The sun., 1888-11-01
CAPT. O'SHEA ON THE STAND.
HE POSES GRACEFULLY AND MAKES
A VOLUBLE WITNESS.

CottrtohL less, bV THE Sun Printing dnd Publishing
Assocfdtioa
LONDON, Oct. 31.-Rumors current last
night that Capt. OShea, formerly Mr.. Parnells
personal friend and one OF his political follow
ers. would be called to the stand brought early
into court Parnell and all the big people on
both sides, and attracted a crowd which filed
the court and blocked the corridors. The
rumors proved correct The Attorney General
explained that O'Shea had to 20 to Spain forth
with. and after protest from Sir Charles Rus
sell the witness entered the box. Capt. O'Shea
is big man. almost too dudclke for his size.
and with decided dash OF the stage tenor but
withal not unpleasant to look upon. His first
care was to pose himself against the side Of
the stand. fix neglige smile upon his face. and
stare at the counsel. His whole attitude SO
ludicrously suggested photographers studio
that everybody in court Uttered except the
Judges and the Times people. The latter cast
fierce looks at the mirthful ones, whose merri-
ment was evidently considered nearly akin to
sacrege.
The witness, examined by the Attorney
General. gave tho history OF the famous Kill
mainham negotiation, with which politicians
| by this time are well acquainted. To the peo-
| pie in court the chief novelties were OShea's
| vanity and self-complacency which positively
| exudeDfro him at the least provocation. He
| spoke OF Cabinet Ministers as though they
were his boon companions. and seemed inca
! pable Of realizing that the part he played was
that OF n humble Intermediary.
Apart from his efforts to demonstrate his own
importance, O'Shea's chief anxiety appeared to
be to create discord between Parnell and his
political associates. According to the witness,
| Parnell was in the habit of speaking sighting
| ly Of his closest friends, and OF engaging in
important political transactions without their
knowledge. Davitt, Biggar, Healy, and the
other 1rishmen in court did not seem to be
much impressed by the revelations OF ParnelPs
tergiversation. They regarded 1t. in truth.
| as q capital joke. laughed as heartily as
! the decorum OF tho court would per-
init. and beamed friendship and conf
| dence at their leader, who sat among them
| and for a moment joined in the fun. There
was cause for their light for be-
fore O'Sheas examination had concluded the
Attorney-General had established out of the
mouth of his own witness that Parnel did not.
| as the Times people and the Tories generally
| have all along contended. make an uncondi-,
! tional promise to put down the outrages He
| undertook to use his influence for that pur
pose. but always with the understanding ex-
! pressed as we'll as implied that the task would
be facilitated by passing the bill wping out
| two-thirds OF the arrears OF rent due to land
| ords by tenants who were almost hopelessy
| insolvent. Thanks to the hereditary chamber
OF landownng peers. that bill never became
law. The best men Of all parties now admit
that the proposed relief was Just and polite.
but it has been left to William O'Brien and his
plan Of campaign to compel the landlords to
grant it.
Webster would not allow his pet witness to
| leave the box without expressing an opinion
| upon the forged letters. OShea professed re-
luctance. but finally. after q hasty glance. pro-
I nounced the signatures those OF Parnell.
Sir Charles Russell then entered upon the
difficult task OF cross-examinng the witness at
short notice. Very interesting were some OF
the points elected. In the direct examination.
Joseph Chamberlain made frequent appear
ances as the friend of Parnel and Ireland and
bold reformer prepared to strike at tho very
! roots of lreland's misery. In the crOss-eX-
animation the right honorable renegade fig
ured as the jackal OF the Times and their inter-
mediary through whom important witnesses
were approached with view to obtain evidence
against Parnell 1t was Chamberlain who Sc
cured O'Shea and handed him over to Editor
Buckle OF the Times and his friends.
They banquetted him. introduced him
to great people. and generally made
much of him At the festive board the means
by which the forged letters and other docu-
ments were obtained was discussed with vary
| ing degrees Of freedom. At first il was a State
secret. Later. names were whispered among
others those OF one Pigott. formerly Nation
alist newspaper proprietor in Dublin, and Philip
Calan whilom Nationalist member for Louth.
| 1t further appeared that at the time O'Shea
was not too great man to meet Irish Fenians
| and Irish-American dynamitards in taverns,
and it was made reasonably clear that his de-
scent from the gided saloons to pothouses was
tol.a In, into ltu oft
The most important OF the witnesses state
ments was made toward the close OF the cross
examination, when Sir Charles Russell. press
! ing for information as to the documentary
evidence relating to the Kilmainham negotia-
tions received the startling reply that the doc
uments had been burnt because witness un-
derstood through Sir William Harcourt that
Mr.. Gladstone desired it, The picture of the
Grand Old Man and his first lieutenant en-
gagged In a conspiracy with Capt. OShea, set
most people In court laughing heartily. and
the merrment reached climax when the wit
moss proudly mentioned that he had once been
spoken OF as Chief Secretary for Ireland In
succession to grim old Forster
The cross-examination concluded abruptly.
O'Shea WAS succeeded in the witness box by
Police Reporter Irwin. whereat seven-eighths
OF the audience fed from court and Judge
Smith composed himself for II nap.
By The Associated IreSs.
| Can't O'Shea testified that lie had been on
good terms with Nj. Parnell until June, 1886.
| At Mr.. Parnels request. In June, 1851 lie had
| communicated with Mr. Gladstone. The COM
munications were made without the knowledge
know Patrick Egan, nor did he have any knowl-
edge of what Egan was doing in 1881. Mr..
| Parnell told him that Egan did not know about
the negotiations, with the Government until
Commons on May 1G, 1882. Mr. Parnell then
spoke to him OF the awkward positio he was
| placed In by Mr. Gladstones speech and told
how the speech had ANNOYED EGan and l, others.
Mr.. Parnell and Mr.. Dillon were IN Kilmain-
ham Jail. Mr. Egan was then in Paris.
| The first proposals that the witness made to
the Goyernment, IN 1889 1889 were offered without
munications from certain members OF the Gov
ernment replying to the proposals When MIR.
Parnell was released from Kilmainham the
witpess told him Of the position q the ne
and 1t was arranged that any answer that he
might make should be sent to Mr.. Parnell at
Parnell. who RESPONDED, In April, 1882. Mr.
| Parnel on returning from Paris saw Mr.
| Gladstone. and afterwarl conferred with