Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-02-28
Very Weak Thunder
Is That Which The London
Times Produces Now.
1T TAKES SOME BAD MEDICINE

And Makes an Apology for Being So Very
Fresh-Proccedinss Before the Parnell
COMMUNICATIONS Forged Letters With.
drawn and Another screed from Pigott-
Prospects for His Capture-PsrneIi Takes
the Witness Stand-American Sympathy.
LONDON, Feb 25-In an editorial this
morning The Times makes an apology to
Parnen and the other Irish leaders whose
regulations were impugned by its publica-
ton Of the letters obtained from Pigott In
substance ID says:
"Mr. Parnell having in the witness box
stated that the letters were forgeries, we ac-
cept in every respect the truth Of his state
ment, and deem 1t right to express our regret
most fully and sincerely at being induced to
publish them. This expression of regret In.
cludes tue letters falsely attributed to
Messsrs. Egan, Davitt and O'Kelly. We
firmly believed that the letters were genuine,
sons that If conspiracy existed The Times was
viceimizsd by and not party to it This
withdrawal, Of course refers to the letters
obtained from Pigott exclusively"
The Times adds: "EITors in Judgment may
atty must be paid 1t also says that it never
communicated with Pigott in the first in.
stance. 1t believed the letters genuine until
Pigott's REORGANIZATION.
This had been roreshadowed during yester-
days session Of the Parnell commission As
soon as the Judges were seated Webster, the
Times counsel, announced the receipt by
Shannon of another letter from Pigott con.
tanning copy of his confession to LabOu.
ehere, and this time declaring that confession
to be true, and that the whole batch of letter,
was forged. He explained his method Of
forgery to have been by holding genuine
Parnell letter on window.lisht and tracing
the characters on a blank sheet Of paper.
thereby becoming acquainted with Parnells
handwriting. Webster then said that il was
clear that Pigott's testimony was worthless and
asked leave to withdraw all consideration of
the letters put in evidence. The Times, he
said, W lied to express its regret at the pub
hcation of the letters, and would give further
expression 70 the same at later time. He
repudiated the suggestion that The Times
was party to any consp piracy
Russell said'he hal hoped for stronger
statements from Webster, and then Parnell
took the stand and made general repudia-
ton Of all the letters which had been as
adjournment and the court adjourned to Fri.
day
Pisott's letter to Shannon was dated at
Paris
The escape Of Pigott excited scarcely more
interest than has been aroused by the ques-
ton how to get him back to England. Ex.
traordinary difficulty will be experienced In
securing bis egtradi;ion. even if he Is found
In a country with which the British govern
ment has treaty covering most offenses
against the law, and many legal minds have
been concentrated upon the technicahties
possible TO be brought into requisition In the
endea~or to bring the forger into the
clutches OF the English courts. Legal forgery
Is embraced only by the signing OF . check,
note, or other negotiable instrument with a
view Of obtaining money thereon, and doee
not comprehend the forging of letters The
suggestion Is made, however, that the letters
having been fabricated and signed with the
object Of selling them as genuine documents,
they become legal forgeries, and subject the
forgers to all the penalties attaching to other
phases Of that crime as we'll as to all Of the
provisions OF an extrsdition treaty embracing
that oitense. An attempt to extradte Pigott
upon this technicality will not be resorted to-
however, unless the endeavor to secure him
the Hiberniau bank Of Dublin shall fail.
The Times has withdrawn from sale its
pamphlet on "Parnelism and Crime" and
other publications referring to the subject in
the same vein
1t is believed that PiSott posted hi. letter to
Shannon, the I lblin solicitor for The Times,
at the railroad station in Paris and proceeded
directly 10 Spain or Switzerland
On Monday figott sold some rare books,
some Of them Of an erotic character, at a
book mart. He received in payment for
these a check for s;25, which be had cashed at
the bank on which it was drawn He wss
last seen IN Fleet street a. o'clock Monday
afternoon.
A telegram from Paris saws that most
exhaustive search for the forger, Pigott, in
that city has failed to reveal his presence.
Parnell was surrounded by friends in the
house of commons yesterday, all Of whom
congratulated him upon the collapse of The
Times crusade against him Sir W. b Bart
telot, Conservative member for Horsham,
penetrated the circle and cordially shook hands
with the Irish leader The PaInellites have
not Yet resolved upon course Of action, bu,
it is definitely determined to follow VI, the
suggestions OF conspiracy put forth by Sir
all