The morning news., 1888-10-23
LOOKS LIKE A LAME CASE
THE PARNELL COMMISSION BE-
GINS ITS HEARING.

Attorney General Webster Opens the
Case for the Times-His Argument
Considered Weak and Pointless-The
Probable Outline of His Defense-His
speech Not Finished.
LONDON, Oct. 22.-The commission ap-
pointed to investigate the charges made by
the Times againstIrish members of parlia-
ment opened court at IL O'Clock this morn
ing.
Sir Charles Russell, as leading counsel for
Mr.. Parnell, opened the proceedings by ap-
plying for the release from Wexford prison
of William Redmond.
Justice Pannen, president of the commits
sion, said the same course would be adopted
with Mr.. Redmond as in tina case of Mr..
Dillon. His release must not be construed
to mean that he had been granted immunity
from imprisonment. He would be set free
only under strict conditions. These would
not allow of his taking any part in public
life, and would compel hiIa to hold himself
strictly prisoner on parole.
Sir Charles Russell intimated that for the
present he would not insist upon his appli-
cation for Mr.. Redmond's release,
Discussion then ensued upon the length of
time the court should sit weekly. The
counsel for both sides concurred in pro-
posal to hold sessions upon four days of each
week, but the court decreed TO meet every
week day except Saturday and asked the
counsel to expedite the proceedings.
wEBsTER's OPENING.
Attorney General Webster opened the
case for the Times He promised TO give
the court the fullest information in the
power of the Times regarding the source of
the evidence against the Irish party which
the Times had published He would not
treat the case as having anything to do
with the merits or demerits of home rule
or of any supposed burning Irish question.
The inquiry was strictly INTO specific
charge made i'll the O'Donnell action against
the Times, and he would be careful not to
introduce questions beyond the charges.
The attorney general then proceeded to re-
view the Times articles on "Parnellism and
Crime" going over the old ground.
The court room was well filled but was
not overcrowded. Perfect order prevailed.
The general public was not admitted.
Mr.. Parnell and numerous other national
ist members of parliament were present.
WHAT HE WILL TRY TO SHOW.
1t would be shown, said Mr. Webster,
that many of the men mentioned in the
Times particulars had per ,onally taken
part in crimes Of the worst kind, while,
with scarcely any exception, the persons
mentioned had never denounced outrages
or crimes. Owing to the failure of the
officers of the national league TO comply
with the commissions order regarding the
discovery of the bank books, the Times
counsel had been unable to shape
their case as they had expected to.
Still, even without the bank books,
they would prove that money had been paid
by the league to men appointed for the ac-
tual commission of acts OF violence md
crime. Some of the men thus appointed
were connected with the American league,
and some were provided with money from
funds obtained In Ireland. From the outset
of the land leagues existence, and since the
formation of the national league, Mr.. Par
nell and his colleagues had been intimately
associated with Irish-Americans who were
advocates of dynamite
REMARKABLE EVIDENCE.
Remarkable evidence would be produced
to prove this connection, and to show also
that an extraordinary number of untraced
crimes were due to the incitement of the
league.
Referring to the letters duplicating Mr..
Parnell and others in crimes, Mr.. Webster
promised to produce before the commission
all the letters which had been mentioned n
the trial of the O'Donneu case. He then
went on to recount the history of the
leagues connection with agrarian agita
tions, and showed how they were re-
lated to Fenianism. He recited instances
where Messrs. Davitt, Dewey. Walsh, Egan,
Brennan and Matthew Harris, had held
communications with the Parnellite party,
and declared that they were linked to that
party by common aims and interest. Here
recess was taken for luncheon.
When the court reassembled MIR. Web
ster resumed, quoting from speeches OF the
nationalist leaders made from the year 1879
onward. When court adjourned for the
day, Mr.. Webster was apparently only
small way advanced in the presentation of
his case.
THE IMPRESSION HE CREATED.
The vagueness and general character Of
his statement left an impression that the
Times had no absolutely legal proof Of the
truth of its charges. Instead of producing
evidence that Mr. Parnell and his assoc ates
were accomplices, before or after the fact,
with the Phoenix Park murderers he will
attempt to justify the Times accusuations
by raking up outrages attributed to mem
bers of the league and trying to con-
meet them with Parnelites. Mr.. Webster
seemed to be hampered by the dread OF
committing himself beyond the most eau
UlouS sbaUeHlenu. he spoRe III MS worst
form, pressing along in dreary monotone,
without the least display Of rhetoric. There
was an utter absence Of points in his state
ments, and his exposition Of the Times, case
was generally disconnected one.
LORD DILLoN's TENANTS.
DUBLIN, Oct. 22.-At meeting of the
league delegates at Ballyhannis to-day, it
was decided that Lord Dillon's tenantry
should offer to pay their rents, less 80 per
cent. II the offer is refused, they are ad-
vised to demand reduction Of 40 per cent.
under the plan of campaign, and to pay
nothing until the evicted tenants have haen