Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-19
PAID $4,000 FOR THE LETTERS.
But Never Asked Houston How He
Came By Them.


LONDON, Feb. l9.-The courtroom Was
crowded to-day when the Parnell commission
resumed its sitting Messrs. Henry Labou-
chere, John Morley, Right Hon. George Shaw
Lefevre, and other prominent persons were
present. Mr.. Macdonald. manager OF the
Times, the first witness. Was crosse Namised by
counsel for the Parnellites. He declined TO
say whether he regarded the letters Of the 9tb
of January and the 18th of May the only inn
portant ones among the first five which Mr..
Houston. secretary of the Irish LOYAL and Pa
triotic union. handed to him. Presiding JUS
tice Hannah sharply rebuked the witness tor
his refusal.
REMARKABLE cREDULITY
Mr.. Macdonald, in reply to further questions,
said the letters had TO be taken as a whole, aud
that a whole they we're compromising. He
particularly avoided asking from what source
the letters were obtained. because Houston
said he was bound to secrecy. which he asked
the witness 70 respect. Witness first knew
that Pigott, a former editor OF the IriSsgaan
(newspaperD, supplied them at about the time
the publication of the articles on ''Parnelism
and Crime was begun. He did not know that
the letters had been shown 70 the Marquis of
Harrington. VINO, he asserted, had nothing 10
do, directly or indirectly with their publica-
tion. Houston showed the witness. as tending
to confirm the genuineness of the writing
letter written by Mr.. Parnell TO pigott, which
was not submitted TO the experts because 1t was
private and confidential.
SOME THINGS MR.. MACDONALD FoRoor.
Witness said he forgot whether when lac
submitted the Egan letters to the expert. he
also submitted other specimens OF Egan's writ
ing. He could not be positive whether be then
had actual specimens of Egan's writing He
forgot what material he gave the expert TO en-
able him to ascertain whether the letters were
genuine. He was convinced that the Egan
I toVa d. Ill 1T.
first article ON .Parnellism and Crime" was
published by the Times He did not think that
the body of the letter of January was in the
writing OF Mr.. Campbell, Mr. Parnell's secre-
| tary. He had not noticed any similarit, be.
tween that and the Egan letters.
HOUSTON GOT OVER $4,000.
Witness paid Houston c550 for the Parneu
letter of the 10th of June and for Egan's letter
to Carey. The total payments made to Hous-
ton amounted 10 e2590 The payments were
made by Mr.. Walters checks drawn in favor of
Mr.. Soames, the Times solicitor. Houston did
not bring the envelopes with the letters. Wit
\ ness did not ask about them, assuming that
they had been destroyed
DIDN'T KNOW THE NAME of-TffE WRITER
Macdonald said the Times statement that
knives and firearms were kept in the league
Office in London was based on information SUD-
| piled to the writer of the article in which the
stateneiI was mdOe. lie ulu not know directly
/ who wrote the article, and he was not bound
to tell If he did know. The editor of the Times
/ was responsible for statements made i'm the
paper. and therefore the counsel was not en-
titled to demand by force the names OF con-
| tributOrs-
| Mr. PARNELL APPEARS.
At this point in the proceedings Mr. Parnel.
warmly enyeloped in a long cloak, though the
| weather was mild, entered the courtroom and
| took a seat at the solicitors table.
| Mr.. Asquith OF counsel for Mr. Parnell held
! that he was entitled to demand the name of the
writer of the article. because he was bound to
| test the truth of such a grave statement.
| The court ruled that Mr.. Asquith was en-
\ titled 20 investigate this matter in order to
/ ascertain the foundation of the statement
| The witness said he could not name the
writer without making inquiries. The Par
! nelllsm and Crime series OF articles was not
written by one author. Several persons con-
| tributed. Mr.. Soames WAS misinformed when
| he stated that Mr.. Flanagan wrote the series.
| If MIR. Asquith's question had been put within
| six months after the appearance of the article
| witness said he might have been enabled 70
| name the writer. IL doubtful whether he
| could now. The article accusing Mr.. Parnell
OF supplying Byrne with funds with which to
| escape was based on letter which Mr. Russell
had admitted was authentic.
| Witness could not name the writer of the
| article off-hand. No persons were specifically
| employed to write about Parnellism and crime
The articles were written in the ordinary course
of business. He could not mention few Of
the writers He considered the request 10 do
SO unreasonable.