New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-27
PIGoTT MAKES CONFESSION
THE PARNELL LETTERS FORGED.
THE LAST HOPE OF THE TIdES'S' CASE
APPARENTLY GONE.


FUGITIvE-MoRE IMPORTANT REV
ELATIoNs EXPECTED TODAY.
tBY CABLE TO THE TRmuxz.l
Copyright; 1889 By The ge1o- Fork Tri5uns
London Feb. 26.--Pigott's flight and confession
Of forgery have given new turn to matters, of
which more will be heard tomorrow. But suf-
fcient unto the day is the sensation thereof, and
of sensations we have breakfasted and lunched
l can remember no such succession of surprises
and scenes l might almost say encounters, as
have occurred before the Parnell Commission to-
day. Expectation of Pgotts temperance in the
witness-b box brought together the most crowded
and perhaps the most distinguished audience Of
the season. Mrs. Gladstone was conspicuous
Mr.. Parnell, for once, was punctuaL Mr.. Davitt
was in his usual place. having come back from
Paris. Mr.. Tim Healy had arrived from Ireland
So had Lord-Mayor Sexton Among the Liberal
ex-Ministers were Mr. Childers and Mr.. Bryce
Other hotabilities, political and social, were
numerous. The counsel were all present before
half-past 10. The Judges, for once, were five
minutes late. When they had taken their seats.
everybody looked for Pigott The witness-box
was empty. The ushers hustled in and out
Where is the witness ?7 asked Mr.. Justice
Hannen.
For moment there was NO answer. Then the
Attorney General answered gravcy that Pigott
was not to be found. He had not been seen at his
hotel since IL O'clock last night murmur
broke out all over the court Sir Charles Russell
was instantly on his feet:
In that case, my lord, apply that warrant
for the witnesses arrest may issue, and issue at
once"
Mr.. Soamess clerk put into the box TO testify
what he knew. He knew only what the Attorney
General had stated. Sir Charles pressed his ap-
plication.
Il have already" replied Mr. Justice Hammer,
softly, directed il to be made cut"
The Attorney-Ge .era1 again rose, checry as
ever, to ask that before anything further was
done, time should be allowed him to consult with
his learned friends and clients before saying what
| course they should pursue.
Mr.. Attorney" replied Sir Charles whose voice
grew deeper, even tremulous he proceeded,
may pursue what course he likes We shall
go on, for we deliberately charge that behind
| Rgott and behind Mr.. Houston, there is a soul
conspiracy Sir Charles's emotion spread over the
| audience. What did Sir Charles mean?
we win adjourn for half an hour' said
! Chief-Justiee Hannen, and the flowing robes Of
| the Judges rustled of the bench. Everybody
else kept their seats. Nobody was going TO risk
losing what should follow. The haIf-hour
stretched TO an hour 1t was on the stroke of
noon when tho court resumed. The Attorney
| General had long before returned and been wait
| ing in silence. The opposing counsel were on
their fact together as tire Judges took their seats
| We expected Sir Richards promised statement,
but none came One side had letter from Pigott
TO Mr.. Shannon, tho Irish solicitor, who helped
Mr. Soames The other side had letter from
Mr. Egan and many letters and documents.
81, bapa
tofore hidden history. Sir James Hannen stopped
him.
But what is your application
u propose" answered Sir Charles sharply, as
! IL he did not relish the interruption, /" to put
the court in possession of all the facts we have
relating to Pigott's testimony, and fight; and
TO that end TO put into the box, here and now, Mr.
Lewis and Mr. Laboucheres The Parnell audi
euce greeted this proposal with a murmur of eager
| approval but again interrupted Sir James:
| We have only to deal now, IL we can, with
Pieotts disappearance II you have any state
ment 70 make it should be founded on an am
/ davit.'
any lord" answered Sir Charles, al ask
solemny, in the interests Of justice, to be allowed
| to continue my statement
" But what statement"
| II repeat my lord, statement IN che interests
| Of Justice 1t will not be long. 1t will be most
serious I have practised many years before
your lordships I am acting now under sense
! of the gravest responsibility
This came out in quivering. sonorous tones
well welln replied Sir James. ave do not
| doubt IT, There is no need to emphasize il quite
so much
The temperature by this time was rising every
| where except on the bench Sir Charles was al
| lowed to proceed, and the audience listened,
breathless, while he described how Pigott bad
again. on Saturday, sought Mr.. Labouchere. and
| had confessed the letters forgeres, and himself
the forger. Mr.. Labouchere had refused to take
his statement except in the presence of witness,
and had sent for Mr. Sala, who lives near. The
statement was written out in Mr.. Sala's presence,
written il appeared later which Sir Charles did not
think worth mentioning, by Mr.. Labouchere HIM
SELF. attested by Mr. Sala and sent to Mr. Lewis on
Sunday. who sent it back to Plgott on Monday with
letter saving his client, Mr.. Psrnell, declined to
hold any intercourse, direct indirect. with Mr..
Pipott Needless to add Mr.. Lewis took a copy
before returning this interesting document Be
| fore all this story had been gone over Sir James
| nterposed moro than once with a suggestion that
Sir Charles was becoming more and more irregular.
There should be an affidavit, insisted Sir James.
Sir Charles paused, and instead OF replying,
brought down his hands in an impressive but
| theatrical expression Of utter despair.
That is not seemly gesture" mildly OBJ
served Sir James We really must have things
done regularly"
But Sir Charles by this time was in his most
electric state He had lost control of his anger.
and thundered out that he cared not to suppress
his sense of the iniquity that had been attempted
be the expression of it pleasing or not pleasing to
your lordshirs
THAT" remarked Sir James. " is not addressed
to tlis tribunal or If it is, it ought not TO be-
| This stern rebuke was delivered with that I'M
failing sweet frmness of manner which Mr.. jus
tice Hannen never loses. Never once to-day, amid
this continuing excitement, did this admirable
Judge appear otherwise than judicial imperturb-
able perfectly serene, no matter what storm was
raging below him. Yet his remonstrance seemed
none the less austere. addressed, as 1t was to so
eminent counsel as Sir Charles, who halfapolo-
gized, and hurried on to say he had prepared no
affidavit because he expected to see Pigott in the