The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-21
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Important Evidence Before the
PameII Commission,
LETTERS BURNED,
The Sultan of Morocco cedcs lands
to Germany-Ieport of Diminish,
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court room and It's precincts were
crowded. Mr., Parnell was present,
Mr., Houston, Secretary Of the Irish
Loyal and Patriotic Union, was further
cross,examiped, He said he destroyed
Pigott's letters to, him in accordance
with an agreement made between them
that they were intended for the witness
eye alone and were not to be used pub.
liCIy, Up to the time the witness went
to Paris, Pigott had not given him the
names Of anyof the persons connected
with the letters secured by tho Times.
He did not consider that a knowledge
OF tho men from whom the letters were
obtained was important in connection
with the question OF their genuineness.
Witness said his part was done when
the letters were obtained. He accepted
them without securing any means OF
testing Pigott's statement In the event OF
their genuineness being questioned, be.
cause he understood that 1t was useless
TO attempt to make a complete case, and
further Inquiries would only handicap
himself. He had no means whatever OF
testing any part OF Pigotts story, which
Is regarded Us probable, especially us the
newspaper reports Of the dispute between
Mr.. Parnell and the American extremists
to some extent confirmed Pigott's story
that the letters were left In q bag found
In a room in Paris.
Witness showed the letters to Lord
Harrington, and asked his advice as 10
their disposition, but his Lordship re-
fused to advise him. He did not offer
the letters to the Pail Nall Gazette. He
saw Mr.. Stead, editor OF the Gazette, be-
foro he obtained possession OF the letters,
and asked him to make up matter which
would lead to the disclosures, Mr.. Stead
said he had lost $4,000 by the publica.
ton OF the "AIodern Babylon" articles,
and he would not like to touch anything
else unless he knew 1t would be success.
iul.
When witness visited Paris he had no
genuine specimens OF either Mr.. Parnell's
or Mr.. Egan's writing. He accepted the
letters solely on Plgott's word. "If,"
said the witness, "pigott had been needy
or fraudulent enough to attempt to com.
nit perjury, my action would have as
sisted him; but ! do not admit that he
was either. plgott's interview with Mr..
Labouchere shook my faith In him, and,
therefore, my mind was not easy until
he had signed the sworn declaration"
Witness further said he might have
told Mr.. Stead that Messrs. Sexton aud
Dillon were implicated n the Phoenix
Park murders, but II he did so 1t was on
the authority Of a statement made by
Eugene Davis to Plgott, copy Of which
was produced by the witness. He did
not know where the original was. Two
days before the Commission opened
Pigott wrote him an abusive letter, de-
mGnding that after giving testimony be-
fore the Commission he should be given
5000 pounds.
Mr.. Houston, in tho Course OF his tes.
timony said: Pigott only repeated what
other persons said. Between October,
1885, and January, 1888, he paid Plgott
$500 pounds, but the Times paid the
bills from May, 1887. lie understood
that Pigott obtained the second batch OF
letters from the same friends that sup
piled the first batch, but he did not in
Iuire about the matter. He did not
think 1t strange that the second batch
was not obtained earlier.
"Egan was in Paris with Parnell,
o'Kelly, Dillon, Brennan and Harris, in
1881. He told Davis that he had had a
long conference with those gentlemen
and that they had all agreed that the
situation rendered reprisals against Eng
land imperative and that England's
power could be neutralized only by re-
moving Us many OF her leading men as
possible. Walsh Sheridan and others
were to be sent to Ireland to plan the
murders. Immediately after Parnell's
arrest Egan appealed to the Fenian
leaders 10 execute the work more ener.
getically. Walsh went to Dublin and
appointed Carey, Mullet and Curley
as his chief men. lyman, Byrne,
Colbert and Sheridan were also
associated with him, Egan was
invariably consulted regarding projected
outrages and murders. Egan strongly
reproved lyman for failing 10 appear at
Kfngbridge in time to give the signal for
Mr.. Forster's murder. Davis was pres
ent in cafe In Paris when lyman re.
lated the whole history Of the Phoenix
Park murders. lyman took pride in
having given the signal for the attack.
Egan pfoiessed to be highly delighted,
but regretted that lyman had not COM
inenccd work earlier. Egan gave Byrne
the letter, a fac simile OF which was pub.
lished by the Times. There was a plot
to murder the Prince Of Wales and Mr..
Gladstone during the carnival at Cannes.
Byrne and lyman were within striking
distance, but did not attempt to carry
out the plan"
Houston, under Cross.examlnation,
said he did not regard all OF this state.
ment as accurate. This reply was greet
ed with laughter.
Houston said that the suggestion that
he destroyed Plgott's letters because they
cast doubt upon tho gcnuineness Of let
ters published by the Times, was with
out foundation. He destroyed them DO.
cause he believed that II they were
allowed to exist and were published the
lives OF certain persons would bo placed
al the mercy Of certain agSasslns.
Richard Plgott, well dressed and be.
nevolent looking man, apparently about
sixty years Of age, was then called. He
testified that he was proprietor Of the
Fenlan organ, The lriShmdn, In 1865.
He belonged 10 tho Supreme Council +.
B. All members Of tho Amnesty AsSo;
citation In 1870 were Fenlans, parnell
belonged, and about 1871 bigger, barry,
Harris, Nearey, Mullett aud Murphy 30.
longed TO tho Supreme Council Of tho
!. Il. Il. Witness belonged 10 the !. II.
Is, until August, 1881. He was not an
active member. lie detailed the nego'
tialions Ia 1870, by which Tho Ir,i,hman
and tho Flag Of Ireland were sold 70 a
company In which parnell and Eg4tl
were shareholders, Ho did not doubt
that the League provided tho money
Tho Commission here Adjourned
New aSrman Naval station.