The Delta independent., 1889-03-05

q CONFESSED FoRGER.
Pigott, the "Times" Witness Confess.
es Himself 20 be Rascal and

Escapes.
LONDON, Feb. 26.-The Parnell COM
mission resumed its sitting this morning.
Sir Charles Russell stated that on Satur-
day Richard Pigott went TO the residence
| Of Henry Labouchere, and in the presence
Of George Augustus Sala signed confes-
| sion stating that the letters upon which the
Times based its charges against the Irish
| members 80 the House of Commons were
forgeries.
Sir Charles Russell applied for a warrant
for the arrest Of Pigott; and Presiding JUS
tice Hammer said the warrant would be
ready in an hour
Attorney General Webster, for the
Times, said no other witnesses were ready
| and he would have to consider what course
to pursue. He would also have TO decide
whether or not he would resume any part
of the case.
When Pigott was called to again take the
stand he did not appear, and after the court
had waited for some time the counsel for
the Times stated TO the Judge that Pigott
had left the hotel at which he was stopping
at II o'o.ock las: night, and that the counsel
were ignorant of his whereabouts. This
statement caused sensation in the court
room.
Mr.. Soames, the solicitor of the Times,
emphatically denies doing anything di-
rectly or Indirectly to assist Pigott to
make his escape
Justice Hannen said evidence must be
called in support of the statement and Sir
Charles acquiesced- He added that the
letter and the accompanying documents
showed the means by which he had fixed
upon Pigott the forgery.
Pigott confessed to Mr.. Lewis, Mr.. Par
nell's solicitor, that he was the forger, and
Labouchere and Parnell, who were present
when this confession was made, would cor
roborate this statement
Pigott, in his confession, said he forged
| all Of the letters secured by the Times,
which purported to have been written by
Egan, Parnell, Davitt and O'Kelly. He
also admitted that he had been guilty oi
perjury in his evidence before the Commis
sion.
On Saturday Pigott, without il rvitation.
| called upon Mr.. Labouchere and stated
that he desired to make a confes sion. but
MIR. Labouchere declined TO listen unless
witnesses were present Thereupon Mir.
Sala was summoned and Pigott made the
confession.
Sir Charles added that Pigott had made
his escape, assisted by a body guard CON
sisting OF an Irish constable and two Scot
land Yard detectives Mr.. Labouchere,
Sir Charles said, had received a letter from
Egan in July, lsSs, in consequence of which
alnumber of documents We're handed Mr..
Laboucherc. Sir Charles asked permission
TO cali his witnesses to testify to this in
formation which the court ought 70 have.
Sir Charles Russell further said that
Pigot, in the presence of George Angus
tus Sala, signed a confession that the docu-
ments he has produced Were forgeries, and
that he was forger. This confession was
sent to Mr.. Lewis, who yesterday returned
1t to Pigott, saying that Mr.. Parnell re
fused to have anything to do with him.
George Augustus Sala writes TO the 7, ls
graph an article describing the interview
on Saturday between Pigott ..dti Labouch-
ere IL confirms the statement that Pigutt
went to Labouchere's house voluntarily.
The copy of the confession which Lewis OBJ
and verbally the composition of Pigott,
who confessed that he forged the Parnell
letters and minutely described the manner
in which they were written. Pigott slid
he alone executed the forgeries. Whether
he is telling the truth or another batch of
lies" says MIR. Sala, lis not for me to de
termine, but to me he seemed to be confess
ing facts and nothing but facts. No pres
sure was put upon him and no leading
questions were asked.m
Alto o'clock to night the police had not
found any trace of Pigott. The latter had
posted to his housekeeper in Dublin u
blank check with which to obtain a balance
of s5 at his bankers. Pigott has four
sons, the youngest of whom is six years of
age. His wife died eighteen months ago.
1t is believed that 'Picott has disguised
himself and either fed to Antwerp or Rot
terdam.