Civil case: Tichborne v. Lushington.2C 1871.E2.80.9372 Tichborne case

sir william bovill, presiding judge @ civil case

the hearing, took place within palace of westminster, began on 11 may 1871 before sir william bovill, chief justice of common pleas. claimant s legal team led william ballantine , harding giffard, both highly experienced advocates. opposing them, acting on instructions bulk of tichborne family, john duke coleridge, solicitor general (he promoted attorney-general during hearing), , henry hawkins, future high court judge @ height of powers cross-examiner. in opening speech, ballantine made of roger tichborne s unhappy childhood, overbearing father, poor education , unwise choices of companions. claimant s experiences in open boat following wreck of bella had, said ballantine, impaired memories of earlier years, explained uncertain recall. attempts identify client arthur orton were, ballantine argued, concoctions of irresponsible private investigators acting tichborne family.

the first witnesses claimant included former officers , men roger tichborne s regiment, of whom declared belief genuine. among servants , former servants of tichborne family called ballantine john moore, roger s valet in south america. testified claimant had remembered many small details of months together, including clothing worn , name of pet dog pair had adopted. roger s cousin anthony biddulph explained had accepted claimant after spending time in company.

on 30 may ballantine called claimant stand. during examination-in-chief, claimant answered questions on arthur orton, whom described large-boned man sharp features , lengthy face marked smallpox . had lost sight of orton between 1862 , 1865, had met again in wagga wagga, claimant had discussed inheritance. under cross-examination claimant evasive when pressed further details of relationship orton, saying did not wish incriminate himself. after questioning him on visit wapping, hawkins asked him directly: arthur orton? replied not . claimant displayed considerable ignorance when questioned time @ stonyhurst. not identify virgil, confused latin greek, , did not understand chemistry was. caused sensation when declared had seduced katherine doughty , sealed package given gosford, contents of earlier claimed not recall, contained instructions followed in event of pregnancy. rohan mcwilliam, in chronicle of affair, comments point on tichborne family fighting not estates katherine doughty s honour.

collapse of case

on 7 july court adjourned 4 months. when resumed, ballantine called more witnesses, including bogle , francis baigent, close family friend. hawkins contended bogle , baigent feeding claimant information, in cross-examination not dent belief claimant genuine. in january 1872 coleridge began case defence speech during categorised claimant comparable great impostors of history . intended prove claimant arthur orton. had on 200 witnesses lined up, transpired few required. lord bellew, had known roger tichborne @ stonyhurst, testified roger had distinctive body tattoos claimant did not possess. on 4 march jury notified judge had heard enough , ready reject claimant s suit. having ascertained decision based on evidence whole , not solely on missing tattoos, bovill ordered claimant s arrest on charges of perjury , committed him newgate prison.

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