New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-27
PlGOTTS CONFESSION.


PIGOTTS CONFESSION
pioott has cheated Sir Charles Russell ont
of the spectacular effect of an exposure oil toe
forger in open court. That triumph wonid
inevitably have followed the witnesses return
to the stand. The first days cross-examina-
ton had completely destroyed Pigotts credi-
bility, and had convinced every spectator thao
he had forged the letters. Another days ex-
animation. with evidence in reserve showing
that he had been forger and biackmailer De
fore the infamous traffic in the Parnell letters
began, would have brought him to his knees
and wrung from him confession OF quit
For that denouement the English puoho was
fully prepared, and Sir Charles Russell would
have brought on the catastrophe with Ora
matte effect. Pigott was inextricably en-
meshed in his own lies and perluries ana
escape was impossible. His resources OF dls-
stimulation and effrontery were exhausted. Ills
powers of physical endurance were unequal
to another day of torture. His craven heart
and every ouiyering nerve in his covering
body cried out for a respite. Face his tor
mentor in open court again he could not ana
would not If he must confess, he must do IL
in a sneaking and double-faced way, giving
first one version and then another, and then
take refuge in flight disappearing in outer
darkness as the meanest and most deSpicable
of modern criminals. To have thrown himself
upon the mercy of the court and told the plain
facts of his guilt would have required at least
spark of maulness in the baiiled creatures
character. The chief witness of The London
Tines and the Coercion Government did not
have within him the faintest glmmer Of honor
or decency.
So vanishes from sight the infamous sneak
on whose lying words the prosecution depended
for justification Of the libels against the Irish
leaders. The announcement Of the confession
was received with apparent signs OF consterna-
ton by the prosecution, but Sir Richard
Webster was all eady aware Of Pigotts flight,
and we strongly suspect that he was greatly
relieved by the forger's disappearance. Fri
days proceedings must have been almost as
kagonizng for him as for Pigott, and he knew
what would DO the result Of another days
cross examination. II the collapse Of tho case
| must come, let nina be spared the humillat on
of having his own witness denouncing himself
as a forger and perMrer in open court. Let
his learned opponents suffer from sense OF
disappointment in having their elaborate ar
rangements for convicting Pigott upset. He
and his associates disclaimed any knowledge
| of or completely with the forgeFs disappear
ance, but manifestly they profted by it, and
neglected to take adequate precautions to have
him watched and guarded over Sunday. These
| judicious advisers knew that their case had
collapsed last week, and that they would be
exposed TO the charges Of conspiracy which
Sir Charles Russell made yesterday Appar-
entity Pig0tt was allowed to escape, not perhaps
| with the conniyance Of the counsel or their
clients, but through intentional oversight, be
cause 1t was inconvenient to have this branch
Of the case prolonged.
| Sir Charles Russell was foiled by Pigott and
| held under rigid restraint by the court in the
dramatic scene SO admirably described in Mr.
Smaley's cable letters but his indictment OF
conspiracy will be heard before the bar Of pub
lie opinion in England. The disclosures Of the
last fortnight have established the innocence
Of Mr.. Parnell and his associates, ant the AZ
solute worthlessness Of the documentary evil
dence on which the prosecution grounded rs
case Although Mr. Houston, Mr. Macdonald
and MIR. Soames may have acted in good faith
at the outset, the counsel for the prosecution
have known for many months that Pigott had
been trying TO betray them and sell teen out
| and would prove a fatal witness for therl. They
obtained recantation Of his first admissions
to Mr.. Labouchere and Mr.. Lewis, and were
successful in inducing him to invalidate mis-
latest confession. They knew that he was
whining for money and was begging them not
TO put him on the witness-stand; they must
have anticipated the final collapse; yet they
have persisted in prolonging the investigation
for weeks, and have made desperate effor to
make out their case against the Irish leaders.
All these things have the semblance Of con-
spracy -----.----------