Wichita eagle., 1889-02-23
THE LIES ACKNOWLEDGED.
Witness Piggott Admits That Re Wrote
Many Untruths at Various Times.

LONDON, Feb. 22-The court room was
crowded again this morning when the
Parnell commission reaSsembled. The
cross-examination of Richard Piggott was
continued He admitted writing a letter
to Archbishop Walsh, which Sir Charles
Russell exhibited in court and which con-
tanned statement that the documentary
and personal evidence to be produced be-
fore the commission could be rendered
harmless by an exposure OF the means by
whicbIt had been obtained.
At tne suggestion OF Presiding Justice
Harmon, Archbishop Walsh'S letter to
Piggott, part of when was read yesterday,
was read in eXtenso. The archbishop re-
ferred to the fact that there had been sys-
tematic lying concerning the nationallsts'
cause.
The witness now admitted receiving
this letter He said that when he wrote to
she arch bishop he was in very distressed
circumstances, owing to having received
10 money from Mr.. Houston. Witness
outside work had been neglected and lost.
He therefore wrote to Arch bishop Walsh,
hoping that be would submit the matter to
the Parnellite members of the house of
commons and induce them TO provide wit
hess with means with which to leave the
country in return for information witness
would give. Witness was startled and
surprised when the letters appeared in the
Times and considered IL breach Of faith
He wrote to Houston strongly protesting
against their publication.
Sir Charles Russell demanded that this
letter be produced.
Houston here said he had forgotten re-
ceiving it. On being further pressed Pig
gott voluntarily exclaimed: Il may say at
once that the statements | made to Arch
bishop Walsh were unfound"d. This
statement produced a sensation"
Sir Charles Russell then said to the wit
ness: You deliberately wrote lies?"
Witness replied: We'll, eXaggerationS."
tons have no TRUTH"
Witness: VERY little laughter. ] for
got what meant when | wrote TO Arch
bishop Walsh that the charges were a mix
uure of what | believed to be true and I'M
true'
Witness only remembered making one
proposition, namely, that he had been
shown compromising letters. His opinion
having been asked as to the genuine
ness of the letters he had stated that the
letters credited to MIR. Parnell were rather
doubtful. This statement created a sensa-
ton in the court room.
Witness further testified that he would
not swear that he had not told Archbishop
Walsh that the letters were forgerieS.
Laughter. He doubted the authenticity
Of the letters because he did not know the
hand writing of the bodies OF them. He
believed he told Archbishop Walsh that he
thought TIE Egau letters were genuine but
would not swear that he did.
Sir Charles Russell read from letter to
Archbishop Walsh from Piggott in which
h said: Il trust your grace will do me the
justice to believe that | am bot the fabri-
Gator Of the letters as is falsely alleged"
Sir Charles asked, Who was the fabri-
cator."
Witness replied that he did not know.
SIR CharleS-'Did you believe there was
fabrication"
Witness-'No"
This answer caused laughter Mr. Wey-
mess produced a letter from Piggott to the
late William +. Forester. the secretary for
Ireland, dated June =. 1881. in which he
offered Mr.. Forester papers which he said
would break up the league Tor 1850 or
$1,000 Witness said the issue of the Irish
man, the paper printed by Piggott, de-
pended upon his receiving this sum, for
mis- creditors were pressing him. Mr..
Forester on June 30, refused TO accept this
offer.
At Presiding Justice lannon's sugges-
ton Sir Charles Russell agreed to read
selections from the letters instead of the
whole of them.
Witness continued that he had been in
straits since 1881 and had anxiously turned
10 every quarter for money. Sir Charles
produced a batch of letters written by
PigGott to Egan including one written on
February %, 1851, in which the writer
asked Mr.. Egan to give him an address at
which he could write TO Mir. Parneil, with
whom he wished To communicate on
matter of vital Importance.
PigGott said he had forgotten the letter
bat admitted he must have written it, He
had not the slightest idea as TO what the
important matter referred to WAS. On be-
ing hard pressed and after fencing he i'd
united he must have received an answer.
but had forgotten whether or not il di-
rected him to write under cover TO Ma
dame Ruyere, 80 Avenue de Nillieres,
Paris.
Sir Charles read from letter from Pig
gott to Mr.. Egan, written on February
y, IN which 1t Was stated he (Piggott) had
received an anonymous letter from two
gentlemen who would call upon
and submit to fiSgott a proposal greatly
to his advantage. They came but declined
10 give their names. They had an inter
view lasting two hours, during which they
asked him 10 publish statement which
was an outra gecus libel about the SPEND
ing of league funds and which was TO be
so constructed that its publication would
do much harm. He added they were badly
in want of e5o0 but would be satisfied with
$500 in addition TO the goo already sent
IN consideration or his paper. Piggott
concluded the letter by saying: Bad as
am l can only say that have always been
true 10 those who trusted me" Laughter
Mr.. Ried produced letters written by
Piggott TO Mr.. Forster in which Piggott
asked loan. After much writing IN
which Piggott pleaded poverty. Mr., Fors-
ter sent him geo, a private losn. Some
time later as matter OF personal
sympathy Mr.. Forster loaned Piggott
$50 TO enable him to go TO America.
Piggott did not go, however, but renewed
his applications for money until Mr.
Forster granted him an interview.
Sir Charles Russell produced letter after
letter including Piggott's demand for a
loan OF eco TO enable him TO go to
Australia, until the witness became dazed
and forgot veryShing.
The commission then adjourned