The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-02-20
HOUSTON BEGINS TO TELL HIS STORY.
How Ne Procured the Alleged Par
nell Letters for the Times.
Men-of-War Destroying the Villages
of South Sea Islanders.
Six Months Additional Imprison-
ment for william o'Brien.

LONDON, Feb. 19.-At the sitting today Of
the Parnell Commission, Mr.. Macdonald,
manager OF the Times, was cross-examined
by counsel for the Parnellites. Mr.. MacdOn-
aid said the letters had to be taken as
whole. ard as whole they were comprom-
ising. He forgot what material he gave the
expert to enable him to ascertain whether
the letters were genuine. He was convinced
that the Egan and Parnell letters were gen.
uine before the first article on 'Parnellism
and Crime" was published by the Times
He did not think the body Of the letter Of
Jon. 9th was in the writing of Campbell.
Mr.. ParnelPs secretary. He had not noticed
any similarity between that and the Egan
letters. The witness paid Houston ESQ for
the Parnell letter OF the 10th Of June, and
for Egan's letter TO Cary. Houston did not
bring the envelopes with the letters. The
witness particularly avoided asking from
what source the letters were obtained, be-
cause Houston said he was bound to secrecy.
The witness first knew Pigott at about the
time the publication of the articles on par
Harrington had nothing to do, directly or in
directly, with their publication.
Mr.. Macdonald said the Times's statement
that knives and firearms were kept In the
League Office in London was based on infor
nation supplied to the writer Of the article
in which the statement was made.
Counsel for Mr.. Parnell demanded the
name Of the author Of the article. The wit
ness said he could not name the writer with
out making inquiries. The "Parnellism and
Crime" series Of articles were not written
by one author Mr.. Soames was misinform-
Qd uh IA QfafQd Etannanan
series. The witness was not sure the state
ment was based on Information supplied to
the writer. The article accusing Mr.. Par
nell OF supplying Byrne with funds with
which to escape was based on letter which
Sir Charles Russell admitted to be authen-
tic. No persons were specifically employed
to write about 'Parnellism and Crime" The
articles were written in the ordinary course
OF business. He could not mention few Of
the writers He considered the request to
Mr.. Asquith asked the witness to obtain
the names OF the writers Of the articles in
the Times.
Presiding Justice Hannen-"I do not know
that the witness is bound to inquire"
Sir Charles Russell submitted that the wit
ness was bound to inquire, contending that
1t was an every day practice to require the
witness to produce his diary. Attorney Gem
eral Webster said he could not accede to the
witness going out Of court to obtain infOrma-
tion not within the witnesses own knowl-
edge.
Mr.. Macdonald appealed to the Bench
whether he was compelled to answer Pre-
siding Justice Hannen ruled that counsel
was not entitled to ask witness to make in
quires. They might question him as to any
thing In his knowledge.
Mr.. Macdonald finally said that Flanagan
wrote the articles which appeared March
9TH aud Sth, 1887. He had forgotten who
wrote the others. Mr.. Parnelps alleged let
ter to Pigot was then produced. Attorney
General Webster called Mr.. Inglis, the writ
log expert to the stand. SIR Charles Russell
contended that justice demanded that the
source of the letters should be revealed be-
fore he was called upon to crogs-examine the
experts. Presiding Justice Hannen thought
that inquiry should now be made as to the
source Of the letters.
Mr.. Houston, secretary OF the Loyal and
Patriotic League, was sworn and testified
that the pamphlet entitled 'Parnellism I'm
masked was based upon Pigotts informa-
tion regarding Dewey. In December, 1885,
the witness asked Pigott to supply further
information for newspaper publication, and
agreed to pay Pigott guinea daily for hotel
and travelling expenses. Pigott handed the
witness notes OF conversation which he had
with Eugene Davis. Pigott supplied copies
Of five Parnell and six Egan letters. The
witness was asked by Mr.. Macdonald to test
the genuineness Of the letters, and said. that
II they were used he expected to be reim-
bursed for his expenditures. Up to the time
of publication he had not bargained for pay
ment for the letters. de made ii condition
that the Times alone should be responsible
for the publication. The witness had moth
Ing to do with the testing of the signatures
Under cr0ss-examinati0n Houston said he
did not know Of anything that showed Pigott
was not creditable man. He did not know
that Pigott was in pecuniary straits when he
asked him to discover the documents. He
believed Pigott was then earning fair COM
Tensation at newspaper work.
The Commission adjourned.