The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-03
DAVITT ON THE STAND.
he GIVES HIS OWN VIEWS TO
THE PARNELL COMMISSION,


Alexander Sullivan - The Phenix
Park Murders Recalled.
LONDON, July 2-Michael Davitt was
examined before the Parnell commission
to-day. MIR. Davitt declared that there was
no. truth in the evidence given by LeCaron
before the commission concerning the pro-
posal OF John Dewey being submitted to
Mr.. Parnell. Mr.. Parneu had nothing
to do with the witness trip to America in
1878
Mr.. Davitt stated that while in America
ne attended meetings of the Clan-na-CIael-
at which he explained the objects of the
land league and tried 20 win the Clan-na-
Gael to its support The Clan-na- Gael, he
said, included some Of the best Trishman in
America. 1t was no more a murder club
than was the Carlton CLUB of London.
| mere was no alliance between it and tha
league in Ireland. The league movement
In America won the support Of all the Irish
In America to Mr.. Parnel.
AN ADHIRER OF FORD.
MIR. Davitt said he never met a better
man as phllanthropist and christian than
Fatrlck Ford. lie was very sorry that for
a few months after the league was estab
nshed Mr.. Ford openly advocated the use of
uynamlte. The witness wrote him expoS-
tulating against his Endorsement Of such a
ilne or action, and ultimately Mr. Ford re-
turned to the policy adopted by Mr.. Par
hells followers, and now honestly advocates
| constitutional agitation. The witness said
ne himself was opposed to the use of dyna-
mite, because it was an immoral and I'M
manly style of warfare.
NOT OPPOSED TO PHYSICAL FORCE.
he was not opposed to physical force if
In resorting thereto there was a reasonable
chance OF success. The league did not pro-
vlue Tor tho circulation of the Irish World
in ireland. Mr.. Ford sent copies over
through the "Sproad-the-light fund land
tne witness paid the postage. The league
did not circulate the letter Of John Devov
ON The New DEPARTURE extracts from
winch were quoted by Attorney General
webster, counsel for the Times MIR. Davitt
| said he had known Alexander Sullivan
since 1878, and had the highest opinion Of
ms ability as lawyer, his character as a
cltlzen and his honor as a man. He did not
oeneVe him to be capable of any dish onora1
| BILE act.
DENOUNCED OUTRAGES
Tho witness returned to Ireland from
Amerlca In December, 1880. He had then
framed and issued circular to the Irish
| people and had delivered thirty speeches
denouneing outrages. Hebelieved outrages
were due TO the agitation Of local agrarian
| bodies, composed chiefly of the sons of small
tenant farmers When the witness was re-
leased from prison on May 6, 1882, Messrs.
Farnell and Dillon had informed
MN that they were hopeful of
! change In the governments poIicv.
Ihe witness was glad that there was a PROS
peot OF agitation ceasing He disliked
agitation and would willingly abandon n
tomorrow If he saw some Justice done to
Ireland. He could not abandon it other-
wise.
THE PHGNIx PARK MURDERS.
In reference to the Phoenix park murders
Mr. Davitt said: "Mr. Parnell came to me-
on the Sunday following the dav of the
murders utterly broken down at the news.
| lie said: 'Davitt, l shall send my resiqna-
| tlon to Cork tonight. l refuse to stay In a
movement when irresponsible men of
whom we know nothing can come be-
hind our backs and p.rnatrata
such DEEDS at took all my infuence -
said the witness, "to dfssuade him from re-.
signing. We Immediately had circulated
throughout Ireland a manifesto Condemn
ing murders There was absolutely no
ground for the suggestion that / or anv of
my colleagues were in any way privy to
crimes.
DAvITT's PUBLIC DIsAvowAIA
Beyond stating publicly in New York
in July, 1882, that / had severed my con-
nection with the revolutionary party. ex-
pressed no dissent from the Fenans. did
not attend any meeting of the Clan-na-
Gael after 1880. believe that the murders
were committed by members of the Clan
na-Gael, but the perpetrators certainly did
not have the sanction of the governing
body, nor the approval of the leaders.
When was organizing secretary, COM
mun1cated with a member of the supreme
council from my districtn
Attorney General Webster-Who was hsI
Mr. Davitt-I cannot tell you. Il would
be gross breach of trust to diyIllee hla
name, II he is still in business in England.
he might be ruined if the fact Of his con.
nection with the council was to become
known.
The Attorney General-I will not press
the question now.
QUEER NAME FOR A REVOLVER.
The witness, continuing. said that in a
letter which he wrote he mad used the word
''pen," meaning revolver. He declined to
say to whom the letter was addre ssed.
The Attorney General-Was it Arthur
Forresters
Mr.. Davitt-I cannot say without possi-
bly, lnJurlng man who greatly wronged
me-
Presiding Justice Hannen said the court
respected the motive for the witness ret-
icence, but could not recognize it as an ex-
cuse for not answering.
A LIFE IN DANGER.
Mr.. Davitt thereupon explained that the
man to whom the letter was written had
conceived hatred or another member OF
the league and wished to murder him. The
witness wrote to him appearing to sanction
the act be meditated, but really to gain
time until he could write to two superior
officers and ask them to dissuade the man
from carrying out his purpose the
expression ~ used in the letter
do not let him use the pen we have been
using" The witness wrote to two superior
officers about the matter. He could not
tell their names. He believed that both
were now in America. Mr.. Davitt said
that dear friend to whom was addressed
the letter in which the word "penn ap-
peared was now in America, and he now
publicly appealed to him to allow him to
divulge his name.
Joseph r. Cox, an irish nationalist, who
represents East Glare in the House OF
Commons, has been summoned to appear
before the Drogheda court on July S. to
answer to a charge of conspiracy.