The morning news., 1889-02-20
FpISTLES OF THE CELTS.
run ANIMATION OF MACDON-
AID CONTINUED.

a
.u,zvded to-day when the Parnel commits
eion resumed its sitting. Henry Labouchere.
1obn Morley. George Slaw Lefevre and
other prominent persons were present.
Mr. Macdonald manager of the Times,
-,as the first witness called. He was GROSS
.xarnined by the counsel for the Parnell-
iros He declined to say whether he re-
,,ordAd the letters of Jan. 8 and May 15 as
the only important ones among the first
five which Mr Houston, secretary OF the
Irish Loyal and Patriotic Union, handed
to him.
Presiding Justice Hannen sharply rebuked
the witness for his refusal.
Mr. Mcdonald, in reply to further ques-
tions said the letters had to be taken as
whole. and that as a whole they were com
promising. He particularly avoided asking
from what source the letters were obtained,
because Mr.. Houston said he was bound to
secrecy. whicn he asked the witness to re-
snect The witness first knew that Plggott,
former editor Of the IriShnlan, supplied
then at about the time the publication of
the articles on "ParnelliSm and Crime" was
begun.
HARRINGTON NOT INVOLVED.
He did not know that the letters had been
show TO the Marquis of Harrington, who,
he asserted, had nothing to do, directly or
indirectly, with their publication. MIR.
Houston showed the witness, as tending to
confirm the genuineness OF tue writing,
letter written by Mr.. Parnell to Mr. Piggott
which was not submitted to the experts be-
cause it was private and confidential. The
witness said he forgot whether, when he
submitted the Egan letters to the expert, he
also submitted other specimens of MIR.
Egans writing He could not be positive
Of
Mr. EZan's writing. He forgot what
material he gave the expert to enable him
to ascertain whether the letters were genu-
inc.
SURE OF THEIR GENUINENESS.
He was convinced that the Egan and Par
nell letters were genuine before the first
article of "Parnelism and Crime" was
published by the Times. He did not think
that the body of the letter Of Jan. 8 was in
the writing of Mr.. Campbell, Mr.. Parnells
secretary He had not noticed any SINH
larity between that and the Egan letters.
The witness paid Mr.. Houston 4550
for the Parnell letter of June l6, and
for Mr.. Egan's letter to Carey. The total
paymeuts made to Houston amounted to
G2,530. The payments were made by eMr.
Walters checks drawn in favor of Mr..
Soames, the Times solicitor. Mr.. Houston
did not bring the envelopes with the let
ters The witness did not ask about them,
assuming that they had been destroyed.
STORING OF FIREARMS.
Mr.. Mcdonald said the Tunes statement
that knives and firearms were kept in the
league office in London, was based on in
formation supplied to the writer of the
article, in which the statement was made.
He did not know directly who wrote the
article. and he was not bound to tell if ho
did know. The editor OF the Times was re-
spOnsible for the statements made in the
paper, and therefore the counsel was not
entitled to demand by force thenames of the
contributors.
At this point in the proceedings Mr..
Parnell, warmly enveloped in long cloak,
though the weather was mild, entered the
court room and took a seat at the solicitors
table.
DEMAND FOR THE WRITER'S NAME.
Mr. Asauith of counsel for Mr.. Parnell
upheld that he was entitled to demand the
name OF the writer of the article because he
was bound to test the truth Of such grave
statement
Sir Charles Russell supported Mr.. As
quith, arguing that the question was rele-
want
The court ruled that Mr.. Asquith was en-
titled to investigate this matter in order to
ascertain the foundation of the statement.
MORE THAN ONE AUTHOR.
The witness said that he could not name
the writer without making inquiries. The
"Parnellism and Crime" series of articles
was not written by one author. Several
persons contributed. Mr.. Soames was mis-
informed when he stated that Mr.. III nni-
gan wrote the series. II Mr.. Asquith's
question had been put within six months
alter the appearance of the articles, the
witness said he might have been enabled to
name the writer. 1t was doubtful whether
he could now, and as Mr.. Asquith had men
toned the date of the article as June 13,
1884, the witness was not sure that the
statement was based upon information sup
Piled to the writer.
MADE NO INQUIRY.
He never inquired from what source the
Information was obtained The article
accusing Mr.. Parnell of supplying Byrne
with funds with which to escape was based
on letter which Mr.. Russell had admitted
was authentic. The witness could not name
the writer Of the article off hand. No per
sons were specifically employed to write
about "Parnelism and Crime The arti-
cies were written in the ordinary course OF
business. He could not mention a few of
the writer's. He considered the request to
90 so unreasonable.
Mr.. Asquith-Will Won find outa
The Presiding Justice-The witness says
that he cannot tell YOU do not know that
he ls bound to inquire.
hlr. Asquith presented the question
MIR. Russell submitted that the witness
was bound to inquire
Judge Smith, one of the commission, asked
Slr Charles to quote his autho ity.
Sir Charles contended that it was every
oay practice to require witness to produce
diary
Attorney General Webster said he could
not accede to the witness goingout Of court
10 obtain information that was not within
the witness own knowledge.
Mr.. Asquith asked the witness to obtain
the names OF the writers of the articles in
the Times.
AN APPEAL TO THE BENCH.
3. Mr.. Mcdonald appealed to the bench for
directions whether he was compelled to
answer.
Attorney General Webster objected gen
orally to the questions
Presiding Justice Hannen ruled that the
counsel was not entitled TO ask witness to
MAKE Inquiries, but might question him as
70 anything within his knowledge in con-
hection with specific facts
Mr.. Mcdonald finally said that Flanni-
gan wrote the articles that appeared on
march and March 10. 1887. He had for
gotten who wrote the others.
PARNELL's LETTER TO PIGGoTT.
MIR. Parnells alleged letter to Mr.. Piggott
was then produced. Presiding Justice
hannen asked whether il was admitted