The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-10-25 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

RELEASE OF THE CLAMANT.

The Claimant was removed from Portsmouth Con-
vict Prison to Pentonville by the last train on Sunday
night, after undergoing a term of penal servitude
extending to ten years and eight months, for perjury
in having, as stated by the jury, falsely declared him-
self to be Roger Charles Doughty Tichborne. During
Sunday the Governor of the former prison received
telegraphic instructions, and acted with the utmost
secrecy, and it was only at the moment of the prisoner's
removal that he was ordered to put on the civilian
clothing that had been made for him in the prison, and
a warder was also directed to dress in plain clothes.
It was not until both the prisoner and the warder
were in the cab that they received their directions.
Nobody inside the prison knew anything of the occur-
rence, but when the prisoners were mustered on
Monday morning it became known that the Claimant
had been removed.

The Claimant, accompanied by a warder both in
civilian attire arrived at Pentonville Convict Prison
at half-past ten ox Sunday night. At half-past nine
on Monday morning the governor handed him over
to an officer, who, in company with Mr. Quartermaine
East, drove ix a cab to Scotland.yard, where the usual
formalities were gone through, and the Claimant was
discharged.

The convict remained one week at Pentonville, and
then, on his removal to Millbank, he commenced the
real terrors of his lot, as for nine months he endured
solitary confinement, during which neither he nor any
convict could make any of the marks that go to reduce
the length of the sentence. It was at Milbank that
his unwieldy bulk first attracted the attention of the
authorities, a convict weighing 26st. being without
precedent. His massive frame, too, raised such a
difficulty with regard to providing him with adequate
quarters that a cell of special dimensions had
eventually to be allotted to him, and he was accom-
modated with the roomiest apartments the establish-
ment could furnish. While at Millbank he was em-
ployed in picking oakum, an occupation which afforded
him no scope for expertness or cleverness, but in
which he was always diligent. In fact, the Claimant
was never irlasy convict; on the contrary, his fellow
prisoners often expressed their disapprobation att his
doing so much work. But of late years, due chiefly
to the fact that he had expressed a decided preference
for being left alone, he has experienced none of this
annoyance. At the end of his probation he was
removed to Dartmoor, where he become a tailor, and
although he had some years' practice at this trade and
was imbued with a desire to do his best, he never
proved a very efficient workman. His career at
Dartmoor was unfavourable to him in more ways
than one. It was there that he began to develop
those pains in his feet and legs which could only be
expected from a man of his habit who was man-
*led to stand during the greater part of the dap, and
his complaints were more persistent than the senior
medical officer thought justifiable. But though he was
regarded as a man who shammed sickness, this in
the result proved of advantage to the convict, who,
in consequence of the adverse reports of the doctor,
was not allowed that time in hospital which he then
desired, and which would have prolonged his Im-
prisonment, owing to the marks which fie would have
lost while under sick treatment. In his letters to his
friends he dwelt strongly on this mode of treatment,
and eventually sufficient influence was brought to bear
with the Home Office that he was removed to Ports-
mouth, but in the ordinary course of changes he was
followed by the same medical officer by whom he
had been treated at Dartmoor. Here the same
symptoms of illness presented themselves, and at
last he was allowed as much hospital nursing as he de-
manded. But finding that he could make eight marks
a day while at work, and net more than seven while
in hospital, the ceased to must the luxuries at the dis-
posal of the doctor; and the fact that he lost only 30
marks by illness—in other words, that he had no more
than 30 days on the sick list in ten years—speaks
well for the health he enjoyed during his imprison-
ment, while such 'immunity from accidents did he
enjoy that the most trivial casualty never befel him.
On his removal to Portsmouth he continued tobe em-
ployed in the tailors' shop, but he never took kindly
to the board, and after some time he petitioned to be
sent out on the public works. The confinement he had
endured had the effect of considerably reducing his
weight, which is now not more than 18st. 71b. His
conduct, however, was always "first class exemplary,"
and as a mark of this he was permitted, on entering
his last year, to wear the blue dress, which is the
highest honour a convict can aspire to, as it entitles
him to an additional week's remission of sentence,
and ensures him .E 3 from the Government on his dis-
charge. So exemplary has been his conduct that he
has never been mentioned in his reports, although in
his remonstrance with his fellow prisoners on the
subject of his excessive industry he on one oc-
casion almost infringed the regulations. His re-
quest to be sent on the public works that he might
enjoy purer. air was readily acceded to, and he was for
a time employed in the stacking ground in Portsmouth
Dockyard, though it may be readily conceived in this
class of labour he did not greatly distinguish himself.
He soon discovered that he was here subject to be
gazed upon by workmen and others in the dockyard,
and to the least semblance of this practice he always
showed the most deep-rooted antipathy. His next
move was to the carpenters' shop, which is much more
secluded. It was not anticipated that he would prove
s better carpenter than tailor, but he has turned out a
really skilful workman, and would have no difficulty
in earning his living at this handicraft. Not only did
he prove industrious, but he took a real interest in his
work, and would, on entering the shop, throw off his
:me and frock, roll up his shirt sleeves, and go about
his work with real earnestness.

