New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-01
BIGGAR AT CUPID'S SHRINE.
MISS HYLAND DESCRIBES HIS coURTsH1p-
EGAN

PARIS. March 10.
case of Hyland VS.. Biggar She has aged fen vears
snce she took the action. For the whole world she
says. she would not undergo again what she has
experienced since she took legal proceedings. The
best thing about them is in her opinion that thew
are over Her story was simple and straightfor.
ward. It was confirmed by evidence which 7
greatly regret was not produced before Lord Cola
ridge and the jury that awarded her the f4O0 dam
ages. Her attorney instructed her to submit 70
him any letters which had been addressed to her by
Mr. Biggar' She did not, however, place in his
hands Photographic carte of her false-hearted and
caddish suitor, on the back of which was written .
ITO Darling Fan, with 10000 loves and kisses
from J. G. B." The neglect to produce this niece de
conricion speaks volumes for the simplicity of Miss
Hyland.
III is clear that the NJ p for Cavan meant to
sponge" on the Hyland sisters and their aunt
These amiable and estimable spinsters have no
more idea of the world beyond their own narrow
sphere than had Miss Pyncheon in Tho House of
the Seven Gables" II was Mr.. Patrick Egan the
treasurer of the Land League, who melted Miss
Fanny 10 seek for damages in an English court of
law. He volunteered. when she was Tilted to stand
TO her in lieu of father and demonstrated with
Bggar on his cruel behavior toward her.
Mr.. Egan was mpelled. have no doubt, by
sentiment of generous pity for three harmless
unprotected, and inoffenslve ladies who had been
rrcyed upon by rich and vulgar cynic. But in
standing up for them the treasurer of the Land
League did not properly estimate bis own weakness
OF the strength of Carey's revelations which, it ap-
Iears compromising for him. He did not dare
appear before the London tribunal. 1 was shown
two letters of his stating what evidence he had
given in Dublin 10 Mr.. Meldon, NJ. p, the Irish
partner of Miss FanDy's solicitor. His testimony,
sict was fpchn IL 4ba
son who gave it did not enter the witness-box
showed knowledge of a matrimonial engagement,
and that it was known of from conversations
with Blggar Egan impressed me on the two oc-
casicns on which saw him last year as being a
man of amiable disposition and native refinement,
but devoid of breeding and backbone. Had he
appeared in court the letters speak of would have
cnched the action.
Some of his motives for keeping back
will be obvious to those who have watched
he development of the Kilmainham af-
fair. But told there was a hidden motive.
Biggar is a sort of Quilp. He was the Mephistophe-
les of the Land League Treasurer, whom he fire.
gUonty urged TO send money to scoundrels in Ire
land, and accompanied to the bankers If evidence
had been given in Miss Hyland's favor, the NJ. P.
for Cayan would, it Is surmised, have wreaked
terrible vengeance.
Bggar never rpoke of marriage before Miss
Hylands relations But he acted as If there had
been matrimonial engagement Miss Elizabeth
Hanbury, the aunt of the plaintiff, having fine
sense of proprety, objected to the familiarity of
Biggar, because she said it not justified by an
outspoken engagement. She expressed uneasness
to an Irish priest who treasured her by saying that
Biggar was highly honorable, and had because per-
shaded that the Catholic faith alone was true. re-
nounced Professionalism and became a devout
yIo hoxyay
peevish and if there any sign given that he
was mistrusted would break off the engage
ment The best way to hold him to show
the utmost confidence in his honor, and almost
to take for granted that his word was sacrament
al pledge There is no doubt that Mr. Egan took
manly and generous vf'w OF the case. But there
are, alas few human beings endowed with the
grace of martyrdom, ant the treasurer OF the Land
League knew that Bid mr. was perverse, vengeful,
and an utter cad.
When Egan. after beiag cited as a witness, failed
TO appear Mr. Clarke fAe advocate for the plaintiff,
said to her: "You have nothing to go upon. Big
Gar never spoke of marriage before your aunt and
sister. He led them to think he " engaged. but
that was not enough" After the LoTd Chief Justice
summed up Mr. Clarke whispered to his
client: "When ] expected Mr.. Egan your case
was worth CT 900. would not now give two pence
half-renny for it, Mr.. Bradlausb howev er, was of
q different opinion He said to Miss Mary Hyland,
beside whom he sat-: "Biggar has cut his own
throat. The jury will award you all the damages
they reasonably can
If the Hyands had not paid Miss fannys attor-
ney all the costs in advance, the action, after Mr.
Ecan declined to appear would have been dropped.
But they could lose nothing more by going on, and
as the Member of Parliament for Cavan
had spoken in the most offensive manner
to several of his Home Rule colleagues
OF bis ex-fancee she thought she might at least
prevent her fair fame from being furnished. On
the score Of good repue she was extremely sensl-
tive Her heart she said, was fairly broken III two
when she was informed of the odious things which
mad been said of her by the man who had so often
called her his darling" She, therefore. decided
that she could not do better than go If Biggar
was not punished, she at least would, she felt, be
yindicated The suspicious eye and severe manner
of the Judge greatly distressed her. But she fet
that some of the jurors regarded her with
paternal kindness. If 1t had not been
for this she must have broken down. Biggar almost
inundated her counsel by saying aloud 10 his own
attorney that lie would disgrace Miss Fanny when
IL was his turn to give evidence. Mr. Sexton came
as q witness. But after the failure of Egan TO
appear, Mr. Clarke did not dare to rely upon the
testimony of that NJ. p, even to put him forward
1t was noticed that he seemed to fear BigGar who
"sniggered" defantly at him.
asked Miss Fanny Hyand how it was that she
and her sister fell in with the Home Rule set OF NJ
P's when they were here TO avoid prosecution last
year She answered: Through Mr.. Egan. whom
/ had met at eaparty at the house Of certain
Madame Rouyer."
"Is it strictly true" / inquired, THAT you
did not know at the beginning of the court
ship what Mr.. Biggars position was ~ Nothing
ever vas truer. We never read newspaper and
were in complete ignorance of what had been going
n, in Parliament In general sort of way we