Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-15


dueed FIVE letters, including letter, a
fac simile of which was printed in the
Times.
Attorney General Webster said the
letters had been photographed, and al
Chief Justice Hannen's request, he
handed photographs to bench.
Mr.. Soames said Mr.. Mcdonald ,
manager of the London Times, handed
him the letters. The witness did
not know then from what source
they had been obtained He afterwards
ascertained from whom they had come
The letters were submitted TO an expert
in April 1887. Before that genuine spec
linens of Parnell Is writing were collected +,
and other specimens have since been col
lected.
Attorney General Webster requested
witness to submit genuine specimens
of Parnell' IS signature.
Soames said he had obtained specimens
of writing of Henry Campbell, Parnell s
secretary. He had no means of judging
who wrote the letter, fac simile of
which was published. When the fac
smile appeared IN the Times Mr.. Inglis,
the expert, asked him to get further
specimens of Campbell IS writing.
The witness here produced further
specimens of Parnell IS signature, which
he had obtained since the fac simile was
published, including letters and sum-
monses, which Parnell signed as magis-
trate, orders of admission TO the house of
commons, a paragraph written for a
newspaper and Kilmainham jail book,
which contained nine signatures, first in
December, 1881, and last in May, 1882. /
The witness was advised by Inglis be-
fore fac simile was published.
Court here debarred question as to
whether Inglis thought that the letter
which appeared in the Times was gen.
uine
Soames believed the body OF the letter
was in Campbell IS writing, while the
signature was ParnelI's. When he dis
covered Parnell IS letters he also came
across documents which he supposed to
be Egan s. Three of Egan s letters
were found in Carey's house, where two
letters in Campbell IS writing were also
discovered. The witness produced these
letters, together with other specimens of
Eagan IS writing.
At this point Sir Charles Russell said:
1--WE are only able to give these docu-
not assume that all will be unques-
toned -
Attorney General Webster rejoined that
he did not suppose Sir Charles Russell
would admit the genuineness of the let
ters.
Soames further testified that Richard
Pigott gave the Parnell letters to Hous-
ton, secretary of the Irish loyal and
patriotic union, who handed them to Nc
Donald.
SCANS next produced a letter from
Byrne referring to a cheek for 9l00,
which Parnell promised him when he
suddenly went to France in September,
1887. Witness said he had employed De-
tective Moser to go to America TO trace
the source of certain documents which
were known TO be forgeries. He never
used these documents in any way; they
were not received through Piggett On
cross denomination the witness said he
was not consulted regarding the publica-
tion of the articles on Parnellism and
crime, though he knew they were being
prepared early in 1887. Mr.. Flanagan,
son of an Irish Judge, co-Operated with a
gentleman on the staff of the Times in
the articles. Up to January,
1888, twelve letters had been obtained
from BlPSeJU. Later more letters VIII
ten by Egan, O'Kelly and Davitt were
making total of seventeen.
He did not know precisely what
was paid for the letters.
Probably whatever was paid
passed through him. The first payment
Of f1003 was made to Houston. 1t was
partly for his expenses IN going to Amer
lea, and partly for payment of DR.. Ma
Suire and other assistants. Successive |
payments TO Houston were
f200, $50, G40 Gl2, ESQ, $3.50,
e342 and flOO. Witness had paid
Moser about $4,000, Kirby $3.50
and another agent named Thomp-
son $500. Touching Mr.. Davitt 8
letter, witness said he took pains to form
conclusive opinion. He decided that it
was genuine.
Before court adjourned Attorney-Gen-
eral Webster said that he desired TO state
that Mr.. Flanagan had written for the
Times without the knowledge of his IA
Their.
Sir Charles Russell remarked that he
quite believed that.