The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-26 00:00:00

E VEIN 'irIIBRIIARY 2, 1858

THW CHARGE AGAINST MR. ISAAC

BUTT, M.P.

(PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE.
[The following appeared in our late edition of last
evening
The committee for investigating the charges in th•
petition of Mr. Coffey against Mr. Isaac Butt re-assem-
bled this morning at 12 o'clock in No. 18, Committee-
room.

Mr. Roebuck, in answer to a question put by the
Chairman, said be proposed to-day to call Mr. James
Coffey, one of the brothers of the last witness, and Mrs.
Parr, the lady whose name was so frequently mentioned
yesterday. To-morrow he should call Mr. Ternon
Smith, :LP., Mr. Mangles, and Sir J. W. Hogg.
Mr. Deasy having bean informed that the committee
would sit on Saturday, said he should examine Mr.
Butt on that day.

Mrs. Parr, examined by Mr. Roebuck—l am married.
My husband is, I believe, now in Hanwell, and I believe
seriously ill. I should have gone to see him, but I
thought it would seem as if I wished to avoid being
examined if I was not present this morning. I know
the brother of Mr. James Coffey, he introduced me to
Mr. Edward. I know hie Highness Ali Moorad.
I live in Bond-street, and I obtain my
living by trafficking in opera boxes. Mr. Coffey used to
obtain boxes for his highness, and I also executed several
commissions for his highness. He used to come to
my house, as also used Mr. Batt. The only time I heard
anything relative to Ali Moorad, was one evening in an
opera box, and my opinion was asked about the advi-
sability of the journey. I said I was not in a position to
give any opinion. I was also present at a conversation
that took place one evening at my house. Mr. Butt
Paid, in the eveat of a certain despatch being obtained
from the Board of Control, he should go to
India and return a rich man. I am certain this
conversation occurred in the month of July or the
beginning of August, 1857. I never went to Paris at
the will,' of Ali Moorad. I went there on my way to
Germany to find a college at which I could place my
children. I travelled to Paris by myself. While in
Paris I resided in the same hotel as theAmeer, but in a
different part. . fter stopping a few days in Paris the
Ameer expressed a wish as I was going to Vienna that
I should travel with him in order that the journey might
be shortened by playing chess. When I arrived at 'Vienna
I occupied apartments of my own in a hotel. The Ameer
also resided at the same place. While in -Vienna
I recollect several persons coming to see the Ameer.
The Chamberlain of the King of Sweden called upon me
in reference to the affairs of the Ameer. On returning
to England I heard that a telegram had been sent to
lir. T. Smith aspersing my character. I received a
letter from Mr. V. Smith's eon, stating that nothing
had been said about the telegram, and remarking,
"If I can be of any service to you in this matter let
me know." (The chairman and the members of
the committee were of opinion that this sentence
was in a different handwriting from the body of
the letter.) I recollect a conversation taking
place there between myself and Mr. Elliot. Mr.
Coffey was present. I also recollect a conversation
between Mr. Elliot and Mr. Coffey about India. I
never heard Mr. Coffey say that on the arrival of the
Ameer in India, he would join the strongest party if
he got to Bombay during the insurreotion. I might
have used that expression myself. I have also a recol-
lection of an interview with Sir Hamilton Seymour,
during which Sir Hamilton Seymour told me
that Mr. Butt had told hies that Mr. Coffey was
a libeller, and that he was determined to hunt him
down. I have never heard that I had been introduced
as Mrs. Coffey until this moment. I had heard I
had been spoken of in a telegraphic despatch as Mrs.
Coffey, the Ameer having, it was said, come to the con-
clusion that the lady he had seen in Mr. Coffey's apart-
ment was his wife. I travelled by the same conveyance
as the Ameer to Frankfort. We arrived there on a
Sunday, and left the following Thursday. Ali Moorad
never seemed annoyed at our stay in Vienna. He
appeared 'vexed when Mr. Coffey wished to push on.
He, in fact, wanted to remain. In the course of my
journey to Vienna I wrote to Mr. Coffey, requesting tc
see him, as I thought it was not right that he should go
away with aspersions resting on him of which he was
unoceut.

Mr. Deasy--I shall not proceed into the cross-exami-
nation of the witness, but I request that Mirza Ali
A.khbar, an agent of the Lmeer in England, should be
called to translate two letters written is Persian by the
A.meer, one datel from Paris and the other Trieste,
during his outward journey to India.
Meer Alt Akhbar then produced two letters, both
of which he said were written by the Ameer to him. The
first one read was dated from Paris. It complained of
the great expenses of the hotel, which be said had already
cost him 2,000 rupees. It directed that the money might
be got from the'Mercantile Bank. That the hotel bills
would be transmitted to bim from Cairo, in order to
ascertain whether that son of Satan (Coffey) who was
detaining him had robbed him. The letter concluded
by stating that " the bastard " would rob him on the
road.

