Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-24
The Par0el1 COmmissiOn.
ORIGIN or tn. GREAT TRIAL NOW IN PROGRESS IN
LONDON.

The Parnell C0mmissiOn.
ORIGIN or TIE GREAT TRIAL now IN PROGRESS N
LONDON.
From the New York Tribune.
Last summer In series Of articles entitled spar.
nellism and Crime" tue London Nmss ALLEGED
among other things. that Frank Hugh O'Donnen
and other were accompces OF the Irwin.
cioes in planning the Phoenix Park murders MIR.
O'Donnell brought suit against the Times, for
$4,000 and during the trial OF the case in July
crimes In ireland, ana produced alleged letters
from MT: Egan. written from Paris in 1881, when
preted TO mean that Mr.. Parneli approved OF the
Phoenix Park murders. The SUIT was decided
ssaieS I'M Mr. MI rarns and Mr. Egan
the Times The result OF the suit satisfied no
one Mr.. 0,Donnell's reputation was not injured
nell aid not wish 70 bring a suit for libel against
tne Times but preferred to ask in the house OF
commons n for committees TO inquire into the
authenticity OF the letters published BY the
Times. In which ne and other national
members Of parliament were charged with
to grant day for the %oon
put proposed 70 create q commission OF judges
70 Inquire Into the charges This proposiIon was
either to accept or reject it, leaving 1t the house
OF commons to decide. He wished to have the in
Of the letters SAID 10 havs g emo sns by
The bill creating the commission underwent vio-
lent DEBATE In the house or commons On August
- ~ IS P.oSSu unuci oeiukoue oPPnSaeon "a viz
closure. Every amendment proposed by MI. Par
nell and his liberal allies was pltilessly defeated
ana the last vote taken showed q majority OF 81
Tor the government. Later Judges Hammer, Smith
ana Day were appointed as members OF the COM
mission. The commission FIRST met on september
IL, holding It's meeting In the room OF the probate
court Representatives OF the English and Amerf-
can newspapers, about 200 in number, occupied
the greater part OF the room. Sir Charles Russell
and Mr.. Ruegg watched the case for Mr.. O'Donnel.
MI Grahame and Attorney General Webster
appeared for the Times. Judge Hammer an
nounced that the commission would restrict
the inquiry to the charges that were made
the cause OF the action. In the first
instance the inquiry would be0ade as though 1t
were an issue between Mr.. O'Donnell and the
Times, but the commission would reserve the
power to call any body who might throw light on
would produce all the letters and documents
affecting Mr.. Parnell and the others against whom
IL mad brought charges. Later the commission
decided that 1t had authority to order their pro-
duction, but would decide what documents Sir
Charles RussellS clients could inspect On motion
OF SirCharles, no objection being made by Mr..
Graham, the commission decided 10 order the re-
lease OF MIR. Dillon On bail TO appear as Witness
The only other business transacted BY the COM
the bank-books OF the National League. An adj
tournament was then taken until october %.
In this preliminary tusSle both sides prOfeseed
to be satisfied. The ParneliteS were successful In
enforcing the production OF all the letters and
documents, and in securing Instructions TO the
Times to formulate the definite charges 1t Is pre-
pared to prove, as well as the allegations falling
short OF definite charges. The Times scored q
point In gaining access 10 the leagues bank-bOOks