Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-27
Confession Showing That He Was
Both Forger and Periurer.
Pigott's Character Made KNOXVILLE
Was Previously Connected With
Forgery = He Flees.
One of the Witnesses BEFORE the ParneT Com
mission Drops Dead When He
Hears of Pigott's Flight
PARNELL COMMISSION.

| LONDON, Feb. 26.-The Parnen COM
mission resumed its sitting this morning.
After the opening of court Sir Charles
Russell arose and stated that ON Satur-
| day Richard Pigott went to the residence
of Henry Labouchere and in the presence
of George Augustus Sala signed con-
fession stating that the letters on which
the Times based its charges against the
Irish members of the house of commons
were forgeries. Sir Charles Russell ap-
piled for warrant for the arrest of
Pigott.
Presiding Justice Hammer said the
warrant would be ready in an hour.
Attorney General Webster, for the
Times, said no other witnesses were ready
and that he would have to consider what
course TO pursue. He would also have to
decide whether or not he would resume
any part of the case.
When Pigott was called to again take
the stand he did not appear, and after
the court had waited for some time the
counsel for the Times stated to the judges
that Pigott had left the hotel at which he
was stopping at / CLOCK last night and
that the counsel were ignorant of his
whereabouts This statement caused =
sensation in the court room The court
took a recess for half an hour, at the ex-
piration of which time, if PigOtt does not
appear, his papers at the hotel viii prob
ably be seized.
Acknowledgement Webster said yester-
day morning that MIR. Shannon, Dublin
solicitor who is assisting the Times, re-
ceiyed a letter from Pigott, and he would
cali Shannon TO prove it.
Sir Charles Russell said he regretted he
had not heard of the letter earlier. He
desired to put in the evidence a letter
from Eagan to LabOucbere.
Acknowledgement Webster objected
to the introduction of the letter, and
Sir Charles Russell said that
owing to the attorney generals
objection he would not read the letter,
but as the letter with other documents
bore upon Pigott's disappearance he
claimed that IN the interest of Justice ne
should make a statement.
Presiding Justice Hammer said evidence
must be called in support of the state
ment.
Sir Charles aequiesced in the decision.
He added that the letter and documents
showed the means by which he had fixed
upon Pigott as forger and Pigott con-
fessed to Mr.. Lewis, Mr.. Parnell's
solicitor, that he was the forger. La
bouchere and Parnell who were
was made, would eorroberate
this statement. Saturday Pigott
without invitation called upon Labou-
chere and stated that he desired to make
a confession. Labouchere declined to
listen to him unless witnesses were pres
ent; whereupon George Augustus Sala
was summoned and PigOtt made the con-
fession referred to at the opening of court
to-day. Sir Charles Russell also said
whatever course was adopted by Attor-
pey-General Webster he should pursue
his own course and should insist that the
whole matter be thoroughly investigated
because it was deliberately charged that
behind Pigott and Houston there had
been a foul conspiracy.
Sir Charles added that Pigott had made
his escape, assisted by body guard con-
sisting of an Irish constable and two
Scotland Yard detectives. Labouchere,
Sir Charles said, had received a letter
from Eagan in July, 1888, in conse-
quence of which number of documents
were handed to Labouchere. Sir Charles
asked permission to call witnesses to tes-
tify to information which the court ought
to have.
THE CONFESSION.
Pigott in his confession to LabOuchere
Saturday, said he forged all the letters
secured by the Times which purported to
have been written by Eagan, Parnen,
Davitt and Okley. He also admitted he
had been guilty of perjury in his evidence
given before the commission.
The solicitor of the Times emphatically
denies doing anything directly or indi-
rectIy to assist PigOtt to make his escape
Charles R11sSa1I ftIrfbaY- said DfnOofF
in the presence of Mr.. George Augusta
Sala, signed confession that the docu-
ments he had produced were forgeries,
and that he was the forger. This con-
fession was sent to Mr.. Lewis who yes
terday returned it to Piggott saying that
Mr.. Parnell refused to have anything to
do with him.
Mr.. Shannon was then called as a wit
ness He testified that ON Sunday night
Piggott gave him a written statement
denying the statement of Mr.. LabOu-
chere, that he forgot all the letter. Pig
gott said he believed the first batch were
genuine. In the second batch two of the
ParnelI letters were forged by
himself and Casey. The third
batch, consisting of letters
from Messrs Davltt and O'Kelly were
also forged by himself and Casey. Pigott
added in his statement that, having now
stated the truth and confessed before the
world, the Times should deal Ieniently
with him upon discrimination. Mr..
Shannon said he had no power to prevent
Pigott from boiling; he expected him 10
appear IN court.
When the witness had concluded his
testimony, Sir Charles Russell stated
that he would prove by Glasgow agent
that Pigott had committed a series OF
forgeries. The court, however, would
not allow the evidence to be presented
Lewis, of the counsel for the ParnelI-
ties, then testified that he had sub
penaed Plgott in September. Regard
ing Pigott IS confession, the witness said
that Mr.. Labouehere wrote the confess
sion and Pigott signed it. After the
the witness expected PIgott
would be in court to-day
Attorney General Webster asked that