Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-22
PIGGOTT UNDER FIRE.
The Wretched Old Man Breaks Down
Under Cross-Examination.

Otu wan fDFcakS DOWn
Under Cross-Examination.
MS HIGHLY IMPROBABLE STORY - MIRACULOUS
MEETINGS WITH PEOPLE, ALL NOW DEAD-HE
SOLD INFORMATION TO THE GOVERNMENT WHILE
POSING As A PURE PATRIOT
Upon the resssembling of the ParneI COM
mission In London yesterday Richard Pigott
was again called for examination. He testified
that IN January. 1886. he had two or three in
tervlews with Eugene Davis at Lausanne Wit
ness told Davis that he required material for a
pamphlet on the league, and that the docu-
ments procured must be substantiated by sig
natures
The next day Davis said he had carefully
considered the matter and could not comply
with the request because the Fenian brother
hood was bound 70 Mr.. Parnen not to inter-
fere with his movements until the expiration
OF a certain period. Several months later
witness revisited Lausanne and again saw
Davis.
Davis still adhered TO his refusal to impart
information until the day witness left. He then
proposed to Davis to write the pamphlet and
nX the date for its publication. He offered him
El00 to give the principal facts. Davis did so.
and witness took notes of Davis statement.
Immediately afterward witness wrote de-
tailed account of the interview at the hotel at
Lausanne on hotel paper. He gave Mr.. Hous-
ton the copy that was read yesterday. In con-
sequence OF a letter which he received from a
friend in Paris early in April, 1856. witness had
conference with Houston and then went to
Paris. He remained in that city week or more
before he learned anything. Then he was
AccosTED ON THE STREET
by man giving the name of Morris Murphy
who said he had been a compositor in witness
employ. He did not recognize the man. but
saw no reason to doubt his statement They con-
versed for some time and subsequently met
again, when Murphy said he had not been
able TO ascertain anything about the documents
"A week later Murphy said he had found the
documents in bag. He described the bag to
witness and said it contained five or six of
Egan's letters, some of Parnelrs and some old
accounts Witness said he was authorized to
md the documents and asked the price for
their surrender. Mr.. Murphy at first wanted
1000 pounds, but afterwards said he would
take 500 pounds. The next day Murphy showed
witness the bag and its contents. Witness
read the letters and made memoranda, but did
not actually copy the letters.
Plggott here identified six letters of Eagan's,
five of Parnell's, including the letter a fac
smile of which appeared in the Times, and
scraps of accounts, which were produced in
court as the contents of the bag.
TRIP TO NEW YORK.
Piggott said he did not know Mr.. Parnelrs
writing when he looked at the bag. He knew
his signature. He believed that the signatures
attached to the letters were those of MIR.
body of the letters. He did not know Mr..
Campbell, Mr.. Parnels secretary, and had
never seen his writing. Witness returned to
England and saw Mr.. Houston, who. after con-
slderatlon, said he was prepared to pay the
amount demanded for the letters He returned
TO France on April 80, 1885, and told Murphy
that he would accept his offer. Murphy said
that agents of the Clan a-Gael from New York
claimed the letters, and in order to obtain them
II would be necessary to go to New York to
obtain authority from The baa1s of tba
na-Gael. Murphy suggested that witness CO.
witness was strongly opposed to going. know
ing that he would incur great danger After
long discussion Murphy told witness that it
would be utterly impossible to obtain the
letters unless witness went to New York Wit
ness consulted with Houston and went to New
York.
swoRE on CATHOLIC PRAYER-BooK
There he saw Bresln. to whom Murphy had
given him letter. He had not known Breslin
before the meeting. He did not know what
Murphy's letter contained; it was sealed The
interview with Breslin lasted five minutes
Breslin met him half an hour after his arrival
He told him that he had received cable dis
patch from Paris instructing him to meet wit
ness. After a few remarks he handed witness
a sealed letter, which he said witness was to
deliver to Murphy in Paris. Witness con-
tinued:
Il returned to London and told Houston what
had occurred. He believed the letter contained
authority to deliver the bag. went to Paris
on July TO- and saw Murphy at the Hotel st.
Petersburg. handed him the letter and he
said II was all right. but he explained that he
could not give me the letters until he had seen
other people. Two evenings later Murphy took
me to cafe in the Rue st. Honore He con-
ducted me to private room where FIVE men
were seated around table. These men, he
said. repre- sented the Clan-na-Gael He made
me swear on Catholic pTayer-book that under
no circumstances would 1 reveal the source
from which i had obtained the documents 1
also swOre that would not mention Names
and if any proceedings followed the publica-
ton of the letters that would not testify"
DENIES THAT HE Is FoRGER.
Piggott did not get the documents that night.
Houston had said that he would take the docu-
ments on Piggott's description without coming
to Paris himself, but Piggott pressed him to
come. Witness detailed the purchase of the
letters and Murphy's offer to repurchase them
corroborating Houston's testimony on this
point. Witness had nothing to DO directly or
Indirectly with the writing of the letters. THE
suggestion that forged them is quite untrue"
be said Witness knew Egans writing and sig
nature and was convinced that Egan wrote the
letters ascribed to him. Murphy was displeased
with the refusal to return the letters He said
he would prefer to pay PiggOtt himself some
thing rather than to lose possession of the let
tiers. Witness saw Hayes, the president of the
Il r. b., and Casey. Fenian, in Paris
mission OF evidence as to what passed between
Hayes and Casey and the witness. After long
wrangle Mr.. Davitt rose and said that he had
feen Casey and Hayes in Paris since the ap-
pOintment of the commission.
Plgott, resurning, said he first heard of the
existence OF other letters at the beginning of
lS5o. His informant was Thos. Brown mem
Der OF the Clan-na-Gael. Hayes introduced
Brown and witness IN the Cafe Royale, Rue St.
honore. Paris. Brown produced the letters
and witness sent to Houston copies of two of
Parnells and one Of Egan's. Piggot had not
the slightest doubt that the signatures were
genuine. In July, 1888. he heard Of other let
tiers. A person in Paris who declined to re-
veal his name. offered TO surrender them for
$500. He was paid 600, OF which sum witness
received $50 back. Piggott denied that he had
forged any part Of the second or third batch of
letters. he destroyed HOuston's letters when
he changed his address in 1887 Witness
previous TO HOustOns taking him to Mr. Soame's
office, had been subpened by Mr.. Lewis, of
counsel for the Parnellites.
CLAIMED TO BE PARSELL's MESSENGER.
Pigott continued: a man named O'Brien
visited me in Dublin under the alias of Sinclair
He said that Parnell had sent him to try to get
me TO assist Egan. Mr.. Labouchere he said.
was acting for Mr.. Egan, and would pay me a
very high price il had any letters of Par
nelfs to sell. Sinclair suggested that should
see Mr.. Labouchere in London, and gave me f5
with which 10 nav Dassape In compIiapca