoec tie sealed envelope, opened IT and
moved 70 the Judge ano jury the written
VOW of the real Sir Roger. thus proving
re claimant 10 be a fraud. II was this
sia2ce- q the claimant concerning Cousin
Kate which formed the chief basis Of the
charge o perjury and which he was
sUbsee'.eslt.y sent back TO 5ail for long
term OF penal serv;tude
S.r Henry TIchborne was the son Of the
.n,senE Sir Rogers younger brother Alfred.
eud Was, I have mentioned above, of
posLauolous birth. His widow belongs,
LIE her husband, 20 OF the Oldest
Catholic families Of England, being q
daughter of Edward Petre. grandson OF the
ninth LORD Petrc.
NJ so-1s OF rnediaeval customs are kept
~ ct Tfckborue Parh. the family pisce IN
I4emrsbire. which has belonged 10 the
Hchborne5 from the time OF the Norman
Coz. aest. Among TIE most curious is that
Known as '-ho Tichborne dole" which hos
beer maintained. without any :nterrap-
Don yea by year. for eight centuries
Wllea Mabel, Lady Tichborne, wife OF the
Sir Roger Tichborne who four!shed In the
reign Of King Henry II, lay IL. and be-
s~Heo herself to be dying, shs prayed her