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Welcome to John Michell, a best-selling author and world authority on the mysteries of existence. John writes regular weekly articles for my page in the Daily Mirror newspaper. Now those articles can be read on this site. It is a thrill to have John writing for us about unexplained phenomena. I have been an admirer of his work since I was a teenager. I hope you enjoy his thought-provoking work. Jonathan Cainer
Archive for Thursday
13th March 2003 - The 10 World's greatest mysteries...
No. 8 The mystery of confused identity
Some people believe they
are really somebody else. That can be a sign of madness, but sometimes
it is a genuine mystery.
A famous example was the case of the Tichborne Claimant. In 1854 Sir
Roger Tichborne, the young heir to a large, ancient estate in Hampshire,
was lost at sea off South America. So it was reported. Twelve years
later he turned up in Wagga Wagga, Australia, and returned to England.
His appearance and manner had completely changed. The old Sir Roger
was slim and refined, with straight, black hair. The new one was fat
and coarse with fair, curly hair. Yet Roger's mother recognised him,
and so did old friends and servants of the family. Others denounced
him as an imposter.
The dispute was taken to court. A hundred witnesses swore for the claimant,
but he lost the case, and was sentenced to 14 years' penal servitude
for fraud.
He was not the real Sir Roger. That was proved beyond doubt. He was
a cockney butcher, Arthur Orton, who had emigrated to Australia. But
there was something about him that persuaded honest people to accept
him as the missing heir. He died in 1898, disgraced and ruined, but
still insisting on his claim.
This perhaps was a case of psychic possession. If Arthur Orton was taken
over by the spirit of Roger Tichborne, that would explain his delusion,
and his persistence. There are similar cases of confused identity where
that may have happened. We shall look at another one next week.
John Michell
If you have a favourite mystery
subject - from spontaneous human combustion to ancient Celtic ritual
sites, write to John, suggesting a theme. And if you have any answers
or theories about the mysteries John will be highlighting, he would
particularly like to hear from you.
Email jon@bubble.com
with subject heading: John Michell
Please note, we regret that due to time restrictions personal replies
may not be available.
John
Michell is a prolific author. Below are just two of John's books which
might interest you. We have arranged with our friends at The Daily
Mirror for website visitors to order books mentioned on this site.
This service is
for UK orders only.
Unexplained Phenomena,
A Rough Guide Special
(co-author Bob Rickard, rrp £12.99) at the special Mirror Direct price
of £9.99 + p&p.
Who Wrote Shakespeare?
(Thames & Hudson, rrp £8.95) for the Mirror Direct special price
of £6.95 + p&p.
Call 0870 165 8587
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