Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-20


resorted to in order to avoid revealing i'm
portant information. A statement of the
money paid for the published letters was
secured. Parnel was present.
LONDON, February 19.-It was large
and interested crowd which attended the
hearing before the Parnell Commission to-
day, for it was understood that Mr.. Mac
Donald, the manager of the Times would
be cross-examined by the legal advisers of
the Irish leader The witness had very
poor memory concerning many pointed
questions, and absolutely refused to answer
others, for which he was severely rebuked
by Presiding Justice Hannen.
Mcdonald testified that he paid Houston
e55O for the Parnel letter of the 10th of
June and for Egan's letter to Carey. The
total payments made to Houston amounted
to 6, $50. He particularly avoided asking
from what source the letters were obtained,
because Houston said he was bound to Sc
crecy, which he asked the witness to respect
Mr.. Macdonald said the Times statement
that knives and firearms were kept in the
League Office in London was based upon in
formation supplied TO the writer of the arti-
Gle in which the statement was made. He
did not know directly who wrote the arti-
Gle, and he was not bound to tell if he did
know.
Mr.. Asquith-Will you find out?
Presiding Justice Hannen-The witness
says he cannot tell you. l do not know that
he is bound to inquire.
CoRNERING THE MANAGER.
Mr.. Asquith pressed the question. Sir
Charles Russell submitted that tine witness
was bound to inquire. Attorney General
Webster said that he could not accede to
the witness going out of court to obtain in
formation that was not within witness own
knowledge. Mr.. Asquith again asked the
witness to obtain the names of the writers
of the articles in the Times. Presiding
Justice Hammer ruled that counsel was not
entitled to ask the witness to make inquiries,
but might question him as to anything
within his knowledge in connection with
specific facts.
Mr. Macdonald finally said thai Mr.
Flanagan wrote the articles that appeared
on March and March 10, 1887. He had
forgotten who wrote the others. Mr.. Par
nelI's alleged letter to Piggott was then pro-
duced. Presiding Justice Hannen asked
whether it was admitted that the letter was
genuine, and Sir Charles Russell replied
''Oh, no."
Attorney General Webster then called
Mr.. 1ngles, writing expert to the stand,
whereupon there was sharp encounter, Sir
Charles Russell cohtending that justice de-
manded that the source of the letter should
be revealed before he was called upon to
cross-examine experts.
A POINT FOR PARNELL.
Presiding Justice Hannen thought that
inquiry should now be made as to the source
of the letters Mr. Houston Secretary of
the Loyal and Patriotic League, was then |
sworn. He testified that he first knew Pig |
gott in the autumn of 1885, in consequence
of a communication from Piggott regarding
John Devoy. Witness inquired as to the
Irish American organizations, and instruct
ed Piggott TO try to- substantiate his state
ments regarding Parnellites and crime
The pamphlet entitled "Parnellism un-
masked" was based upon Piggott's informa-
tion regarding Dewey. In December, 1885,
witness asked Piggott to supply further in
formation for newspaper publication. He
agreed to pay Piggott a guinea daily for
hotel and travelling expenses. Later Pig
gott said it was useless TO corfne his atten-
tion to Dublin and asked that his expenses
be paid to Paris Plggott wrote to Eugene
Davis, who, Piggott said, could assist in the
investigation.
Reference was made to a letter and wit |
ness instructed Piggott, if possible, to pro-
cure the letter. Piggott repeatedly went to |
Paris, and finally told witness that none of |
the letters could be given up without the |
consent OF person in New York. Piggott |
supplied copies of five Parnell letters and |
six Egan letters.
DOODLE CALLED FOR.
Witness not having sufficient money to
send Piggott to America, saw Mr.. Buckle, |
editor of the Times, in 1886, but Buckle de- /
clined to take up the matter. Piggott re.
turned from America with a sealed letter,
which he said he obtained from Breslin, and
which contained instructions 10 person in
Paris to, give up the letters on certain con-
ditions. \ Piggott went to Paris repeatedly
before he obtained the letters.
Witness asked Macdonald to test the
genuineness of the letters, and said that if
they were used he expected to tobereimbursed
for his expenditures. Up to the time of
their publication he had not bargained for
payment for the letters, but he made it a
condition that the Times alone should be
responsible for their publication. Witness
had nothing to do with the testing of the
signatures, and was completely ignorant of
the process by which they were tested.
Under rcroSs-examination Houston said he
did not know that PiggotG was in pecuniary
straits when he asked him to discover the
documents. He told him that if the letters
were forthcoming and were genuine they
would be paid for AT this point the COM
mission adjourned.