The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-11-08
CAPT. O'SHEA.
He Tells What He Knows About
Parnell's Negotiations With
Gladstone.
O'Shea to be Cross-examlned by
the Parnelllte Counsel at
His LEISURE.

LONDON, October 31.-The Parnell com
mission resumed its Investigations to day
At'orney-general Webster, for the Times
asked leave to interpose Captain O'Shea
as witness, as that gentleman wanted to
go immediately to Spain.
Sir Charles Russell, counsel for the Par.
nellites, declined to cross-examine Captain
o'Shea at the present point. He said he
must return for ross-examination.
Presiding Justice Hannen said Sir
Charles Russell had right to reserve the
cross examination until such time as he
deemed proper.
Captain O'Shea then testified he had
been on good terms with Mr.. Parnell until
June, 1886. At Parnell's request in June,
1881 he hai communicated with Gladstone.
The communications were made without
the knowledge of Parnell's colleagues.
Witness did not know Patrick Egan, nor
did he have any knowledge of what E0an
was doing in 1881. Parnell told him Egan
did not know about negotiations with the
government until after Gdlastone,s speeoh
in the house of commons May 16, 1882.
Parnell then spoke to him
OF the awkard position he
was placed in by Gladstone's speech and
told how the speech had annoyed Egan
and others. Negotiations were then
ceased until 1882, when Parnell and Dillon
were in Kilmainhsm jail, Egsn was then
in Paris. The first proposals that witness
made to the government in 1882 were of
fered without authority of Parnell. He
received communications from certain
members of the government replying to
the proposals. When Parnell was re-
leased from Kilmainham, witness told him
of the position of the negotiations which
he had written to Gladstone and it was
arranged any answer he might make
should be sent to Parnell at Paris. Glad
stones reply was to Parnell, who re-
sponded in April, 1882. Parnell, on
returning from Paris, saw Gladstone and
afterwards conferred with witness a
number of times at the latter's house,
They were almost alone. Parnell was
anxious for the release from prison of
Michael Davitt, but he objected to Bren-
mans release. Parnell undertook to do
his utmost for the suppression of boycott
ting and outrages. He promised if the
government would settle the arrears of
rent question satisfactorily, he would ad-
wise the tenants to pay t1eir rents, and
would denounce outrages, resistance to
law and all kinds of intimidation. Wit
ness asked Parnell if he was able to carry
out his guarantees to suppress outrages,
and Parnell gave him assurances that he
had the power.
The witness continued: "Mr. Parnel
said that Sheridan would be the most use
full man in the work of putting down boy
cotting, if he could only see and converse
with him. Boynton and Egan would also
be useful, he said, if they could be con-
vinced of the wisdom Of the proposed new
policy. When Mr.. Parnell was in Kill
malnham jail letter was written and
signed by Mr.. Parnell, which witness took
next morning to Mr.. Forster, then chief
secretary for Ireland. The letter was
afterwards presented to the Ga binet.
Attorney general Webster here read the
letter. 1t expressed Mr. Parnell's opinion
that if the arrears question was settled he
and his colleagues would be able to sup
press the outrages. 1t urged the import |
ance of agitation and legislation and con-
cluded by saying; "That if the pro
gramme we're sketched out it would en-
able us to cooperate cordially with the
future liberal party in forwarding liberal
principles"
After the letter had been writ
ten, continued Captain O'Shea, Mr.. Par.
ell said he would tell Dillon aud
O'Kelly letting them know as much as was
good for them. The day of the Phoenix
park murders Mr.. Parnell showed witness
he anti-murder manifesto, which it had
,een decided to issue. It was mistake,
aid witness, to say that Mr.. Parnell was
lot in favor of the manifesto. He only
distorted the amount of the bombast in
he document. But he said that was nec-
ssar3 in order to satisfy Davitt's vanity.
Laughter in which Mr.. Parnell and Mr..
javitt joined About this time, went on
Parnell told him he had been
bliged to ask police protection, as his
life was in danger. Witness, on a subse-
uent interview with Parnell, warned him
'heridan was a murderer and the con.
octer of murders, and the order could
ot allow him to remain in the country. I
'arnell replied he did not communicate ,
nth Sheridan personally, but knew some
ne who did. He said that a month ,
hould be given him to comm unicate
nth Sheridan.
Several letters were here shown to wit !
ess, who declared with certainty that the !
ignature attached to them was that of {
'arnell.