The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-27
{ DAILY, $40 A YEAR, 4
( bCENTS A COPY.
| WEEKLY,S1.s5 AYEAR
PIG0TT TAKES LEG BAIL.
He FIRST CONFEssEs THAT HE
FORGED THE LETTERS.

| AAAA1 LIN 1GEhC-
|
A Witness Drops Dead - Parnellites
Swear Out Warrant for the Arrest
ofthe Fugitive Perturer-The "Timess
In Quandary as to What Course to
Pursue-susplcions Among the Ma
tionalists that the "rimes" and the
Government Induced the Witness to
Leave
LONDON, Feb. 26-The Parnell commits
sion resumed its sit5ing this morning.
After the opening Of the court Sir Charles
Russell arose and stated that on Saturday
Richard Pigott went to the residence of
Henry Laoouchere and, in the presence of
George Augustus Sala, signed confession
stating that the letters upon which the
Times based its charges against the Irish
members of the House of Commons. we're
forgeries. Sir Charles Russell applied for a
warrant for the arrest Of Pigott Presid-
ing Justice Hannen said that q warrant
would be ready in an hour. Attorney
General Webster for the Times said no
other witness was ready, and that they
! would have to consider what course to pur-
sue he would also have to decide whether
or not he would resume any part of the
| case.
| PlGOTT FAILS TO APPEAR.
When Pigott was called to again take
| the stand he did not appear. After the
court had waited for some time the counsel
for the Times stated to the judges that Pig
| OFT had left the hotel at which he was
stopping at II o'clock last night, and that
the counsel were ignorant Of his where
abouts. This statement caused a sensation
in the court room. The court took a re-
cess for half hour.
LETTER FROM PIGoTT.
Attorney General Webster said that yes
terday morning MIR. Shannon, the Dublin
solicitor who is assis ing the Times. re-
ceived letter from Pigott, and he would
call Mr.. Shannon to prove ii.
Sir Charles Russell said that he regretted
that be had not heard of the letter earlier.
he desired to put in evidence letter from
Mr.. Egan to Mr.. Labouchers.
Mr.. Webster obiected.--
Mr.. Russell SAID that owing to the
attorney generals objection he would not
read tho letter, but the letter with other
documents bore upon PigoJts disappear
ance, he claimed that in the interests of
justice he should make a statement.
EVIDENCE MUST Bic CALLED.
Presiding Justice Hannen said evidence
must be called i'll support of the statement.
Sir Charles acquiesced in this decision.
be added that the letters and documents
showed the means by which he had fixed
fessed to Mr.. Lewis, Mr.. Parnell's solicitor,
that he was the forger. Mr. L4bouchere
and Mr. Parnell, VINO were present wnen
this confession was made, would corroborate
this statement. On Saturday Pigott with
out invitation, called on Mr. Labotlcbere
and stated that he desired to make a con-
fesson. Mr.. Labouchere decline TO listen
| to him unless witnesses were present, here
upon George Augustus Sala was summoned
and PIRott made the confession referred to
at the opening of court to-day.
ALL NOT YET DIvULGED.
Mr.. Russell also said that whatever
course was adopted by the attorney general,
he should pursue his own course and should
insist that the whole matter be thoroughly
| investiga ed, because it was deliberately
| charged that beaind Pigott ami Houston
there had been a foul conspiracy. He
asked the court to impound tae documents
| which arrived at And rton's addressed TO
! Pigott in car of Houston, Sir Charles added
that Pigott lad made his escape assisted by
| body guard consisting OF an irish constable
and two Scotland yard detectives
LAB oUcHERE's LETTER FROM EGAN.
Mr.. Labouohere, Si Charles said, had
received a letter from Mr.. Egan in July
| last, in consequence OF which number Of
| documents were handed 10 Mr.. l. bouchere
| Sir Charles ask d permission to call the
witness to testify to the information which
the court ought to have. Mr.. Russell
further said that Pigott, in the presence OF
George Augustus SAlas, signed a confession
that the documents he lad produced were
| forgeries and that he was the forger This
co fession as sent to Mr.. Lewis who yes
terday returned it to Pigott, saying that
Mr.. Parnell refused TO have anything TO do
with him.
sHANEoN's STORY.
Shannon was then called. He testified:
| ~ saw PiRott before his cross-examiaation,
and at Pigotts request, Thur day, Satur-
| day and Sunday. PIgott ask "a TO see Mr.
Soames, who, ho Sever, was too busy. PigDtt
wrote a letter in my presence which / re-
fused TO take. ] told him IL he b .lieved the
facts were rightly set firth in the letter to
send 1t to me. On Monday | received a
letter and prepared an affidavit which Pigott
swore to before the commissioner
PIGoTr AGAIN HEDGES.
Mr.. Webster then read letter written by
Pigott at Anderton's hotel Sunday In this
letter Pigott says: 81 Informed Mr.. Labou-
chere on Saturday that forged all the let
tors gave to the Times That is not so.
Laughter 1 got the first eleven
letters, from Casey at the Hotel
Murphy was fictitious name. Casey
had 10 igings, whore | the lette IS In a
bag that Byrne had left there. Casey had
them three months before l could induce
him to sell them. paid him thrse-f lurths
OF 1OOU Inese leJJeib l. DeueVe 20 De gem
uine The second batch comp ised two Par
nell letters and one Egan letter. l forged
the bodies Of the Parnel letters and Casey
forged the signatures. Casey gave me Mr..
Egan's letter, which / do not doubt Is genu-
inc. The last batch oomprised three letters,
Mr.. Davitt's ana Mr.. OKelly's, which were
similarly forged
MR.. EGAN's LETTERS.
"Egau's letters were genuine. No Egan
letter that ! gave the Times or Hous on is
forged. My evidence about Eug ne DAVIS
is correct. Wnen making the .tatement to
Mr.. Lab uchere was afraid CT prosecution
for forgery. Mr.. Lab juchere promised me
| would not be prosecuted If made state
ment. He also said that altough he would
not give me $4,000 he pledged his word of
honor that the Parnellites Would
give my children 22,000 and hs
promised to see 1t expended for their benefit.
This is the truth regarding the letters so far
as am connected with them | ask you to
intercede in my behalf with the Times
feel that / have treated the Times very
badly. Having stated the truth and made
a confession which brands me before tho
world as forger, | ask the Times to deal
with me leniently. have been in Difficult