Trial Tichborne case

a contemporary illustration of trial; hawkins addresses court

the trial, 1 of lengthiest cases heard in english court, began on 21 april 1873 , lasted until 28 february 1874, occupying 188 court days. tone dominated kenealy s confrontational style; personal attacks extended not witnesses bench , led frequent clashes cockburn. under legal rules applied criminal cases claimant, though present in court, not allowed testify. away court revelled in celebrity status; american writer mark twain, in london, attended event @ claimant present , thought him rather fine , stately figure . twain observed company educated men, men moving in society.... sir roger , sir roger on hands, no 1 withheld title .

altogether, hawkins called 215 witnesses, including numbers france, melipilla, australia , wapping, testified either claimant not roger tichborne or arthur orton. handwriting expert swore claimant s writing resembled orton s not roger tichborne s. entire story of rescue osprey was, hawkins asserted, fraud. ship of name had arrived in melbourne in july 1854 did not correspond claimant s description. furthermore, claimant had provided wrong name osprey s captain, , names gave 2 of osprey s crew found belong members of crew of middleton, ship had landed orton @ hobart. no mention of rescue had been found in osprey s log or in melbourne harbourmaster s records. giving evidence on contents of sealed packet, gosford revealed contained information regarding disposition of properties, nothing relating katherine doughty s seduction or pregnancy.

in painting frederick sargent, claimant can seen sitting in lower centre; behind him, kenealy has risen speak.

kenealy s defence claimant victim of conspiracy encompassed catholic church, government , legal establishment. sought demolish witnesses character, lord bellew, reputation destroyed revealing details of peer s adultery. kenealy s own witnesses included bogle , biddulph, remained steadfast, more sensational testimony came sailor called jean luie, claimed had been on osprey during rescue mission. luie identified claimant mr rogers , 1 of 6 survivors picked , taken melbourne. on investigation luie found impostor, former prisoner had been in england @ time of bella’s sinking. convicted of perjury , sentenced 7 years imprisonment.