Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-07-18

PARNELL wITHDRAws FROM COURT.

ThhNCIE WI T1OhHWS ThOW NOOhi
LONDON, July 16-Upon the opening o
| the Parnell commission this morning ST
Charles Russell, counsel for Mr.. Parnell
arose ard addressing the court stated thai
after full consideration of the situation
Mr.. Parnell had instructed him and Mr.
| Asquith, also of counsel, to no longer rep
resent him before the commission.
In reply to Sir Charles statement, which
virtually was notification that Mr.. Par
nell declined to make any further present.
alton of his case before the commission
Presiding Judge Hammer said: "Mr. Par.
nell will of course remain subject to the
jurisdiction of the court"
Messrs. Reid and Lockwood, counsel fol
other members of parliament against
whom charges were made by the lines,
then also withdrew from the case.
MIR. Parnell made a personal application
to the court asking that if there was any
design to further examine him, such eX-
animation be proceeded with without de-
lay. He complained of Attorney General
Websters action in postponing for three
months his REORGANIZATION on the subject
of the checks drawn by Mr.. Parnell. The
court, he declared, ought to appoint day
for his denomination or else discharge
him from further attendance.
Presiding Justice Hammer promised to
try TO meet the convenience Of Mr.. Parnell
by recalling him on Thursday.
After the counsel for Mr.. Parnell, and
the other membe of parliament had re
tired Presiding Justice Hammer said that
the scope of the inquiry would not be al
tered by their action. The persons nth
erto represented by counsel could appear
in their own defense if they desired.
The taking of testimony was then re.
sumed when James O'Kelly, member Of
the house of commons for North Kos
common, was called. He declared
that he had no statement to make. On
cross examination he admitted that he
was member of the Irish Republican
brotherhood from 1860 to 1873. In 1871 an
attempt to arrest him was made when he
was leaving Ireland under the name of
John Smith. Letters were found IN his
luggage from an agent who was shipping
arms to Ireland.
Sir Henry James of counsel for the
Times produced several letters written by
Mr.. O'Kelly partly in invisible ink III
which reference was made to the ship
ments of arms and the doings OF the
Fenians. One of the letters referring to
remittance of 81, 800 from America con-
tanned passage reading: 1--WE are ready
to take the field when the proper orders
are issued to the regimental COM
Inc "llntSS duiuilOSu UhlC
the letters were authentic. While
he was IN America be joined the
Clan-na Gael. This organization sent him
to Ireland as a military officer to reor-
ganiZe the men. He received 5000 toward
his expenses. He did not effect the object
Of his mission, finding the agents in Ire
land declined to cooperate with him. He
therefore considered his mission ended and
went to France. He sent his resignation
4 81 =
that time he had had no connection with
the Grammatical or the Fenians. During
his career in parliament he received no
money from America. He denied spend
ing 81, 900 which had been entrusted to him
for election purposes.
Matthew Harris, member of the house
of commons for East Galway, testified that
be Joined the Eenians in 1865. The death
penalty to traitors was not an essential
feature of the Fenian constitution. lie
instanced the case of the informer Kick
ham, and said that the society after dis
cussion decided that he should not be
shot.
Presiding Justice Hammer remarked:
'The fact that there was such discussion
implies much"
The witness said that the Fenian coun-
ell Of 1881 was held III Paris for sake OF
security. Mr. Davitt had been arrested
and they did not know whose turn would
be next. 1t was therefore thought better
to meet out of Ireland He admitted say
ing in IA speech that he did not go about
from platform to platform caterwaulding
over the death Of Lord Frederick Caven-
dish. His language was used ia the heat
of controversy, and was not meant to jus
tify murder. He had qualified the speech
made by him in which he said he should
not mind seeing landlords shot down like
partriQgeS.