THE CLAIMANT.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 183, 11 January 1878, Page 7

THE CLAIMANT.

— .^ Thomas Castro, alias Orton, has been removed from Dartmoor to Portsea. Every possible precaution was taken to prevent the fact from becoming known. He was conveyed before daylight in a closed car from Prince Town to the wayside station of Horrabridge, in charge of two chief warders, and was conveyed thence in a third-class compartment of a South- Western train. Castro was handcuffed, and wore the usual convict dress. He arrived at Portsmouth at 2.19 in the afternoon, and was conveyed to the convict prison at Portsea, ancl so well had the secret been kept that neither the. railway officials at Landport nor the Warders at the prison were aware of. the celebrity of the individual with whom they were brought in contact. The reason for change is in no way connected with the health of the convict, neither has it been made, as reported, in the ordinary course of convict routine. The fact is, that Castro did not get on well with the prison officials at Dartmoor. He was full of complaints and grievances, and was frequently being punished for insubordination, inthese'circumstances, it.. was' determined to try the effect of change of scene and surroundings. Though the convict; has lost eight stone since his incarceration in Newgate, he enjoys good health, and since lis removal has even been . cheerful. The Portsea prison is hot a manufacturing establishment, the inmatps being for the most part engaged upon the public work-sin the neighborhood. There are, hovyever, 20 men who are employed as ' tailors in -.making and mending the conr victs' clothes, and to the number of these Castro will. be added At Dart-, moor he was entrusted with a sewing : machine ; ; but as- there is' only one at. Portsea, and that is engaged, he- will be compelled to: do/his tailoring with' the needle for some time. He is, how-' ever, by no means a novice widi tbe needle, and on his arrival he exhibited, the clothes in which he was dressed as. a specimen of his handiwork. He has been promised the machine the first time it is at liberty. From the moment

of his entering his new residence he was; put on the extra dietary scale. In consequence.of the somewhat circumscribed space at the Portsea Prison, Castro will! not be allowed the privilege which he enjoyed at Dartmoor, .of taking His regulation exercise by himself, but will be compelled to take his walks with the* rest of the inmates. On Siindav niM.'i. ing, previous to attending mass, be. made his first appearance on the exercise grounds. He formed part of theordinary sections of three, and appeared; to be scon on the best of terms with, the; rest of the convicts.