The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1881-11-25 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

PERCY."  In looking over Lefroy's papers his friends have found a number of poetical elf usions. several of which show. it is said, the peculiar morbid character of his mind. One of these, an incomplete and rattier crude piece, entitled "What is life?" in its concluding stanza is highly suggestive under existing circumbtances. It is as tollows - •  What ii life I the murderer cries. As he sits in his prison cell, Chained like a dog, his last hope, A speedy death by haagman's rape, Mocking echo, Is this lite  On Monday a steward who had been on board the Pen insular and Oriental beat Peshawur, called upon Mr Dutton, Lefroy's solicitor, and gave a succinct accnnot of his extraordinary conduct on board that steamer on his return from Australia. Ile embarked at Galls, and arrived at Snithampton on the 28th or 29111 July last year. and was so erratic that he had to be guarded &nine the whole time he was on board the veisel,and gave the officers a great deal of trouble. At that time, although he was in a very impecunious condition, he was accepted as a passenger, and the man's statement has been verified by subsequent inquiry at the steamship company's office with which he is now connected. It would also appear that Lefroy was lett under the will of his mother a legacy on attaining his 21st birthday. He managed by some means to secure about £l5O of this, with which he made his visit to Australia, and when he attained his majority in February, after bis return to England, he received the balance .ii £5O; and how he could have expended it in the short biine, living in the quiet way he s•,-)arently did, is a matter of puzzle to his relatives. It sr; not thought at all probable that any reply to the memorial will be received until the last moment; but it is said that Sir William Harcourt has already arranged that inquiries should be made as to the mental condition of Lefroy. No further , communications have been received from the condemned ' man by either his solicitor or his relatives. Toe prisoner still continues writing to his friends. Mrs. Cie% ton had another letter from him on Monday couched in much similar terms to those which have already been published. The tollowing extract from a letter of Lefroy'e, written whilst he was lying at hisidstone during the course of the trial, gives a strange insight into his mind at that time. It is addressed to his sister:—" Maidstone, October '3l, 1881.—My dearest M.—Your loving letter received on Saturday. I need hardly say what pleasure it gave me to receive it, or that I was equally sorry you were unable to see me on the above day. About the other matter (taking the sacrament), I can say nothing at present. If I do have it you shall know when. I have no fear whatever of the trial, whatever the result may be. feel as if I were going into a great battle from which by God's grace I may return unharmed. And here in Kly native county of Kent (he was born in Peckham-rye, Surrey), I am waiting the 'issues of life and death.' I have every confidence in my c mnsel. The evidence I shall be able to produce will do much, and believe me, dearest, or not, there is a possibility of the real murderer being arrested, or at least identified before the week jog out, Mention this to no one, not even Dutton, for reasons which he will explain when he kiC 23 you. —With fondest love, Your loving