Laying the groundwork.2C 1867.E2.80.9371 Tichborne case

1 laying groundwork, 1867–71

1.1 support , opposition
1.2 arthur orton
1.3 financial problems

laying groundwork, 1867–71
support , opposition

the claimant in 1869, having acquired weight since arrival in england

the claimant acquired significant supporters; tichborne family s solicitor edward hopkins accepted him, did j.p. lipscomb, family s doctor. lipscomb, after detailed medical examination, reported claimant possessed distinctive genital malformation. later suggested roger tichborne had same defect, not established beyond speculation , hearsay. many people impressed claimant s seeming ability recall small details of roger tichborne s life, such fly fishing tackle had used. several soldiers had served roger in dragoons, including former batman thomas carter, recognised claimant roger. other notable supporters included lord rivers, landowner , sportsman, , guildford onslow, liberal mp guildford became 1 of claimant s staunchest advocates. rohan macwilliam, in account of case, calls wide degree of recognition remarkable, particularly given claimant s increasing physical differences slim roger. mid-june 1867 claimant s weight had reached 300 pounds (140 kg) , increase more in ensuing years.

despite lady tichborne s insistence claimant son, rest of tichbornes , related families unanimous in declaring him fraud. recognised alfred tichborne s infant son, henry alfred, 12th baronet. lady doughty, sir edward s widow, had accepted evidence australia changed mind after claimant s arrival in england. lady tichborne s brother henry seymour denounced claimant false when found latter neither spoke nor understood french (roger s first language child) , lacked trace of french accent. claimant unable identify several family members , complained attempts catch him out presenting him impostors. vincent gosford, former tichborne park steward, unimpressed claimant, who, when asked name contents of sealed package roger left gosford before departure in 1853, said not remember. family believed claimant had acquired bogle , other sources information enabled him demonstrate knowledge of family s affairs, including, example, locations of pictures in tichborne park. apart lady tichborne, distant cousin, anthony john wright biddulph, relation accepted claimant genuine; however, long lady tichborne alive , maintaining support, claimant s position remained strong.

on 31 july 1867 claimant underwent judicial examination @ chancery division of royal courts of justice. testified after arrival in melbourne in july 1854 had worked william foster @ cattle station in gippsland under name of thomas castro. while there, had met arthur orton, fellow englishman. after leaving foster s employment claimant had subsequently wandered country, orton, working in various capacities before setting butcher in wagga wagga in 1865. on basis of information, tichborne family sent agent, john mackenzie, australia make further enquiries. mackenzie located foster s widow, produced old station records. these showed no reference thomas castro , although employment of arthur orton recorded. foster s widow identified photograph of claimant arthur orton, providing first direct evidence claimant might in fact orton. in wagga wagga 1 local resident recalled butcher castro saying had learned trade in wapping. when information reached london, enquiries made in wapping private detective, ex-police inspector jack whicher, , claimant s visit in december 1866 revealed.

arthur orton


orton portrayed in vanity fair ape june 1871

arthur orton, butcher s son born on 20 march 1834 in wapping, had gone sea boy , had been in chile in 1850s. sometime in 1852 arrived in hobart, tasmania, in transport ship middleton , later moved mainland australia. employment foster @ gippsland terminated around 1857 dispute on wages. thereafter disappears; if not castro, there no further direct evidence of orton s existence, although strenuous efforts made find him. claimant hinted of activities orton of criminal nature , confound authorities had exchanged names. of orton s family failed recognise claimant long-lost kinsman, although later revealed had paid them money. however, former sweetheart of orton s, mary ann loder, did identify claimant orton.

financial problems

lady tichborne died on 12 march 1868, depriving claimant of principal advocate , main source of income. outraged family insisting on taking position of chief mourner @ funeral mass. lost income rapidly replaced fund, set supporters, provided house near alresford , income of £1,400 (£145,278 in 2016) year.

in september 1868, legal team, claimant went south america meet face-to-face potential witnesses in melipilla might confirm identity. disembarked @ buenos aires, ostensibly travel valparaíso overland , there rejoin advisers continuing sea. after waiting 2 months in buenos aires caught ship home. explanations sudden retreat—poor health , dangers brigands—did not convince backers, many of whom withdrew support; holmes resigned solicitor. furthermore, on return advisers reported no 1 in melipilla had heard of tichborne , although remembered young english sailor called arturo .

the claimant bankrupt. in 1870 new legal advisers launched novel fundraising scheme: tichborne bonds, issue of 1,000 debentures of £100 face value, holders of repaid interest when claimant obtained inheritance. £40,000 raised, though bonds traded @ considerable discount , being exchanged derisory sums. scheme allowed claimant continue meet living , legal expenses while. after delay while franco-prussian war , aftermath prevented key witnesses leaving paris, civil case claimant hoped confirm identity came court in may 1871.

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