Arizona republican., 1914-05-19
Trial of Wicklow Pretender

Many interesting and extraordinary trials occurred in England during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries of pretendcrs for titles and estates. The Tichborne case-propaDiy the most striking of all-has already been dis cussed. Scarcely less so was the pre- tension that William George Howard was the rightful Earl Of Wicklow. and the trial in an attempt to establish his claims is still remembered by the older inhabitants of the United States. On the 22d of March 1869. William, the fourth Earl of Wicklow, died with out male issue His next brother, the Honorable and Reverend Francis How ard had died during the late Earls | lifetime. after being twice married. By | his first marriage he had had three l sons, none of whom had survived; but one son blessed his second nuptial and | he claimed the peerage at his uncle's death
 1 A rival, however, appeared to claim | the title in the person of William | George, an infant. who was represented l by his guardians as the son of William | George Howard. the oldest son of the 1 Rev. Francis Howard by his first mar l riage. and Miss Ellen Richardson. As to the birth of the former claimant i there could he no doubt. and it was not denied that the eldest half brother had been married as stated; but the birth | of the infant was disputed, and the matter was left for :rial before the house of lords.
 | William George Howard was married to Miss Richardson in February. 1863. Approaching that his uncle was des- tined to die without an heir. and that it would be greatly to his advantage to
 have q son, he arranged an intricate scheme of deception. The Towards
 went to live with q family of moderate means on Burton street Nothing un-
 usual transpired for short time. After
 Mrs Howard had her plans fully made
 she returned suddenly to her home one day while her husband was absent in
 Ireland, and announced that she was i'll and that certain doctor be sent
 for. Mrs Bloor, with whom she resid-
 cd. was a party to her scheme. Mrs
 Howard had secured q child from its
 mother, Mary Best, a pauper, then ar
 occupant of one of the lyingin wards
 Of the workhouse hospital.
 This child, when the opportune time
 came. was palmed off as the heir t
 the title and estates of the Earl ot
 Wicklow The house of lords heard tht
 evidence. Mrs. Wagner Mrs. Eloor
 and her sister, Miss Rosa Day. were
 placed in the witness box and gave
 their evidence clearly and firmly. ant
 agreed with each other in the story which they told. Much evidence wa
 produced to show that the birth haC
 not taken place Dr. Baker Brown ant another medical man deposed that the! had professionally attended q lady whom they sWore to as Mrs. Howard and had found circumstances negativ ing the story of the confinement Louise Jones. q servant who lived : the house on Burton street after thu birth of the infant. said she had neve seen or heard of it's existence. Afte the hearing of this evidence the cas- was postponed.
 On it's resumption Mrs. Edward pro- duced witnesses to show that she wa! in Staffordsshire during the whole 0 that period in August. 1864, to whici the evidence of Dr. Brown and othe medical witness related
 At the sitting of the court on Marcl
 1, 1S70 Sir Roundell Palmer Gord Sel
 bourne). who represented Charle , Francis Howard, the other claimant
 produced complete evidence of how tn pauper baby was secured. taken to tn f Burton street house. the head nurs , and two assistant nurses being pro . duced to swear positively that Mrs 7 Howard was the lady who took ava, [ the child from the hospital.
 Then Mary Best still further startle, l the court and added mystery to tn , case by affirming that the child tha was taken away was not hers, but tha