THE TICHBORNE CASE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1980, 12 May 1875, Page 2

THE TICHBORNE CASE.

AN OTAGO WITNESS.

It may be said that " Truth is stranger than fiction." For-some time past those sympathetic souls -in England, who believe wjih* Kenealy that the Claimant is the victim of Jesuitical injustice and persecutionVhave been making strenuous efforts "'for renewing this never-to-be--ended world-renowned trial; : but, on the other hand, the < law advisers of the Ci own/and the gentlemen of Scotland Yard, have not been: idle in acquiring fresh evidence and preparing themselves for_any new course the'current" of events or litigation, make take. ' Our readers,however, will learn, with no little astonishment, and no doubt some interest, that our own little Province will,, supply a* fresh and. important witness in v the new trialj if such be granted. It appears 1 that a much respected • fellow colonist, Angus Alphouse'Macdonald, Esq., J.P., of Hokinut, Mataura; was a fellow student, friend, and companion of the lato Sir Roger ,C. I). Tichborne while at Stoneyhurst College, and was actually present in company with, Lord Bellew, whilsUjhe much disputed operation; was performed of tatooing Sir Eoger's Jirm.~ On this.poiafc tlie evidence of Lord'•Bellew'was quite distinct, but.much, conflicting evidence was adduced on the side of the Claimant-, and ii- this point,' and' this alone, the case, for the Crown was weak ; but the missing I;nk has, we learn, been found and supplied in the evidence of Mr Macdonald,with whom weareiiformed the Attorney - General is at present coirfesponding. By an extraordinary coincidence -of circumstances, it appears that previous to the departure of Sir Koger for- South America, the two friends, MrMacdonaldandSirKoger,boih { gay and fashionable young raem, were for a time residing at Foster's hotel, London, thenandnow the rendezvous of the Catholic nobility and leading aristocracy of England. At that time Mr Macdonald was about leaving his native land, to embark in extensive pastoral pursuits at Penola, in South Australia, and,being a witness, on more than one occasion, to an interview between Sir Eoger and his solicitor, Mr G-osford, it is understood that he can throw some material light on the contents of the mysterious " sealed packet." It would thus seem that the gods have( decreed against poor Sir Roger; and that, as every end of the earth has already supplied its quota of evidence for or agaiust the Claimant, it falls last, but not least, to the lot of Now Zealand to for ever rivet the chains round the limbs of Arthur Orion. -Bruce Herald.