Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-02-23
PERJURER PIGOTr.
rs Times Nest Important Witness
sproyed TO BE a Liar.
THE LETTERS WERE BOGUS
He Admits That He Purchased Them With
out knowing Whether They Were Gen.
uInc or Sot-PoIiticaI Significance
OF the Times Downfall.

IoNDos, Feb. 28.-The shout Of laughter, in
which even Sir james Hammer joined, that
greeted Pigott's final remarks at the close OF
the days proceedings was indicative of the
high spirits Of the Parnelites, which were
shown also by the Irish members Of parlia-
ment in their hilarious reception of Balfour
IN the house Of commons when they laughed
ct him and shouted 'Pigott" The dramatic
opening Of S r Charles RusselIs cross-exami-
nation OF Pigott aroused excited interest at
sace lie asked the witness to write the
words "livc ihood,n "likelihcod,s "R chard
Pigott," "proseIytisln, Patrick Egan," "P.
Egann and "he.itancy.n
The 81 gnihcancs OF this, in view Of tho sus-
picion that PIgott might himself have forged
the letters, was lost on no one. Attorney
General Webster had, in his direct examina-
ton, k.untly asked Pigott If he had forged
the letters, and had, Of course, received a
direct ncgat We in reply. He had brought
out also in unmistakAble terms, the facts
that Pigott, BY various negotiations and re-
psated oaths of secrecy in a cheap restaurant
ia Paris had gotten the three patches of let
teis from Murphy, paying literally for them,
not knowing whether they were in Parnell's
hand, an viii !ully asking no questions about
tie absHrdly mysterious black bag CT any
thing else.
Houston hal blindly taken them from Pig
oft without "a question, Macdonald had ac-
cepted thein and Tho Times had taken his
wofd, not a soul of them looking an inch
into the matter, but taking everything for
granted. Ii would be impossible to conceive
a more wilifully blind course or a fiimser
foundation for The Times allegation against
MIR. Parneil. THIS was the con ,ition and the
mood Of the spectators when Sir Charles Rus
sell quietly began at Pigott with his little
trick of words
But the best thing was the Walsh incident,
which created inten.e excitement. Sir Charles
produced letter from Pigott TO Archbishop
Walsh, which virtually confessed that the al
legged Parnel letters not yet published by
The Time We're forgeries, and that he could
provide the Parnelites with the proper in
formation 10 defeat the purposes OF their
enemies. OF course he had his price for this
service, as he has had for every transaction
of his doublefaced and treacherous life.
Pigott was dumfounded by this unlocked
for revelation, grew pale, hesitated, contra
dicted himself and utterly collapsed, so far as
coherent and plausible testimony was con-
cerned. One Of the counsel observed that
Pigott seemed made for cross examination, so
completely did he go to pieces.
Pigott's recital of the meeting of Labou-
chere and Parnell, in Laboucheres house,
when Labouchere, unknown to Parnell
knowing the salab.e character Of the man,
offered him G coo to tell the truth in court,
did not produce tho slightest change in the
countenance of Russell. Labouchere him.
self appeared to be quietly enjoying the scene.
The whole affair snowed Pigott's character
in so despicable light, proved so thoroughly
that he is liar aud sneak, and revealed
such degree of fatuous credulity, willful
blindness, NAL cous intent and ridiculous
gulhbility ON the part of The Times and its
managers and agents, that the case of the
government fell completely. 1t is almost
silly for The Times to try 10 keep up an ap
pearance Of a case after this, but they and
the "lhundcrern are fast becoming merely
food for laughter.
Seriously, The success of the Conservatives,
with the help of the Harrington faction, was
precipitated by the Parnel letters and the
ssParneliism and Crime" articles, the influence
OF The Times counting for much in forcing
these things down the threats of a portion OF
the respectable public With the destruction
OF this manufactured evidence against the
Irish party, the reason for the Tory ascend
ency Is gone. This is the present political sit
nation