The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-10-23
IRISH CRIME.
Opening Session of the Par
nell Commission.
VERY rsDEFrsrrE cHaRsEs.
Attorney General Webster Begins a
six-Day speech. omitting TO Men
tian the Ph9nix Park Murders
He Promises to Prove a Great
Deal about The Leagues.

LoSDox. Oct 22-The commission ar-
pointed 10 investigate the charges made Ay
the TfsHes against Irish members OF paflia-
Inent, opened its hearing this faerains.
eir Charles Russell. leading counsel for
Psrneil. applied for the release from wex-
ford prison of William Eeamend- Justice
Hssnsz. president OF the commission, said
the sane course woHld be adopted with
Redmond ss in the case Of John Dillon.
His release must rof be construed to mean
thai be had been granted immunity fnom
imprisonment. lie would be set free only
under strict conditions. Taese would no:
allow his taxing part in public life. and
would compel him to hold himself strictly
a prisoner On parole.
Sir Charles Russell iatimated that for
the present be would not Insist npoE his
application for Redm0Rds release.
A discussion then ensHed upon the
length OF time the court should sit weekly.
Counsel for both sides coneurred in the
proposal 10 held sessions four days each
week, bat the court decided 20 meet every
wes ksiay except saturday, and asked
counsel 70 expedite proceedings.
Attorney -tienersi Webster opened the
ease for the Tiaes. He promised - give
the casrt the fullest Information in the
fElss' power regarding the Sourcc OF evil
eenee against the Irish party which the
Tfnss published. He would not treat the
case as having anything 10 DO with the
merits OF dement's of home rale, or any
supposed burning Irish question. The in
quiry ; as strictly into the specific charge
made in o'Doaneifs action against the
Tsasss. aud he would Be earesn. not
70 Introduce questions beyosd the charges
IL wOald be shown, said Webster, that
many Of the men in the TINES particulars
have personally taken part in crime Of the
worst kind, while with sesFcely any ex-
ception the persons mentioned had never
denounced oGiTages or crimes. Owing 20
the failure OF the officers of the National
Leagae to comply with the commissions
order regarding the discovery Of bank
books, the Iinscs' counsel had been unable
TO shape their case as they expected. Siiil
even without the bank books they would
prove that money had been paid by the
league To men appointed for the aetual
commission of aeis of violence sad crime.
A few Of the men thus employed were con-
nected with the American league and pro
yided with money from funds obtained in
Ireland From the outset of the
Land Leagues existence, aud since
the formation OF the National League,
Parnell and colleagues had been Intimately
associated with Irish Americans who were
advocates of dynamite. Remarkable evil
dence would DC produced TO prove this con
neetioa, aud 10 show also that extraordi-
NARY ltmbcfS NI unuACeu crimes were Que
to the Indictment of the leagues.
Referring 10 the letters alleged 10 impli.
cate Parneil aud ethers in crimes. Webster
promised 20 produce before the commmis-
sion all the letters which had been men
toned In the trial of o'Donnell's case He
then recouuted his story of the leagues
connection with agitators and showed how
they were related to Fenianism. He re-
cited instances where Dayitt. Dewey,
welch, Egau, Brennan and Matthew Har-
ris had held communication with the Par
nellite party and declared they were linked
to that party by common Interests aud
arms. The attorney general quoted from
speeches of Nationalist leaders from the
year 1879 ouwer1s.
When the court adjourned for the day
Webster was apparently only a small way
advanced IN the presentation of his case.
The yagueness OF the general character OF
his statements left the impression that the
Times has 10 obsoiute proof of the truth OF
lis charges. Instead Of producing evidence
that Parnell and his associates were accom-
plices before OF after the fact with the Pho
nix park murderers, he viii attempt to ias-
tify the accusations by raking up oufrages
attributed 10 members Of the league. and
trying 10 connect them with the Parnell-
ties.
The general public was not admitted
Parne1 and numerous other Nationalist
members of Parliament were present