The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-07-03
LEFT TO HONOR.
Michael Dayitt Tells About Irish
Affairs and the Clan-na-6ael
TO the Commission.
Alexander Sullivan a Brilliant Lawyer
and Man Above Disreputabie
Acts in His Opinion.
Pressed to Tell a Mans Name, DavItt Re
fuses and Leaves It the Party
Concerned To Reveal

LONDON. July 2-Michael Davitt was
examined before the ParnelI commission
to-day. Davitt declared that there was nc
truth in the account given by LeCaron be-
fore the commission concerning the pro-
posal Of John Dewey being submitted to
ParnelL ParnelI had nothing TO do with
witness visit to America in ISIS. Witness
had intended TO make another visit 10
America on a lecturing tour to raise mOney
TO help the sgrarian movement Davitt
stated that while in America he attended
meetings of the Clan-na-G at which he
explained the objects of the league and
tried 10 win the ClRn-na-Gael TO its sup
port The Clan-na-Gael, be said, included
some of the best lrishmen in America II
was no more a murder club than was the
Carlton club of London. There was no
alliance between the Cian-na-Gael and the
league in Ireland The league movement
IN America had won the support of all the
Irish In America TO Parnell. DHvitt said
he had known Alexander Sullivan since
1873 and had the highest opinion OF his
ability as a lawyer, his character as a citi-
zen and his honor as a man. be did not
believe him capable of any dIshonorabie
act
In reference to,the Phenix park murders
Davitt said: .'PaTnell came to me On the
sunday following the day of the murders,
utterly broken down at the news. He said:
'Davitt, l shall send my resignation tO Cork
tonight i refuse TO stay In a movement
when irresponsible men, of whom We
know nothing, can come behind our backs
amt perpetrate such deeds Ii took all my
influence" said the witness, ''tO dissuade
him from resiRniDg- We Immediately had
circulated throughout Ireland a manifesto
condcmning the murder. There was absO
lutely no ground for the suggestion that
or any of ny colleagues were in any way
privy To the crimes"
Davitt continued: Il stated publicly in
New York, July 2, 1882, that | hard severed
my connection with the revolutionary
body. l expressed no dissent of the Fen
ians. / did not attend any meeting of the
Clan-na Gael after 1850. | believe murders
were committed by members OF the Clan
na-GAel, but the perpetrators certainly did
not have the sanction of the governing
body, nor the approval of the leaders"
The witness, continuing. said that in let
ter which he wrote he used the word
pen" meaning revolver. He declined to
say to whom the letter was addressed.
Attorney IL Arthur For
rester?
Davitt-I cannot say without possibly in
lurlng man who greatly wrOnged me.
Presiding Justice Hannen said the court
respected the motive of witness retieence
but could not recognize it as an excuse for
not answering.
Davitt thereupon said the man TO whom
the letter was written had conceived a |
hatred for another member of the league /
and wished TO murder him. Witness wrote /
10 him appearing 10 sanction the act. He /
did this 70 gain time until he could write TO |
Two superior officers and ask them TO dis /
suade the man from carrying out his pur- /
pose. The expression used in the letter
was, "WhO ever is employed, do not let
him use the pen we have been using"
Witness wrote 70 two superior officers
about the matter. He could not tell their
names. Davitt said the dear friend to
whom was addressed the letter in which
he word pen appeared was now in Ameri-
"a. and he publicly appealed TO him to di-
N loo his