New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-09
MR.. PARNELL STEPS DOWN.
CLOSE OF THE IRISH LEADERS CROSS
EXAMINATION.
krAuprSc OF THE MEN lie MET AND MINGLED
WITH In AMERICA - ARCHBISHOP
WALSH TESTIFIEs.

Tondon. Nav s.-Mr. Parnells examination was
Anjshet before the Special Commission to-day'
He testified that the Reception Commisoee III
America comprised the leading merchants oi Vow
York. representstive citizens and ministers Oh re-
iiri,n. In his speeches in New.York the "''lees
had declared that not farthing conelouVeo !"
the Irish cause would go toward organizing
rebellion in Ireland. Throughout his tour OF Ine
United States he had never swerVeo nS4i
breadth from that declaration
Attorney General Webster the witness salo' had
ouoted from five out of sixty speecnes no n''o
made IN the United States, ignoring the general
,anor NJ his spoeches so as to misrepfesent his
,,ords All the names the Attorney y-General had
mentioned IS those OF persons VINO we're
associated with the meetings were ony
a small fraction OF those who had
ats.,ded. Men Of prominent position ana
of undoubted respectabhty attended those meet
,nrs In no sense could the American receptions
be identified with the proceedings OF the physlcal
so,cs nsytv The witness firmly believed that
none of his colleagues since loinlrg the Ir,sh Tar
namentsry Marty had had anything to do with the
F.nians Only cassidy did the Fenians come
v,.tbin the orbit Of the constitutional movement
Hare Nr. Parnell scored by remarxing that the
Tories we're more certainly associated with the
movemert for instance, when they oo-operated
with th, Parnellites TO obstruct the Criminal
Code bill to the death
Referring TO some letters OF his. Mr.. Parnen
said be had copies made from his seoretary's
shorthand notes.
At this point Attorney-General Webster said
Il seems that there exists book Of copies OF
Mr. Parnelps letters ! would hke TO see that
book"
Sir Charles RusseIl-By all means.
Presiding-Justice Hannen-If these letters refer
to the League, they ought to have been disclosed
Mr. Parnell-Your lordships are welcome 70 sec
any letter I ever wrote or received
Attorney General Webster, recurring TO the sx-
animation of Mr.. Psrnelrs private bank account,
wanted to trace q number Of checks, and @
warm discussion ensued, Sir Charles Russell
declaring that such action would be unfair.
Justice Hammer suggested a postponement OF the
inquiry into this matter until further documents
were before the court
Archbishop Walsh here took the stand. DE
testified that he came to the conclusion before
1870 that there was need Of defensive land or
gsnizaton, and was proceeding TO give his opinion
Of the necessity for such an organization, when
Justice Hsnnen interposed, saying that the in
quiry must be limited TO whether or not the Lana
Attorney General Webster submitted that mat
ters Of opinion were not admissible
MIR. Biggsr urged that opinion evidence hsd
been given over and over again by hlrelngs OF
the Government"
Justice Hammer warned Mr.. Rggar that he must
not make use Of such expressions.
Mr. Biggar then said that unless such evidence
was admitted the whole inquiry would eno IN
The judges retired to consider the matter pm,
vately On their return Justice Hannen announced
that they had decided that it was not permle-
sible to ask any witness however distinguished,
abstract questions Of opinion. The facts known
TO the witness ought to be laid before the court
before opinions based thereon were mentioned
The mere expression of Archbishop Walsh's
opinion. the Justice said, was inadmiss1ble:
The Archbishop, continuing said that In the
course OF his visit through his diocese he had
abundant means of knowing that the League
outrages Many priests had joined
the League with his full approval he say moth
me In the action of the members Of the League
10 forbid the clergy joining the organization.