Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-21
Increased Interest la the PaTneIi In
VcssfEafkOu

VcssiEatiOn.
tBy Anglo-American cable to the Dispatchl
LONnON, February 20.--When the parnel
Commission met this morning the court
room aud It's precincts were crowded. Par
nell was present. The examination OF HOIs
ton. secretary OF The Irish Loyal and Pairi
otto UuioD, was concluded. and Richard
PIgott, the man who procured tbe letters
for the Times, was upon the stand when the
commission adjourned. Houston's cross
examination was resumed. He said he de-
stroyed Pigott's letters TO him in accordance
with an agreement made between them that
they were intended for witnesses eye alone.
and were not to be used publicly. Up TO
the time witness went TO Paris Pigoit
had no, given him the names OF any OF the
persons connected with the letters secured
by tue Times. He did not consider that
knowledge OF the men from whom the let
tiers were obtained was important in con-
nection with the question OF their genuine.
ness. Witness said bis part Wss done when
the letters were obtained. lie accepted
them without securing any means OF testing
pigOips statement In the event OF their
geuuineness being questioned because he
understood that II was useless 20 attempt 30
make a complete case. and further inquiries
would only handicap himself. He had no
meaus whatever Ot testing any part
OF pigot's story, which he regarded
as probable, especIrliy a. the newspaper r.
ports OF the dispute between Parncll and
The American extremists 10 some extent
con irlned PigOtt's story thai the ctiers wcrr
left in bag found in a room in Paris. wit
ress showed the letters 10 Lord Harrington
and asked his advice "a 10 their disposition.
but bis Lordship refused to advise. Hedid
not offer the letters 10 the PAll-Nlll Gazette.
tie saw Editor stead, OF The Gazette, before
he obtained possession OF the letters. and
asked him 10 make up a matter which would
lead 10 disclosures. stead SAID he had lost
e3. 900 by The publication OF modern Baby
lon articles, aud he would not Ike 10 touch
anything else unless he kucg II would be
successful. When the witness visited Paris
he had no specimens OF either ParnePs or
Exams writing. lie accepted the letters sOleiY
on Pigotts word. "lf." said the witness.
"Pigott had been needy or fraudulent enough
tOattempt TO commit perjury my action would
have assisted him. bur dOnDt admit tnnt be
was either. Pigo,ts interviews with
LaDourchere shook my faith IN him, and
therefore my mind was not easy until he had
signed q sworn declaration"
The witness further said that he might
have told Stead That sexton and Dillon were
implicated In the Ph1nlx-PWk murders,
but II he did 20 It was on the authority OF
statement made by Eugene DAVIS n ri.
gott, copy Ol which was produced ~ the
witness. He did not knnW where the 0rigi-
nal was. Two DAYS before the commission
openeG Pigott wrote hlm an abusive letter,
demanding that after giving his testimony
before the commission he should be given
$4,000.
Houston said PIeott told him to whom
several OF the letters were addressed. he
did not think PigOtt's statements were very
accurate, because he only repeated what
others said Between October, 1885. and
January, 1888, he paid Pigolt goo, but the
Times paid the bills from May, 1887. lie
understood PIg0tt obtained second baton
OF letters from the same friends that supplied
the first, but he did uoi inquire about the
matter. lie did not think It strange that the
second batch vas not obtained earlier.
Prior 10 November Pigott informed witness
that Whelehau, a lulamOre solicitor, had
called upon him and informed bin that
gentleman from America wanted an inter-
view With him In London. He did not say
the American came from Egan. Wbelehan
asked Pigott II be had any Egan's letters, as
he was prepared TO purchase 40 high price
Pigolt when he wrote the witness demand
ing $4,000, said be had beeu coerced in Mr..
Soames's Office into making a statement
under false uretenccs. Witness did not an
swer the letter.
Mr. Webster read copy OF the notes
made by PigOtt Of the lstier's conversations
with Eugene Davis. According TO these,
Davis stated that Egan took bin INTO his
confidence. Davis knew that ]. x 3. aud
4. b. were connected With the league-one
working openly and tue other secretly the
- H..at ua ma
finding the money. EZan was IN Paris with
Psrneu, Okelley, Dillon, Brennan, and
Harris in 1881. lie told Davis that he hs1
had a long conference with those gentlemen
and that all had agreed that the situation
rendered against England was imperative
and that Enelaud's power could be ne.i-
trallzed only By removing as many OF her
leading men az possible. Walsh, sheridan.
and others we're to be sent 10 Ireland 10 plan
the murders. Immediately after Parneil's
arrest Eagan appealed to the Fenisn
leaders 10 execute the work more en-
ergeticGlly. Walsh went TO Dublin and
appointed Carey, Muilett, and Curley as his
chief men. lyman, Byrne, Colbert, and
Sheridan were also associated with hlm.
Egan was invariably consulted regardingthe
projected outrages aud murders. EgaD
strongly reproved lyman orfsiling to appear
at King Bridge In time 10 give the signal Tor
Forster's murder. Davis was present IN me
cafe In Paris when lyman related the whole
history OF the Ph9nixPark murders.
lyman took a pride in having given the
signal for the attack. Egan prOfessed to be
highly delighted, but regretted that lyman
had not commenced work earlier. Egan
gave Byrne a letter a fac siDlsle OF which
was published by the Times. There was a
plot to murder the Prince OF Wales aod Mr.
Gladstone during the carnival at Cannes.
Byrne aad lyman we're within striking dis
lance. but did not attempt TO carry out the
plan.
Houston, under concentration, said
he did not regard all this statement rs accu-
rate. lLaughter.l Houston said the sug-
gesti0n that ne destroyed Pig0tps letters be-
cause they cast doubt upon the genuineness
Of the letters published 10y the Tiaes was
Without foundation. lie destroyed them
because be believed that II they were allow
ed 20 exist aud were published the lives OF
certain persons would be placed AZ the mer.
cy Of certain Rssasslns. Replying to sir
Charles Russell Houston said DAVIS was III
England, aud that Sosmes sabpGHded him.
Richard Pigott, a we'll dressed and De
neyolent looking man, apparently ABOUT
sixty years OF age, was then called. he
testified that be WAS proprietor OF Fenisn
organ, Tue freshman, ia 1870. lie belonged
to the Supreme Council. +. b. All members
Of the Amnesty Association 10 1870 were
Fenlans. Parnel belonged, aud about 1871
Bigger, Barry, Harris, Nearry, aullet', and
Murphy belonged 10 the Supreme Council OF
the L. Z. b. Witness belonged 20 the l.. X.
B. until August. 1881. he was nOtan aetlye
member. lie detailed negotiations in 1873.
by which The Irishmau and the Flag oil
Ireland were sold 10 company In
which Paruell and Eean were shareholders.
He did not doubt the league provided
money. Later Egan said he proposed to
render the lives OF English officials In Eng
land not worth an hours purchase. and, re-
plying TO question, said that OF course Par
nell was aware OF the proposal. Directly
siler Egsn's Digit to Paris witness re,