The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-21
TIE PARNELL COMMISSION.
DiAhculsy in Obtaining Witnesses-The Work
Must Be Shortened.

Difficulty in Obtaining Witnesses-The Work
Must Be Shortened.
LONDON, Nov. 20.-The Parnell commission
resumed its sitting to-day. Attorney-geners!
Webster. counsel for The Times. complained of
the difficulty experienced in bringing forward
witnesses from County Kerry. He called the
judges attention to al article in the Kerry
Sentinel (Mr. Edward Harrinr,on's parsrl,
which stated that the judges composing the
Parnell commission were showing signs Of
measles row, although at the opening OF the IN
curry they had appeared to be s~potless. The
judges were creatures o. the conspiracy entered
into by the government and the Time, and were
mauifes,ly unable to veil their prejudices. The
Attorney-general appealed to the court 20 take
action in the matter, as such publications tend
ed to defeat justice, aud amounted to the gross
est contempt.
Mr. Reid, in behalf of Dir. Harrington, COM
planned that no notice of q charge Of this char
acter had been given them. snd it was absolute
ly impossible to make an answer at present
He asked that the matter be adjourned until
tomorrow.
Presiding Justice Hannen and the att orney-
general both agreed to this, and tho matter
stood over.
The examination of witnesses was then re-
suried. Farmer Cullcty. of Castle Island. Coun-
" Kerry, testified that because he had served
notices on tenants in 1882, two men visited him
and ono Of them struck him with . spade and
the other shot him IN the leg. The LEG had TO
he amputated. He was afterward boycotted.
On cross-sxarnination he said the quarters Of
tho nearest branch OF the lesgue WAS ak miles
distant from his farm. He considered that the
rents throughout Kerry were too high. de de-
MED that the two men who attacked him we're
relatives Of o servant girl whom he had wroDged.
Constable Mccarthy testified that he searched
the house Of 3 man named Mcmahon. who was
treasurer of a branch OF the league, aud found .
number of papers
A letter was here produced and handed TO the
clerk. to DO marked for the purpose OF ideDtlh-
cation, but WAS not put in rs evidence.
Sir Charles Russell, counsel for the Parnel!ites,
asked to see the letter.
Attorney-general Webster objected. saying
that counsel was not entitled to see 1t until 1t
was read.
Sir Charles Russell maintained tina. he was
entitled to see 10 on its way to the witness. he
said there was no such thing as marking docu-
msnts behind counsei's back.
Justice Hammer observed that IL was the
usual custom to allow the opposing counsel TO
sea documents, ia order that they may say
whether they object to them or not.
The general said he would persist in
his refusal to allow Sir Charles Russell TO see
~ 0htoS0 ~ ~ haN1 ~ 10
There was q short consultation between the
Judges, and Justice Hammer said tho court were
Of opinion that il was q matter OF courtesy.
The Attorney general adhered to his refusal,
femarkiDg that there were reasons why Sir
Charles Russell should not see the letter unit
il was put 10 as evidence.
Other witnesses from Kerry were then exam
iDed, all OF whom attributed outrages in that
! eo1rty TO the instigation Of the league. A
laborer named Williams testified that he had
been fired at by a captain of moonlighters, and
said that q placard had been posted 10 various
places, Offering $500 to anyone who would shoot
HIM and his employer. who had taken an evicted
farm.
On cross-ezamination, however, none of the
witnesses succeeded IN connecting the league
with any Of the outrages they had referred to.
Sir Charles Russell then read an article from
the Kerry Sentinel denouncinc ou,rages.
Lydia Curtin was next called, and described
the boycottiue Of her family and the murder OF
her father.
Counsel for the Parnellites read a circular
issued by the league denorncing the treatment
of the Curtins.
Near the hour OF adjournment, Mr.. Reed, in
the absence of Sir Charles Russell, appealed ia
the opposing counsel to bulk the outrages 20
which they wished TO refer and 10 cease giving
such evidence in detail. The inquiry threatened
TO last long enough TO ruin anybody if the pes.
ent method were continued.
Sir Henry James declared that the Times was
equally anxious to limit time and expenditure.
Justice Hannen said there must bs On earnest
effort to shorten the work OF the commission.
He considered that there had already been
enough detail OF outrages and other branches OF
tho inquiry ought to be proceeded with.