Coleridge acknowledged that the Claimant cross-examined him instead of
his cross-examining the Claimant.
When that shrewd and cunning impostor was asked, "Would you be
surprised to hear this or that?" "No," said he, "I should be surprised
at nothing after this long time and the troubles I have been through;
but, now that you call my attention to it, I remember it all perfectly
well." Coleridge said: "I am leader by an accident." "Yes," said
Hawkins, "a colliery accident."]
I had also been retained by the trustees of the Doughty estate. Lady
Doughty was an aunt of Sir Roger Tichborne, and it was her daughter
Kate whom the heir desired to marry. Had the Claimant succeeded in the
first case, he would have brought an action against her also.
No copy of the proceedings had been supplied to me, and I was informed
that at this preliminary cross-examination they would not require my
assistance; that their learned Chancery barrister was merely going
to cross-examine the Claimant on his affidavits--a matter of small
consequence. So it was in one way, but of immeasurable importance
in many other ways. But they said _I might like to hear the
cross-examination as a matter of curiosity_.
I did.
The Claimant had it all his own way. I was powerless to lend any
assistance; but had I been instructed, I am perfectly sure I could
then and there have extinguished the case, for the Claimant at
that time knew absolutely nothing of the life and history of Roger
Tichborne.
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