THE TICHBORNE ROMANCE RIVALLED.

Evening Star, Issue 2861, 20 April 1872, Page 3

THE TICHBORNE ROMANCE RIVALLED.

The Smyth case, in which the leading barristers in the Tichbome ease were uux,ed up, has been placed before the public, while a parallel case in French causes eelebret furnishes still stronger interest at the present moment. Sir John Coleridge has received the credit of raking it . up. Tho story is this:— In the year 1539, Martin Guerre, a native of Biscay, married a girl named Bertrande de Rols. Martin afterwards left the country for a space of eight years, when a person whom all recognised and welcomed as Martin Guerre returned, and settled once more in the village. Bertrande was overioyed at her hu band’s return, a small family was born, and for three years all went well. A soldier, however, passing through the place, astounded the good Bertrande by informing her that the real Martin was living. in Fl mders. He had been a soldier, ana lost a leg. Bertrande’s relations espoused the idea that Martin was an irbposter, buttfie woman, like the old Da'rbineer witnesses m the Tichbome case* declared that he Was either Martin or tlie Devil. At last, however, the matt * became a great; law case. 150 •witnesses were examined with similar resuits as in our owir days at Westminster. Many swore that the. prisoner; was Martin Guerre, and others that he was one. Arnauld de Tith, a young man of bad character. Well, the man was found guilty of deception, and condemned to death. An appeal was msti-, tnted More witnesses proved that strangely enough there was scarcely any resemblance between Arnauld and Martin. One witness, an innkeeper, swore that Arnauld had been ms cuest, and when intoxicated had told him how he and Martin had roved about together, and how he had thus become acquainted with every incident of Martins life Ihe Parliament, however, winch heard the appeal leaned much on the fact of the prisoner having been acknow edge ! by all his relations and friends for the space of three years. They were about to decide in his favor, when there appeared in court a man calling himself Martin Guerre He had a wooden leg, and answered the description given by the soldier to Bertrande. Martin’s sisters rushed forward and embraced him The scales .ell from Bertraude’s and she sank on her knees imploring forgWe ness for her unwitting tault. The two men Wjrc confronted, and eventh n the imposter was able to answer questions .uiout Martin’s life more glibly and readily than the real Simon pure. But he was condemned to be hanged and burn© i, and befo e his execution 1 e confessed his crime. Having served with Martin for many years, he had discovered all his secrets, and had successfully carried out the plot of personating him.