The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-07-24
A DEPLORABLB ERROR
Committed When the Attorney
Gen'I Took the Times Case.
MR.. GLADSTONE CHAMPIONS
Mr.. Parnelrs Side of the Case-A
Demand For Justice, Which is
Not Respected - bismarck
Dccorated-Forelsn News.

LONDON, July 2S.-In the House oi
Commons to-day Philip Stauhope called
the attention OF the Government TO the
threatening language used by The Crown
counsel before the Coroner at Mitchells.
town and to his charging the court with
pervertipg the inquiry in the Mande-
vile case. Mr.. Stanhope asked whether
the counsel acted so in pursuance Of in
structions from Dublin Castle, and
whether the Government would order
the counsel to assume more respectful
attitude toward the Coroner.
Mr.. Balfour replied that he had no in
formation on the subject, but he be-
lieved that the Crown counsel did not
need any instructions either from him
self or from Mr.. Stanhope. Laughter
and cheers
Mr. Smith moved the second reading
OF the bill dealing with charges and nj
legations against members OF Parliament.
He said tllat the government offered the
commission Of inquiry upon precedcnts.
He considered that commission with
less authority than was proposed would
fail to do justice to all persons concerned.
1t rested with the House to say how
complete the powers OF the commission
ought TO be.
MIR. ParnGll said that he was glad that
Mr.. Smith admitted that it rested with
the House what the powers OF the COM
ought to be. II seemed that
Mr.. Smith had friendly hint from the
counsel Of the Times, in consequence of
which the inquiry was to be extended
not only into his personal conduct, but
into the acts of the League in America,
Ireland and Great Britain. 1t was evil
dent that the case rs regards the forged
letters was going to break down. He
demanded that the Government limit
the scope Of the commission to what
Mr.. Smith originally proposed, namely,
the charges against himself and other
Irish members. 1t would be proved that
each and every one OF those letters was
barefaccd forgery. The allegations
against the League could not come be-
fore the commission rs affecting him.
They were the most cruel and infamous
charges ever made against public man.
He did not suppose that the Times
would have given El, 200 for those for
geries by an ex-Commoner unless they
had been against public man. He
could demonstrate to conviction within |
q week that the letters were forgerics
He had never seen Pat Ford in his life.
AS for the scope Of the inquiry, it would |
be interminable, unless the bill excluded
vague illusions to other persons and
named specifically the commoners
charged. Cheers.
To make the matter judicial, the Gov.
ernment ought to definitely specify the
charges and ought to provide for scru-
tiny OF the documents upon which the
charges were based.
1t was of vital importance TO the Irish |
members TO see these documents before
The Commission began to sit.
Here there was an eXpectant pause,
Turing which calls were made for the
Attorney General. No member of the
government responding, Mr.. Gladstone
surprise that the Government
lid not answer Mr.. Parnell, and declared
here must be an answer. He would |
vote for the second reading OF the bill,
put the issue raised must be considered
1t later stage before the commission
was approved. He was not prepared to
give that unqualified confidence in the
which Mr.. Smith appeared
% entertain. 1t was in the power of the
Government TO make better selection
1f commissioners selection which
would have commanded the warm ac-
from everybody. The Gov
ought TO make definite charges
against definite persons. There ought
10 be no sulking.
Mr.. Parnell demanded an opportunity
10 examine them and must have it in |
order to face the accusation. The Gov
ernment doubtless had right to decline
10 reveal its communication with Attor-
ney General Webster, the counsel for the
Times, but more deplorable error was
never committed than when the Attor-
ney General undertook to conduct the
case of the Times. Unless Mr.. ParnelPs
were conceded the country
would be driven to the conclusion that
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