The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-02-15
WAS 1T FORGED
The Document on Which the Times
Based Its Sensational Article
Produced in Court.
Soames, Its Posse ssor. Tells How II
and Other Papers Came Into
His Keeping.
Seventeen Letters Altogether Secured by
ths Times. for Which II Paid
Good Round sum.

LONDON, Feb. n-Soames, solicitor for
the Times, testified before the Parnell
commission to-day thut he visited Dublin
In May, 1883, in quest OF evidence. He in
terviewed person who was introduced TO
him as former employee In the Office Of the
league, and who produced a slip bearing
the signature Of Anna Parnell, specimens
OF Patrick Egan's handwriting and bun
die OF documents. Those documents we're
brought TO London in 1883 and embodied
in an affidavit in O'Donnelps suit against
Walker for libel. Attorney General Web
ster, In arguing In favor OF the admission
OF the letter alleged TO have been written
by Parnell. let slip the fact that they were
received from man named Phillips, said
10 be an accountant OF the league. The
| court refused 10 admit the letter. Soames,
continuing, produced 1--WE letters, includ-
ing letter the fac smile OF which was
printed In the Times.
Attorney-General Webster requested
that witness be submitted genuine speci-
mems OF ParnelPs signature. The court
deparred the question as 10 whether the
witness thought the letter which appeared
IN the Times was genuine. Soames said
be believed the body Of the letter was in
CAmpbelps writing, while the signature
was ParnelPs. When he discovered the
Parneil letters he also came across docu-
Three OF Egan's letters were found in
Carey's house, where two letters In Camp
bells writing were also discovered. Wit
ness produced these letters, together
with other specimens Of Egan's writ
Ing: AZ this point Sir Charles Russell
| said I'VE can only give these documents
acursory glance. The court must not as
sume al Will be unquestioned." Attorney
Gen. webster rejoined he did not suppose
Sir Chas. Russell would admit the genuine
ness OF the letters. Soames further testi-
fed that Richard Piggott gave the Parnell
letters 10 Houston, secretary of the Irish
Loyal and Patriotic Union, who handed
them 10 Mcdonald.
On cross, Examination witness said he
was not consulted regarding the publica.
ton Of the articles on "Psrneliism and
Crime" though he knew they were
being prepared early In 1857. Mr.. Flan-
nigan, the son Of an Irish judge
co-operated with n gentleman ON the
stAf OF the Times In preparing the arti-
cles. Up 10 Jan. 1888, twelve letters bad
been obtained from piggott Later, more
letters, written by Egan. O'Kelly. and
Dayltt, were obtained: making a total of
seventeen. lie did not know precisely what
was paid for the letters; probably whatever
was paid passed through him. The first
payment OF 81, 900 was made 10 Houston.
IL was partly for the expense OF going TO
America and partly for the payment OF DIR.
Magulre and other assistants. Successive
subsequent payments 70 Houston were
GOO, $50, f4o. fl2, elS0. ESQ. f252 and
Ei00. Witness paid Moser about f2. 900,
Kirby f25O and another agent, named
Thompson, $500. Touching Davitt's let
ter, witness took pains TO form conclusive
opinion. He decided 1t was genuine. Ad-
iOurned