The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-02-27

In Lincoln, Neb., while Parnell. his de-
find a clue In Great Britain. Egan was
sOrely perplexed by the forged letters, fac
SMILES OF which he got in the London
Times. The signature 10 those attributed
10 him were remarkably good, and expres-
slo-s and odd abbreyiations peculiar 10
him were In the text He considered
everybody who possibly could have
been the forger, but could not arrive at a
conclusion, He remembered that Plgott
had been In forgeries many years before,
but the ideA that he might be concerned In
these seemed ABSURD. In scrutinlzlng the
forged fac similes, however, he finally dis
covered that one signed with his own name
Was written syowediy at certain
flashed upon him that Plgott was the only
man 70 whom he had ever given II. Pigoti
had written him asking for confidential
address 10 which he might send important
Information, and Ryan. concluding 10
learn what II was, secured this address,
which proved the key 10 the forgeries.
Egan, who Is methodlcal In habit had
saved his correspondence for years. lie
searched his volumes OF letters until he
found Pigotts. BY comparing them with
| the handwriting on the forged letters he
saw he had the forger lie submitted the
letters written by Pigott 10 experts, To-
gether with facsimilies OF the forged let
ters, and Immediately detected
the characteristic peculiarities which
t-Nere confirmed under the microscope.
Egan had Pigotts letters and the forger-
les photographed and started for Chicago,
| where he placed all the papers before his
| friend, Alexander Sullivan. who Ia also q
solicitor. A brief was drawn up by him
and Sullivan In the latter's Office In Chlca-
20. IL related TO the chief Incidents In
~. "a. A..l
forger years before. When Pigott tried 70
sell the lrishman (newspaper) 10 Psrnell
and Egau he furnished an Inventory Ap-
parently authenticated by q well known
Dublin accountant, showing the value Of
the property. Egan proved that
the inventory was false and that
Pigott had forged the accountants
another similar transaction. These facts
Egan committed 70 writing. He had mean
while ascertained the process by which
Pigott had made the spurious letters. He
found among his papers some letters writ
| ten by him In which entire sentences ap-
peared that were also In the forged letters.
Pigott had traced these sentences carefully,
word for word, then he interpolated or
added other sentences or phrases, complete
| ly changing the meaning OF the whole letter,
while preserving the integrity OF portions.
Dates were also changed TO make the
criminal interpretations applicable to the
alleged events EgAn also found letters
written by Parnell which had been similar
ly used and photographs OF all these and Of
| Pigotts begging an bIackmailing letters
were enclosed with the originals In pack
age with memoranda recalling TO Parnell
al the circumstances attending the writ
ing or reception 81 each. This was the
precious piece Of luggage the young priest
conveyed 10 Parnell. Until Il came the
| Times case was ~ invulnerable ~ IL was
fraudulent No hint Of the contents of the
himself, In an interview be had with PiR0tt
In the presence OF Labouchere and Lewis,
asked Pigott certain questions which
| disclosed to the cuprit that evidence had
been secured against him. Pigott either
reported this 10 the Times or was watched
by Its detectives and traced into Psrnelrs
presence. Then he had to partially con-
| fess 20 his employers and the attorney gen
| eral and bis colleagues then compelled lie
Caron 10 testify and as Indignantly as possl-
BILE. swearing that Parnell declared he fav-
ored an armed revolution and that AlexAn-
der Sullivan got him (LeCaron) into q So
| cret revolutionary organization. This WAS
for the purpose OF breaking the force Of
Psrnelps information about PIgotts ante.
cedents. But Plg0tt had no sus-
picion OF the overwhelming completeness
OF the knowledge conveyed In the package
10 Parnell. and did not realize until he got
inlc Sir Charles Russell's clutches that no
chlumny could impair the fatal effect upon
him and on the Tines case OF what Par
nell knew. Had Egan not made the dis
covery the truth OF the letters could only
have been denied. but their falsehood could
not have been demonstrated. That situA-
ton would have been Times victory, and
the victory OF the Times would be the ruin
OF ParnelI. the home rule party, and the In.
finite discredIt Of the liberals.
At 10 o'clock tonight the police had mol
yet found any trace OF Pigott The latter
had posted TO his housekeeper In Dnblin q
ance Of R5 at his bankers. Pigott had foul
sons, the youngest OF whom IL years oi
age. His wife died eighteen months ago.
IL 10 believed Pigott has disguised himself
and either fled 10 Antwerp or Rotterdam.
George August Sala writes the Tele-
graph an article describing the interview
Saturday between Pigott and Labouchere
10 Labouchere's house voluntarily. The
copy OF the confession which Lewis OBJ
tained was from beginning 10 end, liter
ally and verbally, the composition OF Pig
Off, who confessed he forged the Parnel
letters and minutely described the manner
in which they were written. Pigott said
he Is telling the truth or another batch OF
lies" says Mr. Sala, 'is not for me 10 deter
mine, but 10 me he seemed 10 be confessin6
facts and nothing but facts. No pressure
was.brought TO bear upon him and no lega
questions asked"
The Times continues TO advertise th,
pamphlet on "Pnrnelllsm and Crime" witt
the alleged fac smile letter of Parnell.
The News says: I'VE condole with Oh,
great Pigottist party In the loss Of It's lead
er and the consequent difficulty OF forginJ
ahead. No more utter and hopeless col
lapse has occurred In history. The cal
umny case for the prosecution has gone h
pieces at the FIRST touch and Parnell 4
proved innocent BY the only man th
Times relied on 70 prove him guilty
Whether the Times proceeds or not. Par
nell will claim the right TO disprove th
other charges"
The Times says II is precluded from com
menting on the Parnell commission q
this stage
The Standard says: "The complet
absence renders II no longer possible TO n
frain from comment We feel ourselve
obliged In the public interest TO declare th
evidence on which the authenticity Of th
letters was supposed 10 rest has been con
pletely dlscredited and the sooner this
openly and formally admitted the better
ct % WE'VE 1s After sao" ol.miss sss'y he TR%s TR11s
for Its extraordinary negligence. N
Standard says: "The pomp and eli
: cumstances under which the publicati0
occurred made II impossible 20 sbsols
those AnswerAbie for ii OF grave breac
OF public duty. Whatever else In provet
, the fact remains that deep injustice hs
! been done 70 Psrnell and a blow equally
/ be deplored given TO the character OF I'M
! lish journalism"
The Daily Telegraph says: "T0 all II
! tents and purposes the Parnell commissio
! may be regarded as ended to-day. We Al
, glad TO say Parnell stands free and inn
cent OF the damaging charge attributed
/ him, with what we s0rrowfully compelle
, 10 call reckless and rash imprudence." III
(. Daily Telegraph censures the carelessne,
y with which the Times acted, and says Il
result must affect the political situation,
D tits certain there will be a body OF opinio
; naturally attracted toward Parnell as
: Injured and prosecuted man.
Q EDINBURGH. Feb. 25.-The case OF Pa
r nell against Walter, OF the London Time
for libel, which was dismissed by the judi
on the first hearing on the ground that
arrestments against Walter, as an ind
vidual. would be valid. came up to-day
n fore the iudges Of tn first diyisiOu on A