As is well known, the Claimant is in his religious
views a Roman Catholic; and recently he was
allowed the possession of a Douay Bible. At first
sight this may appear a trifling circumstance, but in
reality it seems to show the great interest he always
had in official circles. But though he showed so
much persistence in his efforts to be allowed the
volume, he was never the devoutest of Catholics. He
always abstained from Mass or going to confession,
while the Church services, which are compulsory, he
always attended in a perfunctory fashion.
During his incarceration several of his most in-
fluential friends have died. Among them are Dr.
Kenealy, who paid the Claimant only one visit—at the
time when the Court of Errors was being moved, and
he then distinctly warned his old cliient not to be de-
ceived by what his other friends told him, and to
make up his mind that the case would fail. The
Claimant refused to take this adlice, and buoyed him-
self up with hopes of success. He was, at the same
time, allowed to grow his hair and whiskers, and was
actually measured for clothing to be worn by him on
the day of his expected liberation. When experience
proved the soundness of the advocate's advice,
the Claimant was ill-prepared for the news. He
rapidly turned grey, and has been aging ever since.
At first Lord Rivers was the chief visitor, and he
was generally accompanied by Mr:Quilford Cons
low.
Both have since died. Mr. Al bony Biddulph
was another influential visitor, but of late years
the Claimant has seen very little of him, and the
principal visitor was Mr. Quartermaine East, of
Ramsgate. On one occasion the Claimant had a visit
from Captain Barry, who, in a somewhat curious
fashion, recognised the prisoner as the Sir Roger
Tichborne whom he knew at Wagga Wagga. Another
constant visitor was Mr. Haworth, of Southport, who
up to the last travelled regularly ftom the North to
see his friend. The Claimant was three times visited
by his eldest son, named Roger, and once by both
sons together, and it is said that Roger's physiognomy
hears an exact resemblance to the daguerrotype of Sir
Roger Tichborne. His consent to be interviewed by
his sons was the result of a prolonged pressure on the
part of his friends, as the Claimant had a great objec-
t ion to any of his children seeing him in the convict
garb. He afterwards, however, expressed his obliga-
tion to his friends, and was much pleased with the
way in which the lads had been educated. This
had been entrusted to Mr. East, while a Mr.
Purkiss, of Southampton, attended to the
teaching of the daughters, who are now at school at
Eastbourne. Whenever his friends visited the prison
they were always accompanied as far as the gates by
local sympathisers, who invariably bowed themselves
and doffed their hats, while uttering the words "Sir
Roger," as he passed from the dockyard to the prison
cell, where the interviews were conducted. During
his stay at Portsmouth, the Claimant's bulky frame
c•ive as much concern to the authorities as it did
elsewhere, and again difficulty was experienced in
providing him with adequate quarters. Eventually
the problem was solved by sending him to one Of
the punishment cells, where he had the advantage
of being under the care of the most experienced
warders, there being a special staff told off for this
class of work. He was always employed with the
same party of prisoners, and in various other little
ways he was regarded as a special class of prisoner, so
far as discipline would permit. Another difficulty
arose in the victualling department, and as the
Claimant had an extraordinary physique to maintain
he was allowed one-fourth more food than the other
men. His appetite never failed him, and, indeed, at
first he was apt to ask for more. As ha had gained
so much power in influential quarters he some time
since did his utmost to be allowed the privilege of a
pipe, and, as he had formerly been an habitual
smoker, he pressed his claims with great assiduity,
but newspapers and tobacco being boons which the
authorities have rigidly determined that no prisoner
shall ever enjoy, he was unsuccessful. Again, at Ports-
mouth, his feet troubled him, and naboots with which
the establishment was provided could be found to fit
him. His friends once more went to work, and
ultimately the Home Office allowed him to be
measured for his boots. It is a prison offence to
be found talking, and he was favoured by nature in
his respect, as he on all occasions evinced a profound
taciturnity, and did everything in his power to-.foster
- tile unwillinress of his friends to talk to him. Ire
made no serious attempt to improve his edication;
while the letters from laiin that have appeared in.the
press from tithe to time often took him weeks to
prepare, and were never despatched until, he laad,
made copious referendes to the prison library. Ths
sight has of late years become considerably impaired,
end h lately never attempted to read or write 'with-
out using spectacles.

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