MR. COBBETT AND THE CLAIMANT AGAIN.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 4, 27 October 1877, Page 3

MR. COBBETT AND THE CLAIMANT AGAIN.

• ♦■ Tiik " Home News " of July 20, reports that Mr. Cobbett appeared in person and made another of his numerous applications to the Supreme! !ourt of Judicature, the subject of the present one being " the Claimant." He said he had to apply for a prohibition directed to the Secretary of State. The Lord Chief Justice (interposing) : We cannot hear an application for a prohibition except from duly authorised persons. The following dialogue then took place between the Lord Chief Justice and Mr. Cobbett:—Mr. Cobbett: Then your lordship will hear me on the ' habeas corpus'? —But you have applied for that before in this case—that of Castro.—This is a general question of the liberty of the subject. I have to apply for a rule nisi calling on the Secretary of State to show cause why the verdict and sentence should not be set aside on the ground that the Court of Common Pleas was without jurisdiction, and that the decision of the Court of Probate was final as to the identity of the Claimant with Sir Roger Charles Tichbome. (Laughter.) lint we have no control over the Secretary of State. A sentence of the Court of Queen's Bench is being carried into effect. We cannot set that aside, Do you mean to say that we can reopen the whole question of the Queen v. (.'astro?—Yes, the 'habeas corpus' can reopen the whole case.—lndeed, it would do nothing of the kind, for the return would In- conviction and sentence, and that would be a complete answer. — Mr. Cobbett submitted that a 'habeas corpus' could reopen the case.—Never mind, Mr. Cobbett, we must refuse your role. We cannot allow our time to be wasted any more. Mi-. Cobbett then