NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Evening Star, Issue 2898, 3 June 1872, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

THE TICHBORNE CLAIMANT IN NEWGATE. The claimant, it seems, has allowed himself to bo ’* interviewed” since his incarceration in Kewgate. Kef erring to the mode in which the Attorney-General had conducted the case against him, he expressed his indignation that the learned gentleman had not cross-examined him upon the tattoo marks, but had kept that part of the defence in reserve), in the hope that it would, as it certainly did, deal a successful blow against him. “If he had ventured to examine me on this matter,” remarked the prisoner, “it avould have given me the opportunity which I ought to have had, of denying that 1 was so marked, and of bringing forward good witnesses who could have auffioienty proved it. And what I particularly complain of is, that Mr Alfred Seymour, M.P., who says he knew all along I was tattooed, did not at once state it. Can we consider it a proper thing if he allowed me to impose myself as Sir Roger Tichborne upon my mother aud sisters ? Then, again, there are the letters of Mrs Pattendroigh. The At-torney-General tried to win his case with them, but failed, and he had to acknowledge he could not rely upon them. If L had done this, I wonder what would have been said ? 1 should not have been surprised in that case to have found myself where lam now. ” In replying to a question about the general conduct of the trial, he criticised the speedy decision which the jury gave when they had only heard a few witnesses for the defence. Could it be that the jury were frighthened at the prospect of two hundred witnesses being placed in the box by the AttorneyGeneral ? “The Attorney-General,” he said, “ knew that such an idea was enough to terrify any juryman in the world.” IN l or did the claimant seem satisfied with the perfect impartiality of the judge—in fact, he expressed himself in a very opposite sense. He also spoke in angry tones about tbe publication of tbe “Martin Guerre” casein “The Month,” a periodical, hesaid, which was edited by the brother of the Attorney-Gene-ral. He stated, in a very clear manner, what the story was, aud said that, as published in the periodical mentioned, it was materially altered from the book in which it originally appeared “There can bo no doubt,” said the claimant, “that it did prejudice public opinion against me.” Wnen asked what he thought was the cause of his case breaking down, and what won the decision for the defendant, he answered “ Money; and money is all that 1 want to free myself from this place, aud prove my innocence of the charge upon which I am committee), and win my estates.” With reference to his committal, he said—“l contend that it was not fair my 88 witnesses (I forget the exact number), who so distinctly swore in my favor, should go for nothing, and that the jury should have so readily believed the few on the other side, and particularly those who swore about the tattoo marks, none of whom agreed as to what the marks actually were. Some said one thing and some another. Upon evidence which did not agree, aud which I aud my Avitnesses, and more still, could have denied, the defendant won. If the jury had given me the chance, I’d prove everything I said.” When asked whether he had any confidence that the result of his trial for perjury would be in hia favour, he replied, “Why, of course; of what perjury have 1 been guilty ? 1 have proof of everything I said. But 1 will not com cut that the trial shall take iplacc at Westminster. I shall demand to be tried at the Central Criminal Court. There I shall expect to get a fairer trial.” He then went on to say that when he is acquitted he intended to go on with the action for the restoration of his property, and that he shall prosecute the Doughty case.