New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-22
/" THE TIMES'S" PROP FALLS.
BEGINNING OF THE END OF " THE THUNDER
ER'S' CASE

PIGoTrs REMARKABLE DIRECT EVIDENCE ALL
IN AND THE CROSS Ex ANIMATION BEGUN
YESTERDAYS EVIDENCE BEFORE THE
PARNELL COMMISSION.
London, Feb. 21-Upon the reasscmblng Of the
ParneI Commission to-day, Richard Pig0tt was again
called for examination. lie testified that In January
1885, he had two or three interviews with Eugene
Davis at Lausanne. Tho witness told Davis that
he required material for pamphlet on the League,
and that the documents procured must be suos'anaed
by signatures. The next day Davis said that he
had carefully considered the matter and could not
comply with the request because the Fenian Brother
hood was bound TO Mr.. Parnen not to Interfere
with his movements until tho expiration OF certain
period
several months later the witness at the suggestion
Of Mr. Houston, revisited Lausanne, and again saw
Davis Davis stu adhered to his refusal to impar
information until the day the witness left lie
then proposed to Davis TO writo the pamphlet ana
fix the date for its publication He ohered nun
100 pounds 10 give the principal facts. Davis uh
So end the witness took rough notes Of Daviss state
ments Immediately aftcrward the witness wrote
detailed account Of tho interview at the hotel at
Lausanne on hotel paper. He gave Mr.. Houston The
copy that was read yesterday. The wl'hess hao
not seen Davis in London since In consequences
Of letter which he received from friend IN Paris
early in April, 1885, the witness had conference
Ufi Houston
IN that city a week or more before he learned any
thing Then no was accostcd tho street by
man giving the name of Morris Murphy, Who said
kc he'd been compositor in the witnesses empio!'
He did not recognize the man, but saw no reason
TO doubt HIS statement. They conversed ior some
time and subsequently met again. when Murphy
said he had not been able 10 ascertalr anything
sbons tho documents A week later Murphy said
he had found the documents IN = bag He described
the baesto the witness, and said it contained hve
or gix Of Fcan's letters OF Parnelps and some
old accounts.
MURPHY's SALE OF THE LETTERS.
The witness said he authorized TO ind the
documents and asked the price for their surrender
Murphy at first wanted 1000 pounds, but afterward
said he would take 500 pounds The next day Muir
phy showed the witness the bag and its contents
The witness read the letters and made memoranda,
but did not actually copy the letters
Pigott here identified six letters OF Egan's hve OF
Parneps including the letter fac-simile Of which
appeared in The Times," and scraps Of accounts
which wero produced in court as the contents of
the bag
Picott said he did not know Mr.. Parnelps writing
when he looked at the bag. He know his signature
He believed that the signatures attached TO the letters
were those Of Mr.. ParnelL He bad no idea as 10
who wrote the body Of the letters He ala not
know Mr. Campbell. Mr.. Parlell's secretary, and had
never seen HIS writing.
The witness returned to England and Mr..
Houston. who after consideration said no was pre-
pared TO pay the amount demanded for the letters.
He returned TO France on April 20, 1885, and told
Murphy that he would accept his Offer Murphy
said that agents OF the Clan-na'Gael from New-fork
claimed the letters and In order to OBTAIN
them II would be necessary 10 go 10 New-York ana
obtain authority from the heads OF tho Clan-na-
Gael. Murphy suggested that the Wit
ness 60 Tho witness was strongly opposed 10
goinp knowing that he would incur great danger
After long discussion Murphy told the Witness ,hat
It would be utterly impossible 10 obtain tho ieuerS
unless the witness went 10 New-fork' Ihe "i.hess
consulted with Mr. Houston and went TO Nc"-fOrA'
PIGoTT's EXPERIENCE IN NEw-YoRK.
There he saw preslin TO whom Murphy had given
him a letter He had not known Bresln before tho
meeting lie dLi not know what Murphys letter
contained IL sealed.
The interview With Bresin lasted five minutes.
Bresln met him balf hour after MS arrival no
told him that he had received caoD nsPa'0" non
Paris inst11ctlng him to meet tho witness AItor
a few remarks he handed the witness sealed lciter
which he said the witness was 70 deliver 10 Murphy
in Paris The witness continued -
81 returned 10 London and told Houston "ha' hau
occurred He believed the Letter contalhcu au'no''y
to deliver the bag. / went to Parls On 'u'S ~ a"s
saw Murphy at the Hotel st. PETERSBURG l ne'
him the letter and he said II was Ri risnH pus ~
explained that he cond not give me INC Iet'.s ",,
nc had seen other people. Two evenings lser 1"Pny
tooL me 10 a cafe IN tho Rue st. Honore. He CON
Quoted me TO private room where n'o me"
seated around a table These men, he sa'n, "pro-
sented the C1an.na-1;ael He made rue swear on
Catholic praycr-book that under no cIcu'nsa
would reveal the source from which had oDtaheo
tbe documents also swore that would not mem
ton names and II any proceedings fenoWeo .no p''
lieation of the letters that would not iesuy.,
Pgott did not get the documents ua' 'e
Houston had said that he would take tho documen'0
on Pigotts description without coming 70 far's nll
sef but Pieott pressed him 10 come Ing "'n 49,.
detailed the purchase OF the letters and Mphys o"er
TO repurchase them, oorroboratfng houS'oRS 'osa
this point. The witness had nothing 10 40 o'0oF
or Indirectly with the writing OF the et'er1.
aThe suggestion that forged them is quite untrue
he said.
The witness knew Egan's writing and signature,
and was convinced that Fgan wrote the letters ascrbcd
to him. Murphy was dlspleased with the rcfusai 20
return the letters He said no would prefer 70 pay
Pigott himself something rather than to lose possession
Of the letters. The witness saw Hayes the proS'oo
OF the y. II. b. and Casey, Fcnian, IN PARIS
Sir Charles Russell here objected TO the aon1so.
Of evidence as to what passed between hayes anu
Casey and the wlfness.
After long wrange Mr. Davitt ross anu sa'" ''i4'
he had seen Casey and Hayes in Paris SINCE 'no ~p
pointInent OF the Commission.
Pigoh fesumiDg, said he first heard OF tne cA'seno
Of other letters at the beginning OF 1883 hs nam
was Thomas Brown, member OF the Ciah-na"ao
Hayes introduced Brown and the witness in 'no Nae
Royale, Rue 81. Honore, Paris. Brown prhu0oi 'Ho
letters and The witness sent 10 Houston copies VI wv
OF ParneIs and one of Egsns Pigott haa no' 'no
slightest doubt that tho signatures were genuine. ~
1r--.s--x - o...nd paae1