Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-02-23
PIG0TT'S CONFESSION.
HIS STATEMENTS TO THB ARCHBISHOP
WERE FALSE.
BE Admits That He Believes That the So-CAllei Par
nell Letters Are Porgsrss, But That the
Egan Letters Are Genuine.
ASsnsation.

IosDoN, February 22.-The court room
was crowded again this morning when the
Parnell Commission reasssmbled. The
cross-examination of Richard Pigott was
continued He admitted writing letter
TO Archbishop Walsh, which Sir Charles
Russell produced in court, and which cor.
tanned a statement that the docume-tary
and personal evidence to be produced be-
fore the Commission could be rendered
harmless by an exposure Of the means by
which it had been obtained.
At the suggestion OF Presiding Justice
Hannen, Archbishop Walsh's letter 20
Piggot, part of which was read yesterday,
was read in ertensO. The Archbishop re-
ferred to the fact that there had been sys-
tematic lying concerning the Nationalist
cause.
The witness now admitted receiving this
letter. He oaid that when he wrote 10
the Archbishop he was in very distressed
circumstances, owing 70 having received
no money from Mr.. Houston.
Sir Charles Russell demanded thai this
letter Oe produced.
Houston here said he had forgotten re-
ceiving it,
On being further pressed, Pigott yOlur
tarily exclaimed: 81 may say at once that
the statements made TO Archbishop Walsh
were unfOunded."
This statement produced a sensation.
Sir Charles Russell then said TO the wit.
,aos. tsV,r, daf;h.-afel,, 1fa.yff
Witness replied: "Well, exaggerations.
Sir Charles Russell-"Did the exaggera-
tions have no truth?"
Witnees-"Very little. Laughter I
forgot what meant when l wrote 10 Arch
bishop Walsh that the charges were
mixture of what believed to be true aud
untrue"
Sir Charles Russell quoted from a letter
written by Pigott to Archbishop. Walsh on
May ~.
Witness said he could not say what the
latest proportion mentioned in the letter
meant. He only remembered making one
proposition, namely, that he hsd shown
cOmpromising letters. His opinion having
been asked as to the eenuineness
of the letters he had stated that the letters
credited to Mr.. Parnell were rather
doubtful. This statement created = ssnsa-
ton in the court room.
Witness further testified that he would
70! swear that he had rot told Archbishop
Walsh that the letters were forgerifs
Laughter. Sir Charles Russell read
Egan's draft of a letter written on the ly-
leaf of Pgotts letter The phTasing Of
the first 80 words was identical with the
Times version Of yan's letter OF Juno II,
1881, but the dates in the text OF the
Times version were changed TO June Il
and June Is.
The witness admitted that the similarity
was remarkable.
Sir Charles pressed the witness regarding
several similar resemblances ia the
phrasing CT letters Egal had written 20
Pigott and letters Pigott bad supplied
Houston.
The witness admitted that, assuming
Sir Charles copies to be correct, which he
would not admit, the condolences were
striking. Ths copies, he said, might have
been forged Sir Charles Russell produced
the witness letters to Mesgher and pointed
ont further resemblances TO the Times
letters. He then asked the witness II be
was not ashamed Of himself
Piegott replied hotly: Under the cir
cumstsnces, 70 1t is scandalous that /
should be thus questioned. / did not
forge the letters; il | did l should not bs
here"
Sir Charles Russell produced letter after
letter, including Piggott's demand for a
loan of e20O to cradle him to 50 to Aus
trelia. The witness became dezed and
forgot everything.
Tho Commission then adjourned