Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-22
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH, :,

LONDON, February 21.-Chief Builder
Pigott didn't look happy when he re.
entered the witness box this morning. He
seemed worried instead of fattered by the
close attention he received, and finally
sought refuge in the contemplation of the
ceiling from hundred or more pairs Of
eyes directed toward him. He started of
with lengthy story OF meeting Eugene
Davis, which Houston practically antici-
pated yesterday, and which didn't improve
in flavor by rehashing.
According to Pigott, Davis was for a
while very shy of giving information, but
once his coyness was overcome ne ladled
horrors into the simple Pigott's gaping
mouth with reckless prodigality. One
queer feature OF the story was that although
no money admittedly passed, Davis violated
oaths, betrayed friends and political leaders,
and took the risk of assassinational for the
love and promises of Pigott, whom he had
never previously met in the flesh.
A GUINEA A DAY.
Pigott comfortably fixed with guinea
daily fee and travelling expenses ON lib
eral scale, went to work with natural delib-
Grafton. He lodged about considerably be-
tween Dublin, Paris and Switzerland, and
evidently enjoyed himself with the zeal Pc
culiar to people who know they are having
good time at the expense ofothers. Anon,
however, little bird whispered that certain
Irish-Americans had arrived in Europe, and,
as Houston about the same time began re-
spectfully to suggest that business was busi-
ness and guineas were guineas, Plgott went to
Paris.
There his luck, if one may use the term with.
out irreverenee in such an Infamous con-
nection, was actually providentiaL He met
man in the street who had for sale the very ar
ticles for which Pigott was searching. Morris
Murphy was the strangers name, and strange
to say, he claimed Pigott as former employer.
Pigott didn't remember Murphy, but that was
no objections to doing business with him. A
bargain was struck, but at the last moment, the
mysterious Murphy, who of course is dead-in
truth, Pigott might have been an undertaken
Judging from the number of dead men with
whom he has had business relations-declared
that Pigott must 60 to New York to get per-
mission of the secret council of Clan-Na-Gael.
This means further delay and more guineas,
but Pigott nobly sacrificed himself and went
to New York. Again his luck was pbenom-
email Within half an hour after his arrival at
the Metropolitan Hotel one Breslin, also dead,
handed him sealed packet, with which Pigott
returned, waved it triumphantly for moment
before the infatuated Houston's dazzled eyes,
and then hied him to the man of mystery,
Murphy.
MYSTERY PREVAILS.
Then followed a meeting with the Clan-Na-
Gaels in an obscure cafe, the administration of
fearsome oaths and other sulphurous accesso.
ries, and finally triumph and cash. Three
weeks later the repentanr conspirators de-
manded the return of the letter at any cost,
all hxya of &c ayad I,,,f
the brave Pigott once more ventured to Paris
and met in the streets one Tom Brown, a COM
plete stranger, who must have been his elective
affinity.
"You want some Parnell lettersf'
81 do" said Pigott.
1--WE lots of them" said Brown.
"I'll buy them" quoth Pigott.
More conspirators' cafes, oaths, perilous ad-
Later more luck approaching the miraculous,
another stranger in the street, another bargain
struck, a third batch of letters secured of the
contiding Houston.
scene to the Labouchere affair, whereat PIgott
became more nervous and his nerves played
such comical tricks with his tongue as to render
his words at times unintelligible. 1t was
ticklish ground, and Webster tried his best to
steer his man. Nevertheless, Pigott gave him
self away with ludicrous completeness to the
huge and uncontrolled delight of nearly the
whole distinguished audience of whom not
thing but the profoundest contempt and
aversion of the unwholesome old man in the
witness box.
1t became clear that Pigott puffed up by the
success with which he had duped the Times,
had evidently designed to milk the other side,
and then escape abroad with his booty. The
audacity of the undertaking almost COM
manded respect. But its ignominious failure
excited no pity.
RUSsELL's PREY.
Sir Charles Russell rose at 245 P. NJ, and,
after gazing awhile steadily at his prey, the
great cross-examiner suddenly requested the
witness to write certain words. Pigott imme-
diately became limp, and thereafter his back
bone obstinately neglected its natural function.
The words were written slowly and nervously,
and the precious manuscript was Immediately
sent off to the photographer.
The frs1series of questions referred to the
Pigott-Egan correspondence cabled you in ad-
vance last night. The matter wasn't gone into
1t length, butit is held in reserve. Then followed
string of questions which added to Pigott's
already pitiful discomfort, showing as they did
.he questioners intimate knowledge of many
things which the witness hoped were secret or
forgotten. Ere long the court had been made
aware that the patriotic Pigott had been in
communication with the Irish Gov
eminent admittedly since 1851. and presumably
Tor nearly 20 years.
One of his earliest blackmailing efforts was
made in 1873 when he tried to persuade no less
,-
hat he had Information worth purchasing
The same game, with poor success, was played
IN Sir George Trevelyn HarcouFt, and, in fact,
IN the leading members of successive Govern
nents. The high-souled patriot stood un-
masked as a veritable wretch. The agony on
he old mans face as the terrible questions
we're thundered forth and impossibllity of
out of answering them was realized,
,ould be seen with startling clearness.
BAFFLED AND BEATEN.
1t was positively fascinating, and, as an i'm
Mediate study of human wretchedness, COM
,arable only to the dropping jaws and woebe- |
zone features of the devotees of Soames, Mac
Donald and Houston, as they sat in their pride |
# place, and, perforce, witnessed the vivisec- |
ion of their idol. But revelations more damn |
ng and more dramatic were to follow. Upon |
he very eve of the publication of the Times |
the material for which had been |
mainly manufactured by Pigott, he had written |
o the Archbishop of Dublin offering to dis |
,rove them. expressing disbelief in their truth
illness. and limiting at the stupendous disaster |
bout to overwhelm the Irish leaders, which he |
lone was in position to avert
The effect on Pigott was prodigious. He |
lternately clawed at his bald pate and his |
White beard, like one whose wits were wander |
ng, whined out that the Archbishop had be- |
rayed confidence as sacred as the con-
denied, admitted, denied again that |
le had written the letter, explained and ad-
nitted his inability to explain, and finally in |
xtreme anguish walled forth reply to the
NAL question so utterly ludicrous that every
ne, from the grave Judges to the wearied re-
'orters burst into loud laughter, and then the
ourt adjourned.
Pigott, shadowed by two stalwart detectives.
narped with his safeguard, SHRINK ont of