New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-23
THE PARNELL INQUIRY.
A WEAK OPENING FOR THE TINES
WEBSTER MAKES puLL'
VAGUE AND PRosY PREsENTMENT WITH

wToRNEYGENERAL WEBSTER MAKES puLL'
VAGUE AND PRosY PREsENTMENT WITH
NO POSITIVE STATEMENTS.
London Oct. 23.-The Commission appointed
10 investigate the charges made by The Times
against Irish members of Parliament opened court
at IL o'clock this morning.
Sir Charles Russell, as leading counsel for Mr
Psrnell opened the proceedings by applying 1or
the release from Wexford Prison Of William
Redmond
Justice Hammer, president of the Commission
said the same course would be adopted with
Mr. Redmond as in the case Of John Dillon HIS
release must not be construed to mean that he
had been granted immunity from imprisonment
He would be set free only under strict conditons
These would not allow of his taking any part in
public life, and would compel him to hold him.
self strictly prisoner on parole.
Sir Charles Russell intimated that for the
present he would not insist upon his application
for Mr. Redmond's release.
discussion then ensued upon the length OF
time the court should sit weekly. Counsel for
both sides concurred in proposal to hold sessions
upon four days of each week, but the court
decided to meet every weekday except Satur-
day and asked counsel to expedite the pro-
ceedings.
Attorney General Webster opened the case for
"The Times" He promised to give the court
the fullest information-in The Tmes's" power
regarding the source of the evidence against the
Irish party which The Times" had published.
lie would not treat the case as having anything
TO do with the merits or dement's of Home Rule
or Of any supposed burning Irish question. The
inquiry strictly into the specific charges made
in the O'Donnell action against The Times
and he would be careful not to introduce queS-
tions beyond the charges. The AttOrney-General
then proceeded to review The TimeS's" articles
on Parnenism and Crime" going the old
ground.
1t would be shown said Mr.. Webster, that many
Of the men mentioned in The Timess" partcu-
hrs had personally taken part in crimes OF the
worst kind, while, with scarcely any exception, the
PERSONS mentioned had never denounced outrages or
crimes. Owing TO the failure of the officers Of
the National League to comply with the Commits
SONS order regarding the discovery of bank-bOoks,
The Times'sn counsel had been unable to shape
fheir case as they had expected to. Still, even
without the banl1-books, they would prove that
money had been paid by the League to men ap-
pointed for the actual commission of acts Of
Violence and crimes. Some of the men thus ap-
pointed were connected with the American League,
and some provided with money from funds
leagues existence and since the formation of the
National League Mr.. Parnell and his colleagues
hid been intimately associated with Irish-Ameri-
cans who were advocates of dynamite. Re-
m,rkable evidence would be produced to prove
tbs connection and to show also that extraor-
dilary number of untraced crimes were due to the
incitenent of the League.
Referring to letters duplicating Mr.. Parnell and
others in crime, Mr.. Webster promised to pro-
duce hfore the Commission all the letters which
had ben nSyAAoned in the trial of the O'Donnell
case. lc then went to recount the history
Of the leagues connection with agrarian agita
tions ant showed how they were related to Fenian-
ism. He recited instances were Davitt, Dewey,
Walsh, Egan, Brennan and Matthew Harris had
held communication with the Parnellite party. and
declared hat they were linked to that party by
common ans and interests.
Here ecess was taken for luncheon. When
the court reassembled the Attorney General
sumed, quitting from speeches of Nationalist
leaders mad from the year S79 onwards
When the court adjourned for the day, Mr..
Webster was apparently only small way ad-
vanced in tie presentation of his case. The
vagueness and general character of his statements
left an impression that The Times" has no abb
solute legal pDof Of the truth of its charges.
Instead Of producing evidence that Mr.. Parnell
and his associates accompces, before or after
the fact, with &e Phoenix Park murderers. he
will attempt to justify THE Times s. accusa-
tions by ralxng lp outrages attributed to men,
bers of the League and trying to connect them
with the Parnelite. Mr.. Webster seemed to be
hampered by dreaC of computing himself beyond
the most cautious statement lie spoke in his
worst form, pressing along in dreary monotone,
without the least display Of rhetoric There was
an utter absence of points in his statement and
his exposition OF " The Times's' case gen
orally disconnected one.
The courtroom well filed. but was not
over-crowded. Perfect order prevailed. The
general public was not admitted Mr. Parnell
and numerous other Nationalist members of Parlia-
ment were present