Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-02-27
HE HAS CONFESSED.
PIG0TT ADMITS THAT HB FORGED THE
PARNBLL LETTERS
And That BE Committed Perjury On the Witness
Siand-Pigot IS in Hiding-Mr. ParnslIs
Yindicaton IS Complete National
lists Make Grave Charges

LONDON, February 26.-Ihe Commls-
sion resumed its sitting this morning.
After the opening of the Court Sir Charles
Russell arose and stated that, on Saturday,
Richard Pigott went to the residence of
Mr.. Henry LabOuchere, and in the pres
erce of Mr. George Augustus Sala, signed a
confession stating that the letters upon
which the Times based It's charges against
the Irish members Of the House of Com
mons were forgeries.
Sir Charles Russell applied for warrant
for the arrest of Pigott. Presiding Justice
HanGen said warrant would be ready in
az hour.
Attorney General Webster, for the
Times, said no other witness was ready,
and that he would have to consider what
course to pursue He would also have to
decide whether or not he would resume
any part of the case.
When Pigott was called to again take
the stand he did not appear. After the
court had waited for some time, counsel
for the Times stated to the Judges that
Pgott had left the hotel at which he was
stopping at II o'clock last night, and that
the counsel were ignorant Of his where
abOuts.
This statement caused a sensation in the
court room. The court took a recess for
half an hour, intimsting that a. the expir-
alton of that time, il Pigott did not appear,
his papers at the hotel would probably be
seized.
Pigott, in his confession to Mr.. Labou-
chere on Saturday, said he forged oil the
letters secured by the Times which pur-
ported to have been written by Messrs |
Egan, Parnell Davitt and O'Kelly. He
also admitted that he had been guilty Of
perjury in his evidence given before the
Commission.
Mr.. Soames, solicitor for the Times, en-
phaticaliy denies doing anything, directly |
or indirectly, to assist PigOtt TO make his
es,spe
Attorney General Webster said that yes
terday morning Mr. Shannon received a
letter from Mr.. Pigott, and he would call |
Mr. Shannon to prove it.
Sir Charles Russell said he regretted |
that he mad not heard of the letter earlier.
lie desired to put in evidence letter from
Egan to Laboucbere.
Attorney General Webster objected TO
the introduction OF the letter.
Sir Charles Russell said that owing to
the Attorney Generals Oh lection he would
not read the letter, but as the letter, with
other documents, bore upon Pigot's dis
appearance, he claimed that IN the interest |
of Justice he should make a statement.
Presiding Justice Hannen said that ev-
idence must be called in support of the
statement.
Sir Charles scqniesced in the decision
He added that the letter and documents |
showed the means by which he had fixed |
upon Pigott as the forgsf. Pigott con-
fessed to Mr. Lewis, Mr.. Parnelps sOlici-
tor, that he was the forger. Messrs. La
bouchere and Parnell, who were present
when this confession was made, would cor
roborate this statement. On Saturday
Pigott. without invitation, callel upon
Mr. Labouchere, and stated that he de-
sired to make q confession. Mr. La |
bouche7e declined to listen to him unless
witnesses were present, whereupon Mr. |
George Augustus Sals was summoned and |
Pigott made the confession referred to at
the opening Of the court to-day.
Sir Charles Russell also said that what
ever course was adopted by Attorney Gen
eral Webster he should pursue his own
course. and should insist that the whole |
matter be thoroughly Investigated, because
it was deliberately charged that behind |
Pigott and Houston there had been foul
conspiracy. He asked the Court TO i'm
pound the documents which arrived at
Audertons. addressed to Pigott in care of
Houston. Sir Charles added that Pigott |
mad made his escape assisted by body |
euard consisting of an irish constable and |
two Scotland Yard detectives
Mr Labouchere, Sir Charles said, had re-
ceived a letter from Egan in July 1888, IN |
consequence Of which a number Of docu-
ments were handed to Mr.. Labouchere |
Sir Charles asked permission to call wit
Noses to testify 10 information which the
Court ought to have. Sir Charles Russell
further said that Pigott, in the presence OF
Mr.. George Augustus Sala, signed con-
fession that the documents he had pro-
duced were forgeries and that he was a
foreer. This confession was sent to MI !
LAWS, who yesterday returned it to Pig
Oft. saving that Mr.. Panell refused to
have anything TO do with him.
Mr.. Shannon, Dublin solicitor, was
then called as a witness. lie testified thst
on Sunday night Pigott gave him writ
ten statement denying the statement made
to Mr.. Labouchere that he forged all the
letters. Pigott SAID he believed that the
first batch WAS genuine. In the second
batch two Of the Paruell letters were
forged by himself ard Casey. The third
batch, consisting of letters from Messrs.
Davitt and O'Kelly, were also forged by
himself and Casey. Pigott added IN his
statement, that having now stated the
truth and confessed before the world, the
Times should deal leniently with him.
Upon cross-examination Mr.. Shannon
said he had taken no steps to prevent
Pigo,t from boiling. He expected him to
appear in court.