Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-11-10
O'SNEA IN the BOX
Capt. C'Shea Giving Testi-
mony for the Times
Newspaper.
Somewhat OF n Surprise Sprung
stOnc Gives Advice.

Poii'ieai iollo"tIs, Woulu Oc Cdllcu 10 TIC
stand in the Parnell inquiry today,
brought into court this morning the Ma.
tionalist leader and all the big people on
both sides. Ii also attracted a crowd,
which filed the court and blocked the
corridors. The rumors proved correct.
1hc attorney general explained that
OShea had TO 60 TO Spain forthwith, and
after 3 protest from Sir Charles Russell
the witness entered the box. Captain
OShca is a big man, almost too dude
like for his size, and with a decided dash
of the stage tenor, but withal not UNI
pleasant to look upon. His first care was
TO pose himself against the side of the
stand, fix neglige smile on his face and
stare at the counsel. His whole attitude
ludicrously suggested a photographers
studio. The witness, examined by the
attorney general, gave the history of the
famous Kilmainham negotiation, with
which politicians by this time
are we'll acquainted. Apart from
his efforts 10 demonstrate his own
importance, O'Shea's chief anxiety
seemed to be to create discord between
Parnell and his political associates. Ac-
cording to the witness. Parncll was in
the habit of speaking slightingly of his
closest friends ard of engaging in i'm
portant political transactions without
their knowledge. Before O'Shca's eX-
animation had concluded the attorney
general had established out Of the mouth
of his w witness that Parnell did not
as the Times people and the Tories gen
orally have all along contended, make an
unconditional promise 10 put down the
outrages. He undertook to use his intiu-
ence for that purpose, but always with
the understanding expressed as well as
implied that the task would be facilitated
by passing the bill wiping out two-thirds
of the arrears of rent luz to landlords by
tenants who were almost hopelessly in
solvent. webster would not allow his
pet witness 10 leave the box withou! cX-
pressing an opinion upon the forged let
tiers. O'Shea pronounced he signatures
those Of Parnell.
The sensation which the Tories believed
would be made by the revelations Of Cap
tain O'Shca has fallen very far short of
tDclT EXPECTATIONS. out VI tht lioSt III
tercs,ing items of the witness testimony
was his emphatic statement that be sew
cred his confidence in and friendship for
Mr.. Parnell in June, 1886, a statement
which can be refuted. The fact is unde-
niable that a reporter, who, it is said,
will he called to the witness box in due
time. interviewed Mr.. Parnell in Captain
O'Shea's house in December, 1880, and
the data of that interview will be forth
coming.
Attorney General Webster, counselor
for the Times, called Captain O'Shea to
the witness stand Immediately on the as
semtling Of court. Captain O'Shea
stated that at Mr.. Parnelrs request he
conferred with Mr.. Gladstone in June Of
1891. The interview was accomplished
without the knowledge Of Mr.. Parnell's
colleagues. After Mr.. Gladstone's speech
made in the house OF commons May
IS. 1892, Mr.. Parnell spoke OF the
.awkwardness OF the speech and
how it had annoyed Egan and
others. Negotiations were discontinued
until 1882, when Messrs. Parncll and
Dillon were in Kilmainham Jail. The
proposals which the witness made TO the
Government in 1882 were made without
the :UtllO.iLN Vi Fil. i NNihhii
members had replied TO them in p%arlia-
mcnt ABOUT the time that Mr.. Parnell was
released. After the "latter's return from
Paris he conferred with the witness, at
the latter's house, and at these confer.
enccs they were always alone. Capt.
O,Shea stated that Mr.. Parnell desired to
release Michael Dsyitt from imprison-
ment. bat not Brennan. The Irish leader
- r.tb,c1y,l tha uitnpCG IN nnnfnr
with the government, and said that If the
question regarding the arrears in rent was
settled satisfactorily he would advise the
tenants to pay th,ir rents and would him
self denou 3ce az outragcs al resistance to
law. Mr.. PaInell said he had power to
carry out this guarantee. Mr.. Parnell
had said that Sheridan would b.
mos useful in putting down boyc0tting,
az soon "a ne could sec him, and that
Boyton AMI Egan would also be useful in
that direction if they cauld be con
WINGED OF the wisdom Of the new policy.
On the day after the Phoenix park TRACE
dy MIR. Parnell showed witness the anti
murder manifesto. Mr.. Parnell expressed
himself as ~favoriDg the manifesto, but
,1isliked the bomb ast in the document,
which he said was necessary t. appeast
the vanity OF Mr.. Davitt. Laughter, II
which Mr.. Parneil and Mr. Davittjcined.
About this time Mr.. Parnell told the wit
ness that he would be obliged to ask tn
police for protection. az his lie was u
dsnper. The witness warned him tina
Sheridan was n murderer and IA concocte
of murders, and the police would not al
low him To remain in the country. Mr
Parncl asked that q month be given hin
in which to communicate with Sheridan
Seven letters were here shown to tn
witness. who declared that the signature
were Mr.. Parnclls.
Sir Charles Russell asked permission o
the court to postpone cross eXaminatio
of Can't. O'Shca, as the latter part OF Tn
witness testimony had taken him by SUI
prise.
Justice Hannah said he saw no goo
reason for %pos,poning cross examination
and Sir Charles proceeded with the WI
ness.
Capt. O'Shea said that Mr.. Buckl
editor of the Times. had asked hi
through Mr.. Chamberlain to be a witnes
Muloueeny, an advanced Nationalist, pa
hecn threatened with death by Gen. Ca
roll Davis and Hayes, the supposed orlI
inator of the London bridge outrag
because he had signed the protest again
tho oxc,usion of the witness from parli