BOYLE'S _Court Guide_ is, as all who dwell or have friends in the Court
District know, as accurate and convenient a book of reference as
possible. No library table can be without this manual. It is with great
reluctance, therefore, that _Mr. Punch_, in the exercise of stern duty,
devotes the new volume of the _Guide_ to the vengeance of LORD CHIEF
JUSTICE BOVILL. But respect for the Bench compels _Mr. Punch_ to offer
this sacrifice. In the issue for January, 1872, on page 797, this may be
read:--
"TICHBORNE, SIR ROGER C. D., _Bart._, 10, Harley Road West,
Brompton, S.W."
NOW _Mr. Punch_ appeals to the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE, and to the Universe
to say whether the desire expressed by the former that there should be
no comment on the Tichborne case, _pendente lite_, has not been
scrupulously complied with. Dull as the season has been, there has been
no yielding to the temptation to make smart articles out of the
Australian Romance. _Mr. Punch_ himself, who is above all laws, has set
the most noble example to his contemporaries, and even when he has
borrowed an illustration from the big trial, he has carefully avoided
any expression of opinion as to the merits. But, in the _Court Guide_,
the Claimant, or somebody else, has inserted an entry which prejudges
the case. The name and title of SIR ROGER TICHBORNE are claimed as
calmly as if the ownership were as well established as that of the name
and title of SIR WILLIAM BOVILL, which appear in another page, or as
_Mr. Punch's_ own name and title would be cited, but that it pleases him
to occupy his family mansion East of Temple Bar. This is Contempt of
Court. The Attorney-General has stated his belief that the Claimant is a
cunning and audacious conspirator, a perjurer, a forger, an impostor,
and a villain. He may be all these things, and not SIR ROGER TICHBORNE.
He may be none of these things, and be SIR ROGER TICHBORNE. He may be
only so many of these things as are compatible with his being SIR ROGER
TICHBORNE. No person, except an advocate, has the least right to state
an opinion until the jury shall be finally locked up, and out of the way
of being prejudiced. Whoever took on himself to decide the case, by
sending to the _Court Guide_ a statement that SIR ROGER TICHBORNE
exists, and resides at the above address, did that for which he should
be called on to answer at the bar of the Common Pleas. Roo-ey, too-ey,
too-ey-too-ey too!
* * * * *