The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-02-28
PIG0TT'S LATEST.
The Times Well-Paid Forger Sends
an Epistle From Paris to His
Employers.
The Letter Confessing tho Forgeries
Read in Court, and Then the
Commission Adjourns.
The Times Publicly Apologies for Its Con-
duct and Now Comes Parneii's OPP
portunity for Justice.

LONDON, req. Iis-An IMMENSE cfoNu
was present In the court room this morn.
ing when the session Of the Parnell COM
mission opened, and much excitement was
manifested. Parnell arrived at the court
room early. Attorney-general Webster
stated 10 the court that Shannon,th the Times
Dublin solicitor, shad received letter To-
day from Plgott. who Is In Paris. The
letter was not In Pigotts writing. Shan
non Immediately notified the Scotland
Yard authorities o. the receipt OF the let
ter. The attorney general then read the
letter. II was dated Saturday, and con-
tained the confession OF Pig0tt made 10 La
b0uchere on that day. Pigott added he de.
sired 10 fully disclose that he fabricated
the alleged fac smile OF Parnelrs letter
published In the Times and other letters
he furnished that paper. He denied being
interested with the American brother
hood after he sold his newspaper,
The lrishman. lie admitted that
he wrote the conversation with Eugene
Fakes, at Lausanne, from memory only.
lie told Houston he found the letters In q
bag, but he fabricated them, using the gen.
uine letters OF Psrnell and Egan, copying
certain words showing the general charac-
ter OF the writing and tracing them against
q window pane. He afterwards destroyed
the genuine letters. The second batch OF
letters ascribed 20 PArnell were initiated
from the fac-simile published In the Times.
He admitted that Lab0ucheres account Of
the Interview between them was In the
main correct. The letter dated Saturday
WAS enclosed In another letter bearing th@
date Of the Hotel du Monde, Paris, Tues
Attorney General Webster said every
body would agree nobody could attach any
weight TO Pigott's evidence, and II WAS his
duty TO ask the court to withdraw from
The Times, he said, desired TO express re-
gret for publishing the letters, and the pro.
prietors OF that paper would themselves
more fully express their regret later. He
repudiated the allegation made by Sir
Charles Russell yesterday that there was n
foul conspiracy behind Pigott and Hous.
ton. II such conspiracy existed the Times
had no share In It. IL the error OF the
Times extends beyond that, the court
Sir Charles Russell said he had hoped
the stt0rney-general would make a
stronger statement Parnell was then
sworn. He denied signing the alleged let
ter of the 18th OF May. Campbell, bis sec
retary, did not write the letter. Witness
had not heard of such letter until he saw
Il published In the Times. Campbell had
gone to Antwerp TO endeavor TO ind Pigott.
Parnell denied the genuineness OF the let
ters purporting TO have been signed by
himself and Egan. lie said he aud Egan
tated TO Campbell letter regarding the
interview asked by Pigo,t. The letter
which the Times reproduced was evidently
Initiated from II. lie had no Interview
with Plgott. The court then adjourned
until Friday. ~
PIgotrs arrest In Paris is regarded as i'm.
minent but IL 10 doubtful whether the
French government will regard perjury as
extraditable.
IL is believed Pigott posted the letter tc
Shannon at railroad station In Paris ant
then proceeded TO either Spain or Switzer
land. IL appears Pigott obtained on Mon
day from SotheIby's book mart a check fol
f25 In payment for number Of race books
Pigott had the check cashed that afternoon
The last time he was seen he was walking
on Fleet street. An EDglishman havinI
the appearance OF Pigott, but who gave ne
name, arrived ut the hotel De Mondes
Paris, at ak o'clock Tuesday morning
After breakfasting he wrote brief note OF
hotel paper and encosd II with other pa
pers In an envelope upon which he wrote |
London address. He left again between
and o'clock.
Crowds OF friends besieged Parnell II
the lobby Of the commons 10 day. Sir w
B. Bartlett, conservative, shook hand
with Psrnell. Parnell, as yet, has come b
no decision regarding his action, but Is de
termined 10 follow Sir Charles RUSSELL
conspiracy suggestion.
The Times to-day, In leading editorial
quotes In full the apology rendered by Al
torney-General Webster before the Parnel
commission for the publication OF III
forged letters, and continues; I'VE desir'
| 10 endorse every word OF the foregoing
statement Moreover, Mr.. Parnell havinI
| In the witness box stated that the letter
are forgeries, we accept In every respec
the truth OF that statement In these cir
cumstances we deem II right 10 express ou
regret most fully and sincerely OF hayinl
been induced TO publish the letters as MI
| Parnell's, or TO use them In evidenc
against him. The expression oi
regret includes also the letters fslsel
attributed to Mr.. Egan, Mr.. Davitt an
Mr.. O'Kelly. II is scarcely fitting now
enter into the circumstances under whlcl
they were received and published w
are bound. however, 70 point out that Pig
OFT was not the person with whom we CON
munic ated. moreover we must add that "
firmly believed the letters were genuln
1
| cross-examinati0n. IL must be evident I
ali reasonable persons that II eonsplrac
existed, the Times was yictimized and wa
not party TO IT, Errors In judgment ma.
have been committed, and for them tn
penalty must be paid. IL must be clearl
understood that what we haye done is alto
gethsr upon our motion and our own n
sponsiblflty and In the public interel
alone. This withdrawal. OF course, refer
exclusively TO the letters obtained froi
Pigottn
TO the degradation OF the Times avowal,
would be the terms on which Sir Richar
Webster made his s0-called apology. NJ
the credit OF the bar Sir Richard ought
have refused 10 connect himself with sue
an Ign0ble composition. IL the bar cann'
express It's opinion OF such behavior, pa
lament must be invited 10 do so promptly
The News also says: "The Times tried
destroy Parnell and Parnell has destroys
the Times. Never again shall any ma
who respects himself read It's base acousi
tions but with smile Of lsnguld DISCUS
The Times is no representative OF the En-
lish press. We do not hesitate % say I
other English paper would have been cap
BILE Of engaging In the ab0minable trad
which has led the Times 10 such dism
depth OF infamy."
The Times has Withdrawn Its a
vertisement OF "Parnelllsm and Grim,
and "0'Donnell vs. Walter" App
cants for pamphlets are Informed III
are out OF print IL Is doubted wheth
Pigott isln Paris, as reported. The Ian
lord OF the hotel Du Monde says he has D
seen him. A fumor ls current that Pig,
cashed check for f25 In London yesfefd
morning.