The morning news., 1889-03-02
PIGOTT MAY BEASUICIDE
A MAN ARRESTED AT MADRID
BLOWS OUT HIS BRAINS.

Conspiracy-The Proceedings Before
the Commission.
MADRID, March IAN Englishman, sup
posed to be Richard Pigott, wes arrested
at the Hotel des Ambassadors to-day un-
der the name of Ronald Ponsonby The
man afterward committed suicide with q
revolver.
The description of the suicide corresponds
with that of Pigott. The man spoke Eng
lish only. small amount of silver was
found in his pockets. The police have
taken possession of the papers and o,her
articles found upon him.
UNDOUBTEDLY PIGoTT.
LONDON, March 2, 3 A. M-The descrip-
tion given of the man who committed sui
eide in Madrid yesterday tallies with that
of the man who called at the Hotel Des
Duck Mondes in Paris after Pigott's flight
The suicide is undoubtedly Pigott. He
doubtless assumed the name of Ronald Pom
sonby because the initials correspond with
those on his baggage.
CAUSE OF THE ARREST
A dispatch from Madrid to the Times
says:
The arrest Of the suicide was made in
consequence of telegram from the British
foreign office. "Ponsonbyn arrived from
Paris Thursday moraing His only bag
gage was a all hand bag. Soon after his
arrival he sent a telegraphic dispatch to
London.
The Standard says it is able to confirm
the statement that the suicide was Pigott.
When arrested he took the situation calmly
and threw the officers off the scent. with
the excuse that he wished to get his over
c at, he retired to an alcove and there shot
himself in the mouth with q revolver He
died instantly. His hoad was horribly dis
figured.
DENYING PIGoTT's LIEs.
LONDON, March 1.-The Paruell commits
sion re-assembled this morning. The ex-
citement manifested t n several days past
consequent upon the collapse of Pigott on
cross-examination and his flight, had sub
s.ded and the proceedings were conductei
quietly. The court refused to allow Hous-
ton, secretary Of the Irish Loyal aud Pat
rlotic Union, to make a personal atement,
or to hand to the court written document,
on the ground that the time was inconven-
lent.
DIDN'T WRITE THE LETTERS.
MeSsrs. O'Kelly, Davitt and Campbell,
MIR. Parnel's secretary, swo that they did
not write the letters as ascribed to them
by Pigott.
Justin Mccarthy also testified. He de-
MED that he had had an interview with
Pigott.
Mr.. Lewis, solicitor for Mr. Parnell, tes-
titled that he told Pigott that the letters
not being negotiable he could not be prose-
cuted for forgery but was liable to prose
cutlon for obtaining money under fal pre-
lenses. The witness declared that he mad
not promised Pigott a fartning.
LABoUCHERE DIDN'T OFFER $1,000.
MIR. Labouchere Test fed that he had
never offered Pgott 9l, 900 if he would
swear that the letters were forged as sworn
TO by Pigott. He said that before the com
mission opened somebody named O'Brien
had offered him a packet of letters which
were said to have been written by Messrs.
Egan and Parnel. He did not know
O'Brien.
Mr.. Soames, the solicitor for the Times,
produced the documents on which Pigott's
evidence was based. He said that every
statement Pigott had made had Leen sub
nitted TO the court.
LEWIS MIND MADE UP.
Mr.. Lewis was recalled. He testified that
he was convinced that Pigott was the forger
before ever he saw him.
Houston announced his readiness to sub
NIT to cross-examination and to give secu-
rity for his continued attendance before the
commission.
Attorney General Webster urged that
Hou ton be immediately cross-examined, so
as to enable the court to have all the facts
before them.
AN AD INTERIM REPORT WANTED.
Sir Char es Rus ell, on behalf of the Par
nellites. applied to the court 10 exercise It's
discretion under the commission act and
make an ad Interim report on the genuine
SIS Of the letters that had been placed in
evidence.
Attorney General Webster, for the
Times, urged that as Sir Charles Russell
had stated that there was foul conspiracy
behind Houston and Pigott, the cross
examination Of Houston should be finished
before the report was framed.
Sir Charles Rus ell-But we have nothing
to do now with anything except the genn-
ineness Of the letters, which the attorney
general says he cannot justify.
NOT BEARING ON THE POINT.
Presiding Justice Hannen--The charge of
the exls ence Of foul conspiracy has no
caring on the point now before us Our
jurisd ction at present is limited to charges
and allegations agai st certain persons, II
is no part Of our duty to deal in the report
with charges against other persons. That
will be decided at the ext sitting.
Att )rney Gene al Webster occupied the
remainder of the day with the reading of
ext acts from the irish World d Free
mum OOuTOUt MI. DaV1bG.
Sir Charles Russell finally protes ed that
the attorney generals only object was 10
have the passages published in order TO
arouse prejudice against the Parnellites.
The commission then adjourned.
o'CoNNoRs oNsLAUGHT.
The Star IT. p. OConnor's paper). in a
rampant attack on the governmont t5.day
accuses Rt. Hon. w. II. Smith, the gov
O. nment leader in the House of Commons.
wi h sharing Pigott's guilt and demands
his impeachment. The paper brands At
torney General Webster as an imDudent
and SHAMELESS liar, and advocates criminal
prosecution Of Houston.
SENT BY soANEs.
In the House Of Commons this afternoon
Home Secretary Matthews, in reply to a
question. said that Constables Preston had
twice visited prisoner named Tracey at
the instance Of Mr.. Scam S, solicitor of the
Times.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt asked
whether it was In accordance with prison
rules that Mr.. Soames should send an agent
10 a prisoner.
Secretary Matthews replied that Tracey
was entitl to receive a visit once week.
Sir Harcourt-Are friends visits con-
strued TO mean visits from an Irish con-
stable acting under orders from the Tymesf 2
GOpposition cheers.J
Mr.. Matthews-An Irish constable has a
right 20 visit any prisoner.
Mr.. Bal our, chief secretary for Ireland,
said he failed to see IN a constable's visit 10
TraoAv tha Oroa4 fynrrorrfalv that Cir lar