The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-02-21
COMMISSION.
Further Testimony in the ParnelI-
Times Inqulry-The Irish
Leaders, Signature.
A Searching Investigation - Re-
marks by Attorney General
Webster and Russell.

LONDON, February 14.-Mr. Soame, So
licitor for the Times, testified before the
Parnell commission to day that he visited
Dnblin in May, 1888, in quest of evidence.
At the office of Alexander Murphy, crown
solicitor for Kerry, he had an interview
with person whe was introduced to him
as a former employe in the office of the
league, and who produced slip bearing
the signature of Miss Anna Parnell in
Patrick Egan's handwriting, and bundle
of documents which witness inspected at
length. He copied some of these docu-
ments and made notes of others. Witness
arranged that the documents should be
brought to London and they we're brought
here on "White Monday" 1888, and en-
bodied in an affidavit produced during the
trial of the suit of O'Donnell against
Walter for libel. Witness was about to
put in the evidence another letter to
which it appears no official names were
attached.
Sir Charles Russell, counsel for the Par
nellites, objected.
Attorney General Webster, for the
Times, argued the letter was admissible,
as it had been obtained with other docu-
ments from Mr.. Phillips. He did not
know Mr.. Phillips. Attorney General
Webster said he regretted he had men
toned the name, but it had been proved
that Mr.. Phillips was the accountant of
the league. The Letter, with other genuine
league documents, had been obtained
from perfectly proper custody.
The court refused to admit the letter in
evidence.
Mr.. Soame, continuing, said he was
first consulted regarding alleged Parnell
letters at the end of November or the be-
ginning of December, 1886.
He produced five letters, including the
letter fac simie of which was printed
in the Times.
Attorney-general Webster said the let
ters had been photographed at Chief JUS
tice Hannen's request He handed the
photographs to the bench.
Mr.. Soama said Mr.. Mo cDonald, manage
of the London Times, handed him the
letters.
Witness did not know them, nor from
what source they had been obtained. He
afterwards ascertained from whom they
had came. The letters were submitted to
an expert in April, 1887. Before that
genuine specimens of Psrnell's writing
were collected and other specimens have
sinca heen ooIlected
At Attorney general Webster's request
witness submitted genuine specimens OF
Parnell's signature.
Mr.. Soame said he had obtained speci-
mems of the writing of Henry Campbell,
Parnell's secretary. He had no means OF
judging who wrote the letter, the fac
simIle to which was published. When the
fac simile appeared in the Times Mr.
Ingles, expert, asked hims to get further
specimens OF Oampbell's writing.
Witness here produced further speoi-
mems of Parnell's signature. He had no
means of judging who had written the
letter the fac simile of which was publish.
ei. When the fac simile appeared in the
Times Mr.. Ingalls, expected him to get
further specimens of Campbel's writing
Witness here produced further speoi.
mems of Parnell's signature which he had
obtained when the fac simile was pub
lished and including letters and summons
and which Parnell signed as magistrate
orders of admission to the house of com
mons, paragraph written for news
paper and the Kilmainham jail bool
which contained nine signatures, the first
written in December, 1881, and the last ii
May, 1882. Witness was advised by
Ingles before the fac simile was published
The court here debarred the question
as to whether Ingles thought that th'
letter which appeared in the Times wal
genuine.
Witness ntiuued-Some believed the
body of the letter was in Csmpbell's writ
ing while the signature was Parnell's
When he discovered ParneIPs letters he
also came across documents which ht
supposed to be Egan's. Three Of Egsn's
letters we're found in Oarey's house where
two letters in Campbell's writing we're alsC
discovered. Witness produced these
letters with other specimens of Egan'i
writing.
At this point Sir Charles Russell said
ave are only able to give these docu
ments cursory glance. The court mus
not assume they shall all be unquestioned.'
Attorney General Webster rejoined thai
he did not suppose Sir Charles Russell
would sdmit the genuineness of the letters
Mr.. Soame further testified that Rich
ard Pigott gave Parnell letters to Houston
secretary of the Irish Loyal aHd Patriotic
nninn uho andad than tn Macdonald