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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 202, 4 October 1878, Page 4

The " Claimant" has still great faith in himself, and little of the opinion of judges and jury. He has addressed the following letter to Mr Guildford Onslow :— " Thomas Castro, August •5, 187 S. Portsea Convict Prison. Hear Onslow,— Many thanks for your kind letter just received. Tho declarations of Mrs Cressweli and of Peebles are very good ; but, alas, ma case where the truth is not acceptable, what use are they ? If an angel came from heaven and gave evidence in my favour, it would not be believed, and all because, when put into a place where I was called on in conscience before God to speak the t?ufch, I spoke ifc. Had I feared Grod less and wily man more, I should not have been here now. But notwithstanding all I have suffered, and am still likely to sufFer— if God does nofc relieve me, — I never have, and never shall regret having done so. This declaration, my dear Onslow, I know will bring fresh odium on me, bufc what care need I bave of fche opiniou of such people ? They may be able to crush me bodily, by influencing others to keep me here, bufc they cannot affect my conscience, and cannot injure me in the sight of God— tbat God who will judge them that judge me. Tbere will be no prejudiced judges or paid juries there. I fear all you and my many friends have done for me is only labour lost .Sir Alexander Cockburn bayißg threatened to resign hie seat tf

I am released, comparatively speaking, not only wrests the attribute from the Home Minister, bufc the very prerogative from our gracious Majesty, because it would be considered a disgrace for the Lord Chief Justice of a "nation to_ resign his seat on account of a prisoner being released whom he had exhausted all his power and energies to convict. 1 am going to petition the Home Secretary next week, asking him to make the two sentences concurrent, so as to enable me to finish my imprisonment when I have completed one sentence, or otherwise to order me to be tried on the charge of forgery. If I am Arthur Orton, I have committed forgery on each and every petition, for I have signed my own name to them. I shall do all I can to get a fresh trial on my liberty, and sincerely hope all will unite in helping me. Since reading Peebles's statement I have no doubt about Cress-well and Orton being the same, for I remember him telling me about the ferret biting bim. Please take all compliments to yourself and friends. — Tours, I-Jooeh Thomas Castro "