THE TICHBORNE CLAIMANT.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 134, 2 July 1880, Page 3

THE TICHBORNE CLAIMANT.

In his last letter to Mr Guilford Onslow, the Claimant asserts his innocence more strongly than ever. It may seem strange, but there are yet some people who believe that he is what he represents himself tube. He says:—“The bad news of poor Lord Rivers’ death has completely upset me. I have had many trials requiring fortitude to bear with during my life, but in my dear friend Lord Rivers, fortitude, faith, strength and every power I possess, seems to have forsaken me ; in fact it seems as if the very heavens were trying to vent that yiruleucy against me which was shown towards me during the trial, and which so effectually blinded justice. The shock of the sentence I received, knowing full well, as I did, that it carried with it the loss of name, title, wealth, honor, in fact all that is dear to man, had no more effect on my nerves than one drop of rain would have on a seaman’s southwester, because my conscience told me I was innocent of the infamous charges made against me. But how different it is whan one loses one’s best friend—a friend whom neither Court, influence, nor money, could purchase from me. Lord Rivers was not only a noble man by title and lineage, but the very archtype of a nobleman by nature. When I. remember the many kindnesses he has done me, the personal trouble he went to, combined with expense, on my account, it makes my heart bleed to think of his having gone from amongst us. But I know what he would say to me if he could speak from the grave—’ Fight on; prove your innocence; prove to the world that I supported truth and honesty, and was not mistaken.’ I promise him (although gone from amongst us to a better world than this), as I promise you and all the rest of my friends —that I will never cease to try and prove mv innocence whilst blood flows through my veins.’

THE DECEASED WIFE’S.SISTER. This lady has been troubling the Legislatures not of the United Kingdom only but of all the,British .Colonies; for many years.' In several of.the colonies the claim to marry the widower of.her deceased sister haS been recognised;.,, InHew. Zealand she has been particularly VuHfortunfilte^pwijig/tp'-'the religious scruplesarid,.phc;m6i'pid sentmiciitality of fjthe Lords/y. The hapless creature lias met .wath !/a Similfir reception in the House of /Peers at Iloihe. How; however the latest news, from ' Loiidon/ informs /ns that she,is likely to be 'successful at last. This being.so the ..Horn , r Mi;",M|lntell too® time by, the. forelock arid'introduced a,/Bill to legalise a deceased wife’s sister. Strange, to say ( he was successful iti getting the,second—that' Is ...the' principal reading of thy,.measure carried. Opce the second reading. ; has been, passed a Bilb, is usually considered safe./- But, the enemies of the deceased wife’s sister in the Legislative Council with cruel uhgallantry, have determined to fight against lier “to the bitter end.” Yesterday -afternoon -they, after infinite trouble,, ; obtained the postponement of tile Bill’s committal fill the arrival of certain members who have hither to been bpposb/l tb shclr legislation. Now; 1 in all seriousness, ”\vc think that the “reasons”" gdvar./ed against legalising marriage with' a deceased wife’s sister are founded more bri sentiment /then common sense. Wbhave Inov'er been able todiscover either in Si.Hjitnvo or morality anything that wbuld militate against MriMan-' tell’s propqsal. The battle was fought out long ag<6 in Vic, oria, and 1 all that could be urged from the Old Testament was brought forward very ably but the contentions set up were found' to be mere misconceptions; Moreover the, 1 principle involved in Mr MantelEs/Bill has 5 already been placed on the Statute Books 1 of those Australian Colonies With Avhom New Zealand has most intercourse. ’'/’Arid l there s can surely be •no doubt, that it Would 'be eminently desirable to have the laws on such an important question ASinarriag, uniform in the whole of the colonies of the Australasian group.— Post. TT..T\,‘ P ’’ A TV' 01 '?. H "