Evening journal., 1888-10-23
THE BATTLE BEGUN.
Mr. Parnell Faces The Times
Accusations.
WEBsTER's OPENING SPEECH
Parnen Early ON Hand. Looking Cheerful
but Pale-IIis Adherents smiIIng--sh
Webster Outlines The Times Case-I
win BE Long and Tedious.


Webster Outlines The Times Case-I
win BE Long and Tedious.
LONDON, Oct. 23-The probate court room
in the law courts was completely filled With
spectators long before Justices Hannah, Day
and Smith, who constitute the Parnell in
quiry commission, were <~sdy to begin th,
work Of ascertaining wht.sser the Parnellite
are bad men or whether The Times has told
stories about them which Il cannot prove.
Nearly all the spectators were representatives
At the press, ANA among them were many
AIgericans
Mr.. Parnell was early IN the court room
and he appeared as cheerful as IL be hadn'
any personal interest in the proceedings
Save that he was slightly pale, he was appar
emily in good health. He was dressed in
plain business suit. His entrance caused
stir, and everybody got on his feet TO get
glimpse OF him. Tie was surrounded by hi
adherents, none Of whom appeared to ht
nervous, and many Of whom were inclined "a
smile, as the proceedings went on, at what
they considered the weakness Of Attorney
General Websters speech.
AT II o'clock the three justices composin,
the commission marched slowly into th,
N--N 9tN- Ahf'iA tAt'A itANAAH AiltNn AHNl
We're arrayed in wigs and gowns. accordina
70 the custom governing the attire OF high
Judicial officers throughout England. The
usual formalities Of opening court were oh
served, and then tho justices took their seats
aud the session was opened.
At the outset, Sir Charles Russell ia,
leading counsel for Mr. Parnell, applied fol
the release from Wexford prison OF Mr. WIN
lam Redmond whose evidence, he said, was
necessary to his clients side Of the case
Justice Hannah, president OF the commits
sion, said the same course would be adoptee
with Mr.. Redmond as in the case OF Mr.
John Dillon. His release must not be con.
strued TO mean that he had been granted
immunity from imprisonment He would be
set frse only under strict conditions Tnesa
would not allow Of his taking any part il
public life and would compel him 10 hole
himself strictly prisoner on parole
Sir Charles Russell intimated that for the
present he would not insist upon his applica.
tion for Mr.. Redmond's release.
Pre.iminaries having been attended to
Attorney General Webster began the open
ing address in behalf Of The Times. II,
promised To give the fullest information re
garding the source Of the evidence against
the Irish party which The Times had pub
lished He would not treat the case as hay
ing anything TO do with the merits or de
merits Of home rule or Of any supposed burning
Irish question. The inquiry, as he understood
il, was strictly into the specific charges made
IN the O'Donnell action against The Times
and he would be careful not to introduce
questions beyond the charges
The attorney general then proceeded Il
review The Times articles on "Parnellisu
and Crime, going over the old ground. n
would be shown, he said, that many of the
persons named in The Times bill OF particu.
lars had personally taken part in crimes OF
the worst kind, and that money had been
paid 10 persons appointed to the actual com
mission Of violence and crimes From the
time OF the formation Of the Land league. M
declared, Mr.. Parnell and his colleagues ha,
been intimate with the Irish American advo
Gates Of dynamite
Mr. Webster promised to produce all tho
letters mentioned in The Times O'Donnell
case. He recounted the history of the leagues
agraraian agitations and attempted to show
their relation TO Fenianisn
When the commission adjourned Mr. Web
ster had apparently gone only little way
into his case, and his speech promises to oc
cupy several days