The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-09-18
The Famous "Parnellism and
Crime" Cases.
THE INVESTIGATION OPENED.
The Commission Appointed by Par-
Lament Has Its First
Sitting.

members of the House of Commons,
opened this morning.
Representatives of the press occupied
the bulk of the space, 200 reporters rep
resenting provincial, London and Amer
lean newspapers being present.
Judges Hammer, Smith and Day COM
pose the Commission. Sir Charles Rus
sell and Herbert Henry Asquith,
liberal member of Parliament) ap
peared for Parnell and Ruegg for
.0'Donnell, while Graham and Attor-
nev-General Webster appeared for the
Times.
JUDGE HAMMER SAID
the Commission were directed to in
uuire into the charges made against
certain members of the House and other
persons, in connection with O'Donnell
and the Times action. The Commission
held the inquiry should be restricted to
the charges made and the cause of that
action. Parliament also gave them, in
addition TO their powers, all the powers
vested in the judges of the high courts
of Justice. They proposed, in the first
instance, to make the inquiry as though
il were an issue between O'Donnell and
the Times, reserving to themselves the
power to call anybody who might be
able to throw light on the issues in
voIyed. The inqui ~ would be carried
on in accordance with the rules OF or
binary courts.
Application was made for permission
for the representation of Scotland Yard
by counsel. Judge Hammer said he
\
were found that the inquiry involved
the police.
Sir Charles Russell demanded that he
be allowed to inspect the letters and
photographs bearing on the case and
that the Commission issue for the dis
covery OF the documents upon the au-
thority which the Times charges were
made. He asked that commission be
appointed to take evidence in the United
States and that an order be issued re-
leasing Dillon from jail SO he might
give testimony before the Commission.
He wanted especially to see the Egan-
Harris letter, which he claimed was a
forgery.
Council for the Times agreed to pro-
duce certain letters but objected to the
Commission issuing an order for the
discovery of documents.
PARNELL ENTERED
this court room while the discussion
concerning the production of the let
tiers was proceeding.
Sir Charles Russell said be did
not care to confne his applica-
ton to tive letters. He wanted to
inspect all the letters and documents
referred to in the articles on "Parnell
ism and Crime"
Judge Hammer stated that he had moi
read them, and said counsel must In
form the court what were necessary sc
az to guide them.
Sir Charles stated to the court that
enc of the many charges published II
the Times was that certain Parnellite
members of the House were connected
with an illegal association and were
sharers in the crime Of murder. AL
the alleged proof of this charge was 8
letter, in which Parnell approved Of 8
fund, meaning an assassination fund
Judge Hammer said the Times would
produce all the letters and document:
affecting Parnell and Others against
whom it brought charges. II the parties
could not agree as to the productlon o
papers, the Commission would dea
with disputed points in chambers after
wards.
GRAHAM OPENED THE CASE
Tor the Times. After.a review of tn
HParnellism and Crime" articles, hi
said it was now asked that the Time
should state where it received its infor
nation, but, if it divulged its source O
information, the object IF the Commits
sion might be defeated and its inquisi
torial character lost.
Sir Charles Russell insisted that th,
case should not proceed until the Com
mission decided the question as to thu
production of all documents IN posses
sion Of the Times.
The Judges adjourned to chambers t
consider the question. In short time
the Commission returned to the court
room and Judge Hammer asked if TIL
Commission thought they had jurisdic
ton TO order the discovery of the docu
ments, and asked what restrictions Sll
Charlea Russell would claim.
Sir Charles stated that he wanted tt
know, in plain language, if the Time
charged Parnell or his associates will
completely in the Park murder.
Graham replied that the Times would
produce evidence to substantiate al
the charges it made in its articles Of
"Parnellism and Crime"
The Commission again returned t.
deliberate.
On resuming the sitting, Judge Han
nen said the Commission, having cor
sidered the question as to whether
was empowered to order the discover
of the documents. it was of the opinio
that it had the power to dir st sue
discovery. The Commission won tax
upon itself the right to consider wha
documents would be right for 81
Charles Russell's clients to inspect
The court thought the details of th
Times accusations ought to be given
the court had determined, after
thorough inquiry into it, to follow
out to the end.
Graham. for the Times, made no OF
lection to Dillon 8 release on bail. 3
said two persons now in penal seryitud