Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-03
OLD WORLD NOTES.
Michael Davitt on the Wit.
ness Stand.
AN EVENING IN THE COMMONS.
Victoria Demands Extra Provision
for Her Princeling's
Wedding.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD
LONDON, July 2.-Michael Davitt was
examined before the Parnel! Com mission
today concerning the proposals of John
Dewey being submitted to Parnell. Par,
nell had nothing to do with the witness
visit to America in 1878. Witness had
intended to make another visit to Amer.
lea on lecturing tour to make money to
help the agrarian movement.
Davitt stated that'while in America he
attended meetings of the Clan Ma Gael,
at which he explained the objects of the
Land League, and tried to win the Clan
Ma Gael to it's support. The Clan Ma
Gael, he said, included some Of the best
Irishmen in America, and was no more q
murder club than was the Golden Club
of London.
He eaid there was no alliance between
the Clan Ma Gael and the League in
ireland. The League movement in
America won the support OF all the IRISH
in America. To Parnell. witness said he
himself was opposed 10 the use of dyna-
mite, because il was an immoral and
unmanly style of warfare. He was not
opposed to physical force if, in resorting
thereto, there was reasonable chance of
success.
Davitt said he had known Alexander
Sullivan since 1873, and had the highest
opinion of his ability as lawyer, his
character as a citizen, his honor as
man. He did not believe him capable
of any dishonorable act.
In reference to the Phoenix Park muir
der, Davtt said: "Parnell came to me
Sunday following the day of the murders
utterly broken down at the news. He
said: 'Davitt, l shall send my resigna-
ton to Cork tonight. l refuse to stay in
a movement when irresponsible men of
whom we know nothing can come be.
hind our backs ard perpetrate such
deeds
"It took all my influence" said wit
ness, "to dissuade him from resign
ing. We Immediately had circulated
throughout Ireland manifesto con-
demning the murders. There was ab-
solutely no ground for the suggestion
that l or any of my colleagues were in
any way privy to the crimes"
He believed that outrages were due to
the agitation of local agrarian bodies,
composed principally of sons of tenant
farmers. Witness was glad there was a
prospect of agitation ceasing; he dis
liked agitation, and would willingly
abandon it tomorrow if he saw some JUS
tice done to Ireland: he could not aban-
don it otherwise.
Davitt continued "Beyond stating
publicly in New York, in July. 1882,
that had severed my connection with
the revolutionary body, expressed no
dissent of the Fenians. | did not attend
any meeting of the Clan Ma Gael after
1880. / believe murders we're 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,"
Witness, continuing, said that in a
letter which he wrote he used the word
'pen," meaning a revolver. He declined
to say to whom the letter was addressed.
Attorney-General-Was it Arthur For
rester?
Davitt-I cannot say without possibly
injuring man who greatly wronged me.
Presiding Justice Harmon said the
Court respected the motive for the wit
ness'reticency, but could not recognize it
as an excuse for not answering Davitt
IuoToupOu edld bu6 uudu W WuOLu tut
letter was written had conceived hatred
for another member of the League, and
wished to murder him. Witness wrote
to him appearing to sanction the
act he meditated, but really to
gain time until he could write to two
superior officers and ask them to dis
suade the man from carrying out his
purpose. The expression used in the
letter was: "Whoever is employed, do
not let him use the pen we have been
using" Witness wrote to two superior
officers about the matter; he could not
tell their names. Dsvitt said the dear
friend to whom was addressed the letter
in which the word "pen" appeared, was
now in America and he appealed to him
to divulge his name.