THE CLAIMANT at DARTMOOR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 268, 9 December 1876, Page 4

THE CLAIMANT at DARTMOOR.

Although, a considerable period has elapsed since the Claimant to the Tichbourne estates was lodged in safe aad solitary confinement in the Government establishment at Dartmoor, there are many who cherish a strong desire to know' how the prisoner ie undergoing the striking change of circumstances which the reault of hia tedious triui brought about. The convict rises every morning at 5 o'clock. He then has to dress himself, clean his cell, get breakfast, wash tip the utensils employed therein, and then to be in readiness for chapel at a quarter to seven The service is brief, tasting only 15 minutes, and, should the weather permit, at its conclusion the prisoner is taken oat for parade. Before his day's labor, which be is supposed to enter upon at half past seven, he has, like the whole of his fellow convicts, to undergo ' the operation of searching. We should state that his daily task is to work a cawing machine, at which he has become an adept. After working for three qu&rtera of an hour he is allowed a quarter of an hour's rest. At the termination of this respite he ie summoned to dinner, and confined to bis cell until one o'clock. Previous to resuming his task he is again searched, and then works the machine entrusted to him until ten minutes past five. His day's employment ie then at an end; he is escorted to his cell, served with tea and on week nights and an hour earlier on Sundays, he retires to rest. The only privilege be enjoys over other convicts is an extra allowance of a quarter of a pound of brand, and an ounce of meat daily, and this concession is stated to be allowed at the special direction of the doctor. It may be of interest to know what bis principal daily meal consists of. On Monday he dices upon beef, Tuesday coup, Wedday mutton, Thursday pudding, Friday soup, Saturday beef, and Sunday cheese. This stern dietary has naturally brought the Claimant a little nearer to Sir John Coleridge's idea of the real Rover. We (Birminyhnna Gazette) bear that his knickerbockers have bad to be altered several times, and some significance may be attached to the fact that he is reduced in girth aboat 17 inches ! yet his general health is stated to be good, although he begins to assume a careworn and haggard appearance. He is uniformly courteous and obedient to the prison officials, aad from sis to eight marks per day for gcod conduct fall to bis share. By reason of his exemplary behaviour he lias lately been promoted, and is now .what is termed a second-class prisoner, should he continue to conform to the prison distpline and conduct himself as heretofore, hid sentence will be reduced .three months in every year, so that the entire term of 14 years will be at an end in about 9 years and 11 months. The Claimant appears to be on good terms with everyone around him, with the solitary exception of the Catholic priest, to whom he appears to manifest, tiome alight aversion.