The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-22
PIGG0TT HAD TO HUSTLE
A ROUND TRIP FROM PARIS TO
NEW YORK WHILE NEGOTIATING.

Murphy Refused to Surrender the Let
ters Without the Consent of the
Clan-Na- Gael Leaders in this Country
The Amount Paid for Them Was
$500.
LONDON, Feb. 21-Upon the re-assem-
bling of the Parnell commission to-day,
Richard Piggott was again called for exam
nation. He testified that in January, 1886,
he had two or three Interviews with Eu-
gene Davis at Lausanne The witness told
Davis that he required material for a
pamphlet on the league and that the doou-
ments procured must be substan-
tated by signatures. The next
day Davis said he had carefully con-
sidered the matter and could not comply
with the request because the Fenian Brother
hood was bound to Parnell not to interfere
with his movements until the expiration of
| a certain period. Several months later the
witness, a. the suggestion of Houston, re-
| visited Lausanne and again saw Davis.
| Davis still adhered to his refusal to impart
information until the day the witness left.
He then proposed to Davis t. write a pam
phlet and fix a date for its publication.
GAVE HIM THE FACTS.
| He offered him 9l00 to give him the prin-
cpal facts. Davis did so, and the witness
took rough notes of Davis statement. I'm
| mediately afterward the witness wrote
detailed account Of the interview at the ho-
tel at Lausanne on the hotel paper. He gave
| Houston the copy that was read yesterday.
| The witness had not seen Davis in London
| since. In consequence of letter which he
| received from q friend in Paris, early in
| April, 1856, the witness had conference
l tstsN
Paris. He remained in that
city week or more before he
learned anything. Then he was accosted
on the street by a man giving the name of
! Morris Murphy, who said he had been a
compositor in the witness employ. He did
not recognize the man, but saw no reason
TO doubt his statement. They conversed
| for some time and subsequently met again,
when Murphy said he had not been able to
ascertain anything about the documents.
THE DOCUMENTS PRODUCED.
A week later Murphy said he had found
the documents in bag. He described the
bag to the witness and said it contained five
or six Of Egan's 10 ters, some of Parnell's
and some old accounts. The witness said
he was authorized to find the documents
and asked the price for their surrender.
| Murphy at first wanted Gl 900, but after
ward said he would take $500. On the next
|
and its contents. The witness read the let
ters and made memoranda, but did not
| actually copy the letters Mr.. Piggott here
identified six letters of Egan's, five of Par
nell's. including a letter, a fac sinIile of
which appeared in the Times, and scraps of
accounts, which were produced in court as
the contents of the bag.
! HOUSTON READY TO PAY.
! The witness returned to England and saw
| hn aFt flata ft,,f, u,f1 t,x
was prepared to pay the amount demanded
| for the letters. He returned to France on
| April 20, 1886, and told Murphy that he
would accept his offer. Murphy said that
agents of the Clan-Na-Gael from New York
claimed the letters and in order to obt in
them it would be necessary to go to New
| York to obtain authority from the heads of
the Clau-na-Gae Murphy suggested that
the witness go. The witness was strongly
opposed to going, knowing that he would
| incur great danger. After long discussion
! Murphy told the witness that it would be
utterly impossible to get the letters unless
the witness went TO New York.
WENT TO NEW YORK.
The witness consulted with Houston and
went TO New York. There he saw Bresin.
| to whom Murphy had given him letter
| He had not known Breslln before the meet
| ing. He did not know what Murphy's let
ter contained; it was sealed. The interview
with Breslin lasted five minutes. Breslin
met him half an hour after his arrival. He
| told him that he had received a cable dis
petch from Paris instructing him to meet
| the witness. After few remarks be handed
| the witness a sealed letter which he said the
witness was to deliver to Murphy in Paris.
| The witless continued: Il returned to
London and told Houston what had oc-
CURED. He believed that the letter cou-
tanned authority to deliver the bag.
BACK IN PARIS.
"I went to Paris July 10, and saw
| Murphy at the Hotel st. Petersburg.
| handed him the letter, and he said il was all
| right, but he explained that he could not
| give me the letter until he had seen other
people. Two evenings later, Murphy took
me to a cafe in the Rue st. Honore. lie
conducted me TO private room where FIVE
men we're seated around a table These
men be said represented the Clan-Na- Gael.
| He made me swear IN Catholic PRAYER
book that under no circumstances would
| reveal the source from which / had OBJ
| tanned the documents. | also swore that
would not mention names, and IL any pro-
ceedings followed the publication Of tho
letters that / would not testify"
MURPHY's OFFER TO REPURcHAsE.
Piggott did not get the documents that
| night. Houston said that he would take the
| documents on Piggotts description without
coming to Paris himself, but Piggott pressed
him to come. The witness detailed the
purchase Of the letters, and Murphy's offer
TO repurchase them, corroborating Hous.
tons testimony on this point. The witness
had nothing to do, directly or indi-
rectly, with the writing OF the
letters "The suggestion that l forged
them is quite untrue" he said. The wit
ness knew Egan'S writing and signature
and was con vinced that Egan wrote the
letters uscribed to him. Murphy was dis
pleased with the refusal TO return the let
ters. He said no would prefer TO pay Pig
gott himself something rather than to los3
possession Of the letters. The witness saw
Hayes, president of the 81. II. b." and
Casey, the Fenian, in Paris.
RUSSELL OBJECTS TO CERTAIN EVIDENCE.
Sir Charles Russell here objected TO the
admission of evidence as to what passed
between Hayes and Casey aud the witness.
After long wranzle, Davitt rose AID said
that he had seen Casey and Hayes in Paris
since the appointment Of the commission.
Piggott, resuming, said he first heard Of
the existence OF the other letters at the
beginning OF 1883. His informant was
Thomas Brown, a member Of the Clan-na-
Gael. Hayes introduced Brown and the
witness in the cafe Royale. Rue st. Honore,
Paris. Brown produced the letters, and
the witness sent TO Houston copies of two of