The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-03-01
TIE SPECIAL COMMISSION.

Mr.. Parnell then moved for special
committee OF the Commons to inquire
into the authenticity OF the letters, but
the Government refused TO allow even
the discussion OF the motion. A day or
two later, however, tho Government
proposed to appoint q commission OF
three judges TO inquire into all the state
ments made by the Attorney General in
his speech. The Times accepted this
proposal, and Mr.. w. II. Smith, the
Government leader, admitted during the
debate that tho proposal was made only
after conference with "his friend, Mr..
Walter" the chief proprietor OF tho
Times. Mr.. Parnell would not express
approval or disapproval OF the commits.
sion, but left the decision to the House.
He labored hard to have it arranged SO
that only the authenticity Of the letters
should DO investigated. The Govern
ment and Times would not submit to
this, and on August 8, 1888, the bill up
pointing the commission was passed by
astringent application Of cloture after an
acrimonious debate. Not an amend.
ment proposed by liberal or Parnellite
was accepted. The appointment Of
Judges Hammer, Smith and Day was ro.
garded as especially favorable to the
Times, and Justice Day was bitterly
assaulted as an outspoken Tory partisan.
The commission met on September II
and arranged the mode Of procedure.
Ex.Attorney General Sir Charles Rus.
sell, NJ. p, Herbert AsQuith, NJ. p, and
Mr.. Wemyss Reid, instructed by Mr..
George Lewis, the most astute solicitor
in London, appeared for tho Parnellites.
Attorney General Webster, ex.Attorney
General James, NJ. p, and Mr., Grahame,
instructed by Mr.. Soames, reputedly
clever solicitor, represented the TImeS.
The Parnellites were exceptionally for
tunate in their counsel. Sir Charles
Russell Is probably the best living cross
examiner, and Mr.. Asquith Is clever
young Scot, but in Wemyss Reid they
had an acquisition apart from his &C.
knowledged legal ability, the importance
OF which can not be over.estimated.
It has been evident since the taking
OF testimony began on October 23 last,
that the Government had placed every
facility at the disposal Of tho Times, Civ.
ing them access 10 secret documents and
archives, and permitting the police 10 as.
sist in the collection Of evidence in Ire
land. Therefore, when In the cross.ex.
animation OF Plgot, the witness was
dumbiounded by the production OF an
extended correspondence with the late
Chief Secretary Forster, proving him 10
have been a traitor, beggar and black
mailer OF the most despiCable. character,
the public was as much surprised rs the
witness and could not account for tho
possession OF Borster's papers by the Par
nellites. The explanation Is easy. Mr..
Reid as biographer and literary executor
OF Mr.. Forster published the life aud let
tiers OF tho dead statesman In two volumes
last year. In going through the letters
Mr.. Reid found Pigotts correspondence,
and used them TO tho greatest advantage.
THE ''rlMES" AND Rloorr.
Since the letters were taken UP the
collapse OF tho Times case has seemed
inevitable. Mr.. Macdonald, the mana.
ger OF the Times, Mr.. SoameS, their at.
torney, and Mr.. Houston, secretary Of
the Irish Loyal and Patriotic Union,
who was the Intermediary between tue
Times and Pigott, all trusted implicitly
In the iorger and made no effort 10 In.
yestigate his stoty. Only one expert
was consulted on tie authenticity Of the
letters. The whole fabric Of the TmCi
case, as regards tho letters, then rested
on Fipotts shoulders, and when he took
the stand and told his queer, transparent
story there was a complete CAllapse.
SIR Charles Russell had only begun
his cfoss.examinatlon, properly speak
Ing, when the court adjourned on Fri
day, and without touching on PlgotvE
story had already brought home the
conviction 10 everyone In tho court that
the iorger was In thp wItneBs'box, Pig
Oft admitted that he was q liar, pOriurei
and hlaCkmallef for years, and while
editing tho Fenlan organs, IrtehmdN and
Flag Gf ireland, was selling and trying Y
1 sell disclosures 10 the Government. ~!
also admitted having HlOd TO blaoktnall
Patrick Egan.
II lisa noteworthy fact that after the
fac-simile Of the alleged parnell lettei
was publlahed Egan submitted his col
lection Of Plgotts lOllers 70 q committed
Of Nebraska officials and bankers con
glgtlng Of Governor Thay0t, TREASURED
willard, Auditor BabCoCk, Mayor Saw