Wichita eagle., 1889-05-10
pAaNe,I ElNlsAEs

l
LONDON, May 9-Mr. Parnell's exam;-
nation was finished before the special com
mission today. He testified that the re
ception committee in America comprised
the leading merchants of New York, rep
resentative citizens and ministers OF re-
ligion. In his speeches in New York hs
had declared that not q farthing contrib
uted to the Irish cause would 60 toward
organizing rebellion in Ireland. Through
out his tour of the United States he had
! never swerved hands breadth from that
declaration. Attorney General Webster
the witness said. had quoted from five out
| of sixty speeches he had made in the
United States. ignoring the general tenor
OF his speeches SO as to misrep-
resent his words. AS the names
the attorney general mentioned as those OF
persons who were associated with the
meetings were only a small fraction OF
| those who had attended. Men of promi-
nent position and of undoubted respect
ability attended these meetings. In no
sense could the American receptions be
identified with the proceedings of the
physical force party. Witness firmly be-
iieved that none ofs his colleagues since
joining the Irish parliamentary party had
had anything to do with the Fenians.
Only casually did the Fenians come with
in the orbit of the constitutional move
ment.
Here Mr.. Parnell scored point by re-
marking that the Tories were more GER
tainly associated with the movement, for
instance, when they co-operated with the
ParnelliteS to obstruct the criminal code
bill to the death
Referring to some letters OF his Mr.. Par
nell said he had copies made from his sec
retary's shorthand, when Attorney Gen
eral Webster said: 1T seems that there ex-
lists book of copies of Mr.. Parnell's
letters. / would like to see that book"
Sir Charles Russell answered. by all
means.
Presiding Justice Harmon remarked: eff
these letters refer to the league they ought
to have been disclosed"
Mr.. Parnell rejoined: Your lordships
are welcome to see any letter ever wrote
or received"
Attorney General Webster. referring to
the examination of ParnelPs private bank
account, wanted to trace a number of
checks and warm discussion ensued, Sir
Charles Russell declaring that such action
would be unfair, when Justice Harmon
suggested poStponement OF the inquiry
into this matter until further documents
were before the committee.
Archbishop Walsh here took the stand.
He testified that he came to the conclusion
before 1870 that there was need of a de-
fensive land organization and was pro-
ceedlng to give his opinion OF the necessity
for such an organization when Justice
Harmon interposed,: saying the inquiry
must be limited as to whether or not the
land league was necessary.
The attorney general submitted that
matters of opinion were not admissible.
Mr.. Biggar urged that opinion evidence
had been given over and over again by
hlrelings of the government
Justice Harmon warned Mr.. Biggar that
he must not make use of such language.
Mr.. Biggar then said that unless such
evidence was admitted the whole inquiry
would end in farce.
The judges here retired to consider the
matter privately. On their return Justice
Harmon announced that they had decided
that it was not permissible to ask any wit
ness, however distinguished, abstract
questions Of opinion. The facts known to
the witness ought to be laid before the
court before opinions based thereon are
mentioned. The mere expression of Arch
bishop Walsh'S opinion Was inadmissible.
The archbishop, continuing, said that in
the course of his visits through his diocese
he had abundant means Of knowing that
the league denounced outrages. Many
priests had joined the league with his full
approval. He saw nothing in the action of
the members of the league to forbid the
clergy joining the organization.