AGY-4889 | Royal Commission of Inquiry into the case of William Creswell

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The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the case of William Creswell was appointed by Letters Patent on 12 January 1900.(1) The Commission was to investigate if William Creswell, who was an inmate of the Parramatta Lunatic Asylum, was in fact Sir Roger Tichborne. The following members of the Legislative Assembly were appointed Commissioners: John Charles Lucas Fitzpatrick as Chairman, Edward Mann Clark, John Rowland Dacey, Richard Denis Meagher, Broughton Barnabas O’Conor, Thomas Waddell, and William Henry Wilks.(2) The Commission met on seven occasions between 31 January and 20 March 1900 and examined twenty-three witnesses.(3) The Commission determined that: i) although it has been contended, and, indeed sought to be proved, that the patient is the missing heir to the Tichborne Estates, the evidence before them is insufficient to enable them to declare him to be the lost Tichborne; in their opinion, he is William Creswell. This conclusion has been arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence adduced at the inquiry by the Select Committee, and a full consideration of that sworn before the Royal Commission; ii) the inquiries of the Select Committee and the Royal Commission have proved justifiable, as having had the effect of fixing the important and much vexed question of the identity of the patient now an inmate of the Parramatta Lunatic Asylum; iii) with regard to the question of the patient’s sanity, the Commission are of the opinion that he is of sufficiently sound mind to be released from the Asylum, provided the customary bond for his safe keeping and proper treatment be entered into by the person now seeking to obtain his release.(4) All of the Commissioners, with the exception of Richard Denis Meagher, recommended the expedient release of the patient from the Parramatta Lunatic Asylum. R.D. Meagher believed the individual to be William Creswell and although he was harmless he should not be released because he was afflicted with chronic dementia.(5) The Commission’s report was submitted to the Governor on 31 March 1900.(6) ENDNOTES
1. Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the case of William Creswell, p3, Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, 1900, vol.6.
2. loc. cit.
3. ibid., pp4-7.
4. ibid., p10.
5. ibid., p11.
6. loc. cit.