New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-25
WEBSTER'S DREARY SPEECH
II FALLS ON THE PUBLIC LIKE A WET
BLANKET.
NO POINTS YET MADE IN THE ATToRNEY-GEN-
ERALS STATEMENT BEFORE THE
p.pNrIr. rNOT-rRV


counsel for Mr.. PaIne said that in addition to
the forged Parnell letters The Times possessed
letters alleged to have been written by Mr. Dillon,
Mr.. Biggar and other Parnellitc members OF tar-
lament. These had not yet been disclosed Inc
Timess- counsel objected to producing them, on
the ground that " The Times did not gain pos
session of them until after the opening OF the
O'Donnell action against The Times But the
documents were material TO the present case, and
ought TO be produced Mr.. Soames solicitor for
The Times" had filed an affidavit affirming that
The Times" had received the documents from an
American named Roberts On examination it had
been discovered that some of the letters were not
genuine. and therefore they were not used in the
O'Donncl case This candid statement, admitting
that somebody had been supplying The Times
with forged letters had direct bearing, said Sir
Charles upon the Parnell-Egan forgeries The
documents that Mr.. Soames had retained must
therefore be produced.
Attorney General Webster for " The Times" held
that the documents demanded were not
material to the issue. The affidavit OF
Mr.. Soamcs hc said, showed clearly
that somebody had been trying to trlck
" The Times" and knowledge of the trick had been
communicated to Mr. Parnells solicitor Probably
in the course of the the court would hear who
it was who tried this The court could see
the documents if it desired, but he emphatically
protested that those who had advised Sir Charles
Russell of the existence of the documents knew
perfectly well that they were not material to the
Issue.
Sir Charles Russell-IIow could it be said
that the documents were not material when the
whole truth was wanted about these and other
forgeries? There appeared TO be q factory OF
forgeries in obedience to a market Of supply and
demand The court ought TO insist upon the
production of every one Of them.
The court thereupon directed that the docu-
ments be produced.
Sir Charles Russell next asked for particulars
ot the charges against Mr. Parnen and the other
members Of Parliament involved in the case.
Here Michael Davtt arose and claimed the
right to appear for himself
The court assented
Justice Hannen the president Of the Commls-
son then said, in response to Sir Charles huSseli
request for particulars, that it was not necessary
that all the details should be given. The court
was of opinion that all the particulars were beng
given which were required.
The Acknowledgement informed the court that
the other side still continued TO ignore the order
for the production of the Leagues bankDookS.
Justice Hannen intimatcd that If the relusal
10 produce the books final the court would
have recourse to its powers to compel their pro-
duction.
Attorney-Gcneral Webster then continued the
pr,sentation of The Tmes's7 case, making fur
tLcr review of the articles on Parnelllsm ana
Crime He quoted from a letter of Patrick Egan,
in which the writer sent fifty pounds for the pay
mont of men who had committed outrases, ana
said that evidence would be adduced to prove that
MIR. Parneu knew that Egan had supplied Sherid''h
and Boyton with funds TO enable them to promote
outrages He would not suggest that Mr. Parheu
knew the particular individuals who were 10 DC
attacked, but he did know that outrages were d
part Of the Leagues system. Prior to the fhoehlN
Par, murders Mr. PaInell neither did nor sad any
thing in condemnation OF TIE crimes colhitl1u Dy
members of the League. When Mr. IdfheH ap-
Dearcd in the witncss-boX hc would ask MN Wnat
he had ever done 10 put down ac's Oh EloiTncc pe
fore May. SS2, the month IN "llch Tue iioVniA
Park murders occurred The issue alter thc muir
ders of the manifesto reprObatlng them, sleheo ny
Iarnel Dillon and Davitt, was only done 6na rnaer
necessity 1t would be proved by captain y Shea
that lrrnel objected to sign the manifesto, ana
that he signed it finally with reluctance. captain
O'Shca acted as a medium IN the negO'lauois WIN
Mr. PANEL for the suppression oI 0u'rdsccs'
1Vton the oucstion arose regarding Mr.. ParnelIs
control Of his comrades Mr.. Palnell declared that
there were some men who must be let out ol PRISON
and he named Brennan, the late secretary OF the
League as one OF those who must either be Kept
out Of Ireland in prison. lne court, Said the
Attorney General, could draw lts own conclusion
as 10 what Mr.. Parnel knew of brennan ; c0nhec-
1ion with crimes. Mr.. Parnel, continued the
Attorney General also advised that sheridan ana
Boyton he allowed to return to Ireland, rs uley
could control those who were engaged IN the cOni-
mission of crime. All this showed that Mr. PerneH
had a thorough knowledge Of the sources ol Nlo-
lence. ,, ~
nell of possessing criminal knowledge regarding
the use OF vast funds by The League dor crilniHdl
purposes Accounts published by me DuDnn
Freeman's Journal gave the receipts OF the
Land League from October, 1879 TO OctGDer,
1881. as la, $50 pounds only 44,S77 pounds Of
this accounted FOR low was tne TGia loadr
ing 10000 pounds applied DID Mr. Parneil Know
the uses 10 which this large sum was deVoueu WIS
il so expended that its distributor did not dare
10 give an open statement? III the League WAS
y CONSTITUTIONAL ASSOCIATION why should IT'S books
he removed to London. there TO disappear some
items of account~c0uld be traced Yhlch d~lscIoScu ~
MIR. Parnells relations with murderous assocla- "a
tions-for instance a check for 90 pounds sent TO
Bvrne and one for 80 pounds sent to QUINN.
The Attorney General was then proeccnIhs no TO
I5,rnolIi+cs from Tho Irish World, when the
court adjourned for the day. r.
The AtorncyGchcrars cxhauS,e itcd me1"to % by
nrcsenting his case is patiently subnl''eu 10 ny
The court, the Judges having determines, III thir az
cordance with usage TO permit counseI III ItJi pI
opening addresses TO follow ther own @ IInc. dn !
lie interest in the case has bc9un 10 Wahc uhucr
the influence of the Attorncy-Generdls pro'h eA,
nositon lie never was brilliant speaker, any any
tbe weight of the case appears 10 nave crusheu
l e 90 s,acitv for luminous statement he ever had
besides an utter absence of points, ms dreafv pre-
sentation of The Tim'ss" stale charges Is pc
fogped by the disconnected way IN Whlch ne steNs
:, arranSe the facts which he offers in support of
his assertions In attempting to review the ms
tory of Parncll and the League, instead OF de-
veloning the sequence of events as they hap
pened. he passes from incident to incident with
out regard 10 unity Of either time or clrcumStlnce
General impression is growing that " The
T;messss case is weaker than its enemies
;maoincd and that the task conided TO the A. |
forncy-Gcneral is beyond his powers should ne ne
continue at his present speed, another week VIII
,ot SEQ the end of his speech To-day he brought
his story Of the Leagues msdolngs only up 10
100 The lack of concern shown by the public !
d;sannoinfs fLe newspapers, which had made un-
usual preparations for reporting the proceedinss
and for increased circulation. lhe Sale 0, even
ing papers is entirely unaffected Dy ''ie 'ii"i'
cg.,r, prNrrT ATOMS