THE TICHBCRNE CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 7, 10 January 1899, Page 5

THE TICHBCRNE CASE.

WAS THE REAL HEIR MURDERED?

SYDNEY, this day

Mr Edward Priestraan, who has taken a leading part in efforts to reopen the Tichborne case, writes to the pre:-:s with reference to Le Clerc's statement. He says Le Clerc told him that while Tichborne was staying in LeClerc's he revealed to LeClerc much of his former life, and showed him some Tichborne jewels and other relics'. Mr Priestman points out ihat it was in 1859 that Tichborne stayed with LeClerc, while it was in 1865 that a headless trunk, supposed to be Tichborne's, was found. He claims it was William Cresswell, confined in Parramatta Asylum, otherwise Roger Tichborne, who stayed with LeClerc. He also alleges that facts came to his knowledge last year that Cresswell knew that a man had been murdered in mistake for himself.

The Sydney 'Daily Telegraph' a few days ago published the following: — 'Prior to leaving England, Mr Le Clere is said to have cultivated the acquaintance, among .hat of others, of the' real Sir Roger Tichborne, and that acquaintance is also stated to have ripened into a life-long friendship. It is not strange, therefore; that having met in. England, again in South, America.,, ftud. finally in > rew. South Wales, where EeClefc was employed on a station, t-he latter should be positive in his own mine! SkSj to what ultimately became of the missing heir. LeClerc alleged T.ichborr.e to have been a man of peculiar mannerism, one day entering into and accepting the confidences of a man, and subsequently spiriting himself away at night, and leaving no trace of his whereabouts behind, lais would account for the many different localities he is said to have resided in at short intervals. He is, moreover, said to have been a man of fiery temper, unable to endure restraint, and unwilling to trust his fellows. Upon the last occasion upon which LeClerc saw his friend he was on the point of going to acoimtry race meet ing. He was dressed in a noticeable jfcheck stilt, and wore! a ring—-probably\an heirloom —on'the little finger of the right hand. There was attaching1 to the ring quite an interestinglittle history, the details of which Mr LeClerc had been made thoroughly acquainted with. Hence he never failed to notice it when worn by the wearer. When subsequently a body w.iich had been decapitated was found, LeClerc identified it by the ring a..d clothes as that of Tiehborne. It is somewhat strange that, being cognisant of many apparently gemiine facts, LeClerc diet not press for further investigation, or that he did not volunteer the information already in his possession. But there have since been made to fast friends a confession of the reasons which prevented him from parting with secrets long locked up his breast. In conversation at times with Rev. Mr Waddell, of the Rockdale Wesleyari Church, he /LeClerc) frequently hinted that among his papers could be found some valuable and interesting information, and none more so than that relating to the case of Tichborne. LeClerc was generallj' looked upon as a man of irreproachable character, arid many of his erstwhile neighbours believe his statement as to the fate of the Tichboi-ne claimant to be true in every detail.'