The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-02-28
AcKNoWLE ITS BLuNDER.
The Times Will Express Regret for
Publishing the Letters.

LONDON, Feb. 27.-An immense crowd
was present in the court room this morning
when the session Of the Parnell commission
opened. Much excitement was mani
tested.
Mr.. Parnell arrived in the room at an early
hour. Attorney General Webster stated to
the court that Mr.. Shannon, the Times's
Dublin solicitor. had received letter today
from Pigott who is in Paris. The letter was
not in Pigott's writing. Mr.. Shannon had
Immediately notified the Scotland Yard au-
thorities Of the letter.
The attorney general then read the letter
1t was dated Saturday and contained the con-
fession Pigott made to Mr.. Labouchere on
that day at the latter's residence. Pigott
added that he had fully disclosed that he
fabricated the alleged fac simile of Parnell's
letters published in the Times and the other
letters he had furnished to that paper. He
denied being In touch with the American
brotherhood after he had sold his newspaper
the Irishman. He admitted that he wrote
the conversation with Eugene Davis from
memory only. He told Houston that he
found the letters in bag, but he fabricated
them using genuine letters of Parnell and
Egan and copying certain words, showing
the general character of the writing and
tracing them against the window pane. He
afterwards destroyed the genuine letters.
The second batch of letters ascribed to Mr..
Parnell were initiated from the fac simile
published In the Times. He admitted that
Mr.. Labouchere's account of the interview
between them was in the main correct
The letter dated Saturday was enclosed in
another letter bearing the date of hotel Du
Monde, Paris, Tuesday, and saying. Before
handed me. having been left while I was
out. / will write again sOOn"
Mr.. Webster said that nobody could attach
any weight TO Pigotts evidence and he would
ask the court to withdraw from considering
the genuiness of the letters and that the
Times would express regret for publishing
the letters and the proprietors would more
fully express their regrets later He repudi-
ated the allegation made by Sir Charles Rus
sell yesterday that there was foul cOnspi-
racy behind Plgott and Houston. If such a
conspiracy existed, the Times had no share
In it. Ii the error Of the Times extended be-
yond that the court should make the fullest
inquiry.
Sir Charles said he had hoped the Attor-
ney General would have made a stronger
statement.
Mr.. Parnell was then called and sworn.
He denied signing the alleged letter of the
18th of May. Mr.. Campbell, his secretary,
didn't write the letter. Mr.. Parnell said be
had not heard of such letter until he saw
1t published in the Times. Mr.. Campbell
had gone to Antwerp to endeavor TO find
Pigott. Mr.. Parnell denied the genuineness
OF the other letter purporting to have been
signed by himself and Egan. He said that
he and Egan had extensive correspondence
He dictated to Mr.. Campbell letter regard
ing an interview asked by Pigott. The let
ter which the Times reproduced was evil
IDENTIFY initiated from it. He had no inter-
view with Pigott.
At this point Attorney General Webster
asked that the committee adjourn till tomor-
low. but the committee adjourned till Fri
day.
Pigott's arrest in Paris is regarded as i'm
minet, but 1t is doubtful whether the French
government will regard perjury as an extra
ditable, offense.
The Time- has withdrawn its advertise
ment Of "Parnellism and Crime"
In the House of Commons today the Right
Hon. Henry Matthews, Secretary of State
for home affairs, stated that the authorities
were taking steps to secure the extradition
OF Pigott from Paris. Mr.. Matthews also
said he had no information regarding Hous-
ton, which at present would justify him in
preventing Houston from leaving the coun-
try.
The opposition in Parliament will not
raise formal discussion ON the Parnell COM
mission, but the Nationalists will closely
question the government regarding the as
sistance given by the authorities to the
Times.
Foreign Notes.
The German missionaries held captive by
the Arabs were liberated yesterday.
General DeBordes, the French commander,
Is reported to have been murdered in Ton
quln. No confrmatory adyices have been
received.
Advices from Afghanistan say that the
Ameer Is marching upon the Russian from
tier and that collision with the Russians
Is Imminent. The Ameer persists in COM
mitting cruelties.