The Poole Telegram. — 1882-03-24 (Poole, Dorset, England)

THE CONVICT LAMSON.  Lamson was visited on Monday by his aged father, who remained some time in the cannemned cell. The culprit made no a lusion to h a crime. In health he is much improved, though at night he is restless and disturbed. Lamson is never left without two warders in his room, and he conversnii very little. He was engaged writing letters, chiefly of a business cuaracter, and in reading devotional works placed at his disposal by the chaplain. Mrs. Lamson visited her husband on the some day, accompanied by a friend. She is still satisfied of the convict's innocence, and his friends are energetically working to prove toe morbid state of his mind for same mouths past. The memorial to be sent to toe Home Secretary will be confined ctuefly to the fact that he has always shown a disposition to exaggerate, and since he commenced the use of morphia ne has been altogether unaccountable for his actions. Mr. Mills, solicitor to the condemned man, visited Lamson in the evening at Wandsworth. He found him quite calm, and able to talk of business affairs, but occasionally he seemed to wander from the subject of conversation to some different topic. There is no doubt he fully realises his dreadful position, and in reply to a question put to him he said he had no fear for himself, but he thought much more for his relatives. Mr. A. W Mill, the convict's solicitor, continues to receive many letters, particularly from medical men, relative to the action of morphia on the human body. Yesterday morning several gentlemen called upon him to make suggestions with reference to the memorial to the Home Secretary which is now in course of preparatom. One gentleman came from Bournemouth, where he knew the prisoner intimately, and has made a statement to toe effect that he had per. sonally, while in his company, seen him inject m irphia into his arms as often as twenty times a day. He also states that the convict's friends there never believe I a word of the stories he told, because, knowing his habits so well, they regarded him as Etufferiog from a disordered brain. ".o many statements prejudicial to the condemned man Lamson have been puuliehed day after day that it is only right that any authenticated testimony on the other side showd have the widest paulimay. All the world knows that this man hams oeen freely charged with using sham titles, sham decorations, sham cheques, and that there is too much reason to believe that there is good foundation for these allegations. Au anonymous letter, on the other hand, WWI published, written by one who had known laim during the RussoTurkish War, speaking in the highest manner of Lauaeon's courage and numanity. That testimony is ! now confirmed by an officer who declares that he owes his life to Lamson's no wearied care and disinterested kindness. Captain Sainsbury's letter is most emphatic. Hs first made Dr. Lameou'a acquaintance in the Servian War in 1876, and the following year, when Captain Sainsbury was sent from Plevna to Bucharest, apparently dying of fever, Dr. Lamson was untiring in hie exertione on behalf of his friend, and actually re.,  fused to receive any recompense for his services. Captain Salusbury's letter is hardly likely to convince any one that Lawson could not have committed the crime of which he stands c envicted ; there have been murderers not a few whose earlier record has shown acts of courage, gentlengss, and self-denial. Lamson is not the first man wlfo has faced the dangers and hardships of a campaign, and yet could not face poverty without f alli rig into crime. In one way, however, the letter of Captain Sainsbury may be ueeful to these who ara now seeking to obtain a reprieve for the condemned man. They allege that Lamson's mind had been impaired by the constant use of morphia. If they can prove that this drug has the effect which they ascribe to it, their idea will be fortified by the proofs given that only six years ago the conduct of Lams Jll at the seat of war was such as entitled him to the esteem, not of those who owed their lives to his care, hut of world . large."—Echo. A write a a London contemporary on the defence of Lams oar •—" Not disputing, or desiring to dispute, V • be verdict against Lamson yet it is noti tact • _hat he, being an American, was not batter . iefeude.- iy a British b irrister. The defence had r e,ther Bu ; ddness nor oritinality required by the