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

forgeries many years before. But the idea tnat
he might be concerned in these seemed absurd
In scrutinizing the forged fac-sim1les ne hnaiV
discovered that one signed with his OWL anne was
written avowedly at a certain address in Parls ana
the recollection flashed upon him that Plgott was
the only man to whom he had ever given IL
Pigott had written 10 him asking for connoenuai
address TO which he might send important ihiorna-
ton and Egan, desiring to learn what ~ was Sc
cured this address, which proved the key to the
forgeEics.
sy,sprcroNs CONFIRMED BY EXPERTS.
se,,an who is methodical in habit had saved
n;s eorrsspondence for years. Instead of keeping
le,tsr- press. he has been accustomed to writing
mn tba AvIeAf of letter received his answer there
70. and then copying the answer TO be sent TO ms
correspondent. Thus he had letters and answers
,ngcther He searched his volumes OF letters
until he found Pigott's. BY comparing them WITH
the handwriting on the forged letters ne saw tnao
he had the forger. lie submitted htters WRITTEN
by Pigott to experts together with the fac-smiles
OF the forged letters. They Immediately detec'eo
characteristic peculiarities which were confirmed
under the microscope.
Ecnn had Pigotys letters and the fcrgerles
photographed and started for Chicago, Were no
placed all the papers before his friend, Alexander
Sullivan. who is also a solicitor. The bref was
drawn M By him and Sullivan In the latter's
Office in Chicago II related the chief incidents
in Pgotts career, and showed that he had oeen
forger before Years before, when Pigott triea
70 sell " The Irishman' "a newspaper to Parnei
and Egan, he furnished an inventory apparently
authenticated by weil-known Dublin accountants
showing the value Of the property Egan proven
that the inventory was false and that Pgott haa
forged the accountants signature TO IL figo"
was caught in another similar transaction In
tho office of Pieott's newspaper was man who
contributed to a The Boston Pilot his nom
dc plume WAS LEO" After his death a
relative discovered that Patrick Dona-
hue then Editor of The Pilot" had re-
mitted to Leo" q draft which his family never
received and that Pigott had opened the letter
taken the draft intended for Leo, forged his
Endorsement. and drawn the money. Pigott was
compelled to disgorge. These facts Egan COM
United in writing
THE FoRGER's SKILL AND CUNNING
Ecan had meanwhile ascertsined the process
BY which Pgott made the spurious letters ne
found among his papers some letters written ny
him In which entire sentences appeared that
were also in the forged letters P1gott had
traoed these sentences carefully word for word
Then he interpolated, added, other sentences or
phrases completely changing the meaning OIL she
whole letter, while preserving the integrity OF por
tions. Dates were also changed 10 MAKE inc
criminal interpretations applicable TO illegal events
Egan also found letters by Psrnell. which had
been similarly used. Photographs oil all THESE ana
Of Pigott's begging and matchmaking letters were
enclosed with the originals in tie package with
the memoranda recalling TO Parnel oil the cir
corss,anees attending the Writing or recepuoh Oh
each>
This was the precious piece Of luggage the young
CLERGYMAN took TO Parnell Until il came The
Tjmesp case was as invulnerable as fraudulent
No hint of the contents of the package ever be-
,.,me nubo until Parnell himself in the interview
he had with Pgott in the presence OF Labouchere
and Lewis asked Pigott certain questions whlcn
disclosed 10 the culprit that evidence was secureo
eonyicting him of the crime. Pgott eisner IT,
,o,t.d his fears To 1.-THE Times" or watched by
&c detect;ves and traced into Parnehs presence.
Then me had to confess partially TO his employers,
ond ,be Attorney General and his colleague then
compeIled Le Caron TO testify and be as mapSnsnV
ne possible swearing that Parnell declared 70 lie
Caron that he favored armed revolution ana tha'
Alexander Sullivan got him lie caronl INTO SC
crct revolutionary organization. ihis was ior tne
m,rpose Of breaking the force OF Psrneifs inior-
nation about Pigott's antecedents.
But Pigott had no suspicion OF the over"neim-
ING com pleteness of the knowledge conveyed IN
the uacage to Parnell and did not realize unui
ho cot into Sir Charles RusselPs clutches that no
calamity could impair the fatal effect upon
him and ON The Timess" case of what Parneh
knew. Had Egan not made the discovery. tne
truth of the letters could have only been denied.
but their falsehood could never have been Demon
strated.