The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-02-28
HeForwards Copy of His Confession, and Adds
that He Desires to Fully Acknowledge
that He Committed the FOrgeries.
Mr.. Egan Furnishes the Letters from
Which the FOrgeries We're Constructed.
TIE "Times" People Make Lame and Rather
Ungraceful Retraction-French Official
Statement as to the Firing on Sagallo.
THE PIGGOTr FoRGERIEs.


Attorney General Webster Expresses the
Regret Felt by the ''Times" People.
LONDON, Feb. 27.-An immense crowd
was present in the courtroom this morn
ing, when the session of the Parnell CON-
mission opened. Much excitement was
manifested. MIR. Parnell arrived in the
courtroom at an early hour.
Attorney general Webster stated to the
court that Mr.. Shannon, the Times's Dub
lin solicitor, had received a letter to-day
from Piggott, who is in Paris. The letter
was not in piggott's writing Mr.. Shannon
had immediately notified the Scotland
yard authorities of the receipt Of the letter.
The Attorney-general then read the letter.
1t was dated Saturday. and contained the
confession Piggott made to Mr.. Labouchere
on that day at the latter's residence. Pig
gott added that he desired to fully disclose
that he fabricated the alleged fac-simile of
Mr.. ParnelPs letter published in the
Times, and other letters he had furnished
to that paper. He denied being in touch
with the American brotherhood after he
had sold his newspaper, the Irish
man. He admitted that he wrote
the conversation with Eugene Da-
Wis at Lausanne from memory
only. He told Houston that he found the
letters In q bag, but he fabricated them,
using genuine letters of Messrs. Parnell
and Egan, copying certain words showing
the general character of the writing, and
afterwards destroyed the genuine letters
The second batch of letters ascrlbed to Mr.
Parnell were initiated from the fac-simile
published IN the Times. He did not see
Breslin i'm America. He admitted that Mr.
tween them was in the main correct. The
letter dated Saturday was inclosed in an
other letter, bearing date, Hotel du
Monde, Paris, Tuesday" and saying:
Before leaving, the inclosed the confession)
was handed me, having been LETT while was
out. Will Write again soon.
RICHARD PIGGorr
Attorney-general Webster said every
body would agree that nobody could at
tach any weight to Piggotts evidence, and
it was his duty to ask the court to with
draw from considering the genuineness of
the letters. The Times. ne said. desired to
express regret for publishing the letters,
and the proprletOrs Of that paper would
themselves moro fully express their regret
later. He repudiated the allegation made
by Sir Charles Russell yesterday that
there was foul conspiracy behind Piggott
and Houston. If such a conspiracy exist
ed the Times had no share In it, IF tbs
error of the Times extended beyond that,
the court should make the fullest inquiry.
Sir Charles Russell said he had hoped the
AttOrney-general would have made strong
er statements.
Mr.. Parnell was then called and sworn.
He denied signing the alleged letter of the
18th of May: Mr. Campbell, his secretary,
not heard of such litter until he saw it
published in the Times. Mr.. Campbell had
gone to Antwerp to endeavor TO find Pig
gott. Mr.. Parnell denied the genuineness
Of the other letters pnerporting to have
He said he and Mr.. Egan had had extern
sive correspondence. He dictated to Mr..
Campbell a letter regarding an interview
asked by PiggOtt. The letter which the
Times reproduced was evidently initiated
from ii. He had no interview with Pig
gott.
At this point Attorney-general Webster
asked that the commission adjourn until
tomorrow, but the court adjourned until
Friday.
Piggotts arrest in Paris is regarded as
imminent, but it is doubtful whether the
French government will regard perjury as
an extraditable offense.
The Times has withdrawn its advertise
ment 1'nood. of parnellism p and Crime" and
Applicants for the pamphlets are in
formed that they are out of print.
1t is doubtful whether Piggott is in Paris
as reported. The landlord Of the Hotel Du
Monde in that city says he has not seen
him. A rumor is current that PiggOtt
cashed check for f25 in London yester.
day morning.
1t was ascertained in the lobby of the
House of Commons this afternoon that Sill
Richard Webster has offered his resi- gnatiOn
of the Office of Attorney-general,i in cOnse.
| quence of the collapse of the Times charges
against Mr. Parpell, but that the govern
ment has, as yet, declined to accept it, hav'
| ing decided that to do SO would still fur
| ther commit the Ministry to responsibility
| for the allegations.
| In spite of the statement. made last even
ing, that Professor Mcguire died natural
| death, which was in no wise fastened by
his discovery of Piggott's perfidy and the
| consequent humiliation of the Loyal ant
| Patriotic League, it is reasserted tonight
| that he committed suicide.
40 Tixro of