Evening journal., 1889-02-23
TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.
Pigott a Witness for Revenue
Only.
CONTRADICTED BYHIs OWN HAND.

He Breaks Down Completely Before Sir
Charles RusseIi's Cross ESannination.
Admits the Letters Were Forged-rhe
Times Case Is virtually Lost.
LONDON, Feb 23-Richard Pigott is the
greatest sensation Of the day All England
IS talking OF him and he has admittedly ef-
fected a complete revolution in public senti-
ment. lie Caron is forgotten and The Times
case must be decided on Pigott's evidence.
The public have already given a verdict
that the commission cannot reverse The
Parnell letters are forgeries and Richard
Figott is the forger The trap set for him by
Sir Charles Russell when he got him to write
number Of words in which he made two
errors in spelling corresponding exactly to
two mistakes in the alleged Parnell letter.
prepared the court for his utter breakdown.
II was complete, and the next days examina-
ton viii wind him mp and dispose forever OF
the forged letters
Pigott looked wretehed when Sir Charles
Russell resumed his cross examination. He
felt he WIS doomed and answered the first
questions with an air Of dogged sullenness,
which gave place % blank dismay when Glad
stones ex-attorney general produced lettcr
after letter which no had never expected
would see the light during his lifetime Some
We're communications Of his 20 Archbishop
Walsh admitting the character OF the evil
dence ON which The Times case was founded;
Others were addressed 10 Chief Secretary
Forster, offering TO sell information and prov
ing that he has been all along traitor. The
production OF the latter shows how heartily
the Liberal leaders are aiding Parnel in this
fight
Under Rnssell's dexterous handling Pigote
admitted what he pretended not to remember
before and explained what he intended bv
various letters 70 Archbishop Walsh. He
was greatly distressed for money and wanted
to induce the archbishop to get the Parnel-
ties 20 give his price for hushing up the
charges and making away with the letters.
He claimed that he had lied to the archbishop
IN regard to the character OF the evidence.
and IN the next breath admitted that he ala
not believe the Parnell letters were genuine.
still perssting, however, that he was not the
forger He believed the Egan letters were
genuine, but he would not swear they were.
Confronted with his letter 70 Secretary
Forster Offering 10 turn informer for 1850
took Pigotts breath away, and his nerve en-
tirely failed him. Reluctantly and in a husky
whisper he admitted It's genuinenesss and his
final acceptance a El0O. From this point he
was completely at Russell's mercy and fioun-
dered and contradicted himself continually
"Do you know who fabricated the lett ersF
asked Russell.
II do not, he faltered s'and do not be-
lieve that any one fabricated themn
Then Hue1plt ghosuad hin, 10 "a,
ters 70 Forster, begging for loan and plead
ing his services 10 the government BY attack
Ing the Parnollites in The Irishman. He
stammered out an admission Of is genuine
ness and said that since 1881 he had been in
great distress The questions then came IN
on him 50 hotly that he seemed 70 forget
everything and answered aimlessly. When
the court rose he was nerveless and exhausted.
Pigott remained IN the court after the ad-
jpurnment, fearing violence IL he ventnred
out through the dense crowd that surrounded
the building. Sir James Hannah gave him
IN charge OF two detectives, with orders not
to leave him until brought 70 court to-day.
evidently believing that he would abscond Il
left free
Mr. Parnell attended court, hooking very
imwell, and was vigorously cheered by the
crowd as he passed out This is the first time
he has been cheered since the proceedings be-
gam, and II is looked upon as significant OF a
great popular change N London
The Pail Mall Gazette declares that the col
lapse of the Times case, brought about by tho
testimony Of Macdonald, Houston and Pigott.
has made home rule a foregone conclusion.