NEWS BY THE MAIL

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 228, 13 June 1872, Page 5

NEWS BY THE MAIL

THE TICHBORNE CLAIMANT IN NEWGATE.

The claimant, it seem 3, has allowed himself to be " interviewed" since his incarceration in Newpate. Eef 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, aa it certainly did, deal a successful blow against him. "If he had ventured to examine me on this matter," remarked the prisoner, "it would 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 sufficienty proved, it. And what I particularly complain of ia, 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 and sisters ? Then, again, there are the letters of Mrs Pattendreigh. 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 I had done this, I wonder what would have been said ? I should not have been surprised in that case to have found myself where lam now." In replying to a question about the general cohduct of the jbrial, he Cj.iticised c the° speedy decision which the jury whan they had only heard a few witnesses for the defence. Could it be that the jury were fright thened at the prospect' of two hundred witnesses being placed in the box by the Attorney. General? "The Attorney-General," he said, " knew that such an idea was enough to terrify any juryman in the world." Nor 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 the publication of the "Martin Guerre" casein • 'The Month, " a periodical, he said, which was edited by the brother of the Attorney-Gene-ral, He stated, in a very clear manner, what the story was, and said that, as published in the periodical mentioned, it was materially altered from the book in which it originally appeared "There can be no. doubt," said the claimant, "that it did prejudice public opinion against me." When asked what he thought was the cause of his case breaking down, and what won the decision for the defendant, he answered " M oney ; and money is all that I want to free myself from this place, and prove my innocence of the charge upon which I am committed, aud win my estates." With reference to his committal, he said — " I contend that it 1 was not fair my 88 witnesses "(I forget the exact"niimber},-.'wfid so distinptly 's^ore i£ my favgr', should gjj for nothing, and that the jttof should hay© 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, and which I and my witnesses, 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 his favour, he replied, " Why, of course ; of what perjury have I been guilty ? I have proof of everything I said. But 1 will not con-.ent that the trial shall take ? place 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 Bay 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.