Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-02-27
DOUBLE-DYED LIAR.
That Is What Piggott Turns
Out To Be.
HE CONFEsSES AND sKIps OUT
Labouchere and Sala Make the
Scoundrel Own Up to His
Treason and Guilt.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD


Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD
LONDON, February 26.-The Parnell
Commission resumed sitting this morn
ing. Russell stated that on Saturday,
Richard Piggott went to the residence OF
Henry Labouchere, and. in the presenc
of Geo. Augusta Sala, signed a confession,
stating that the letters upon which the
Times based its charges against the
Irish members CT the House of Com
mons, we're forgeries.
Sir Charles Russell applied for war
rant for the arrest OF Piggott. Presiding
Justice Hannen said the warrant would
be ready in an hour. Attorney General
Webster for the Times said no other wit
ness was ready, and he would have to
consider what course to pursue. He
would also have to decide whether OF
not he would have to resume any part of
the case.
When Pig gott was called to take the
| stand he did not appear. After the
court had waited for some time, counsel
| for the Times stated to the Judges that
Piggott had left the hotel at which he
was stopping at II O'Clock last night,
and that counsel were ignorant of his
whereabouts. The statement caused a
sensation in the courtroom. The court
took recess for half an hour, at the ex-
piration of which time, if Piggott does
not appear, his papers at the hotel will
probably be seized.
Piggott, in his confession, said he
! forged all the letters secured by the Times
which purpsrted to have been written
by Egan, Parnell, Davitt and O'Kelly
He also admitted he had been guilty of
perjury in his evidence before the Com
mission.
/ Soames, solicitor for the Times, en-
phatically denies doing anything directly
or indirectly to assist Piggott to make
his escape.
CHICAGO, February 26. - Alexander
Sullivan this morning received the fol-
lowing cable from Michael Davitt
"Pigott has bolted. The general belief
here is that the Times and the govern
ment paid him to clear out"
LONDON, February 26.-Russell further
said that Piggott, in the presence OF
George Augustus Sala, signed the con.
fession that the documents he produced
were forgeries and that he WAS forger.
The confession was sent to Lewis, who
yesterday returned it to Pigott, saying
Parnell bad refused to have anything to
do with him.
Shannon was then called as a witness.
He testified that on Sunday night Piggott
gave him written statement denying
the statement made to Labouchere, that
he forged all the letters. Piggott said he
believed the first batch genuine. In
the second batch, two of the Parnell let
ters were forged by himself and Casey.
The third batch, consisting of letters
from Davitt and O'Kelly, were also
forged by himself and Casey. Piggott
added to his statement, tuat having now
stated the truth and confessed before the
world, the Times should deal leniently
with him. Upon cross-examination,
Shannon said he had not prevented Pig
got from boiling. He expected him to
appear in court.
Attorney.General Webster said yester-
day morning that Shannon, the Dublin
solicitor, who is assisting the Times, re-
ceived letter from Piggott and he would
call Shannon to prove it. Sir Charles
Russell said he regretted that he had not
heard OF the letter earlier. He desired
to put in evidence letter from Egan to
Labouchere. Webster objected to the III
PRODUCTION of the letter. Russell said
that owing to the Attorney Generals q
objection he would not read the letters,
but as the letter, with other documents
bore upon Piggott's disappearance, he
claimed in the interest of justice that
he should make a statement. Justice
Inv, roy1 L.
in support of the statement. Sir Charles
aequiesced. He added that the letter and
documents showed the means by which
he had fixed upon Piggott as the forger.
Piggott confessed to Lewis, Parnell's So
licltor, that he was the forger. La.
bouchere and Parnell, who we're present
when this confession was made, would
corroborate this statement. On Sat
urday, Piggott, through invitation, called
upon Labouchere and stated that he de.
sired to make confession. Labouchere
declined to listen unless witnesses were
present, whereupon Sala was sum-
moned and Pigott made the confess
sion. Russell also said that whatever
course was adopted by Attorney Cen
eral Webster, he should pursue his own
course, and should insist that the whole
matter be thoroughly investigated, be-
cause it was deliberately charged that be-
tween Piggott and Houston there had
been foul conspiracy. He asked the
Court to impound documents, which
arrived at Anderton's addressed to Pig.
gott, in care of Houston. Sir Charles
added that Piggott had made his escape
assisted by body-guard consisting of an
Irish constable and tive Scotland Yard
detectives. Labouchere, Sir Charles
said, had received letter from Egan, in
July, 1888, in consequence of which a
number of documents were handed to
Labouchere. Sir Charles asked permis-
sion to call witnesses to testify to infor-
nation which the Court ought to have.
LONDON, February 26.-In Bow Street
Police Court this afternoon, a warrant
was issued for the arrest Of Piggott for
perjury and forgery against Parnell,
Egan ct al. The Parnell Commission
adjourned till tomorrow to allow the
Times counsel to decide what course TO