Mr. Roebuck—How do youeouthenticate this letter
Witness—By the envelope.
Mr. Roebuck—But that is no proof that this letter
(holding up the paper) came in this envelope. There is
no seal or anything on the letter to prove its authenticity.
Sir J. Graham —Do you know the Pereian characters
of the Anseer
Witness—l do.
Sir J. Grabara—You have no doubt about it 1
Witness—None whatever.
Mr. Bright—ls it not the custom. to affix a seal or to
make the last mark on a letter 1
Witness—Not on letters. It is, on agreements.
Mr. Sidney Herbert—You have rot read the whole of
the latter. It is written on both. sides
Witness--I did not observe it..
The room was then ordered, to be cleared. On the
re-admission of the public the witness was then re-called
and read the remaining p. irtion of the letter. The
A.meer went on to say that it was of the utmost im-
nortance that he should reiseive the money, and that
be would send it back
'letter was addressed iu
tEthnregonuligshhh.ehaisrriave gdentast. Born} ay
Mr. Roebuck—Who addressed that letter /
Witness—l don't knem. It was addressed to me by
the Ameer through Vae Mercantile Bank as he did not
know my address. The seal was the Amer's.
The second letter was then read, it was to the follow-
ing effect :
"Before this I sent you a letter from Paris, and in that
letter I explained to you the circumstances of the bad
devil,the villeny of this accursed
Up
to this day I have received no
received
o
ve d i t through.
n my
However this is the circum-
stances conductv;
oeofpf
net thin,tbo l ar
ppe
place.
arrival at Paris I told him
to prepare to proceed to-morrow morning. He told use
he was sick, and made many excuses. He kept me in
Paris four or five days, and then we left Paris. In every
stage he makes many excesses and pretences. At some
places he kept me four or Eve days, and in another place
he kept use six days, and all. for no benefit. I arrived at
Trieste on the 21st. On my arrival ehe boat had started
for Alexandria. Another boat may go in fifteen days.
That is doubtful. I may g'o or I may not go. At other
times he makes other excueiew, and tells me I must get
my Minister,
Ali Akhbar, to send me on to Bombay.
At other times he tells rem the English Governmeat
have ordered me to go to Scinde. Sometimes he tells
me Mr. Butt is coming, and that I had better wait for
him. There is no one here who understands my lan-
guage. This is the fount h day I have been at Trieste.
You know that Mr. Vert son Smith has told me to go
quick, but lam kept here like a prisoner. I am per-
fectly helpless. God knows for what purpose this son
of Satan detains me."
The translation of the time° letters, with the originals,
wow, after some converes tion, ordered to be sent to Mr.
Prinsep, a director of the Ea.t India Company, in ore], r
to ascertain if the witness had translated them correctly.
In answer to Mr. Roebuck, the witness stated that
he was not on the beat t ermr. with Mr. Coffey. This
circumstance arose from the disrespectful way in which
Mr. C,)ffey had treated flee Ameer. The first time he
knew there were money transactions between Mr. Coffey
and the Ameer was when the Anwar showed him an
account ; and when he stoked Mr. Coffey for particulars,
be gave the most unsatisfactory answers.
Mrs. Parr, oross.examined by Mr. Deasy--I have
sceu Mr. Butt five or six times—tour times in 1857 I
have a perfect recollection of. It was at my own
house. On the second occasion I was speaking
to a gentleman in my drawing room when Mr.
Butt, M.r. Irving, and Mr. Coffey entered. La cones-
quencu of that circumstance Mr. Batt received an
invitation to that gentleman's house. The name of the
gentleman I allude to is Sir Alexander Cockburn. Sir
Alexander never expressed to me any opinion about the
AlneeriB loyalty. Mr. Coffey was on the same terms of
intimacy with me as any other member of my family.
He used to cal). at my house daily. It was very seldom
he supped there. The Ameer used also to corns frequently
to my house.. He wee in the habit of taking opera boxes
from me. I remained in Frankfort three days. It was
there I heord Mr. Coffey frequently urge the Ameer to
go on. Mr. Coffey spoke in Hindostanee. What he
said to the Ameer I did not understand, bat it was
translated to me by an interpreter. Ido not think I
should be much surprised if the Arneer com•
plained of Mr. Coffey detaining him on his
journey, as I had reason to believe that the Ameer
was not sincere. His pantomime was perfect.
He could -readily make persona understand him. I
should doubt his sincerity to his agent. If the agent
was the person I mean. I should think it was very
likely he would deceive him—especially if it was Ali
Mirza. I sent for Ali Mize on Thursday. last,
and he called upon me relative to an opera-box,
for which the Ameer was indebted. At that in-
terview he told me that Mr. Coffey had told such
stories as to constantly keep him in hot water. My object
in going to Sir H. Seymour was to relieve myself from
the aspersion thrown upon ray character in connection
with the charge of Mr. Coffey. I was anxious the ex-
posure should not take place. I have seen Mr. Roebuck
twice. It was r coy own house mid once at his. I might