St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-27
The Times Witness Admits
That He Forged the Par
nell Letters.
He Suddenly Disappears. and
Detectives Are Unable to
Find Him.
It Is Believed That He Fled
in Disguise to Antwerp
or Rotterdam.
Interesting Account Of the
Detection of Pigott's
Forgeries.

LONDON, Feb. 20.-The Parnell COM
mission resumed its sitting this morn
ing. Arter the opening of the court,
Sir Charles Russell arose and stated
that Oh Saturday Richard Pigott went
to the residence of Henry Labouchere,
and, in the presence of George Au-
guStuS Sala, signed a confession, stating
that the letters upon which the Times
based its charges against the Irish mem
berS of the house of commons were
forgeries. Sir Charles Russell applied
for warrant for the arrest of Piggott.
Presiding Justice Hannen said war
rant would be ready in an hour. At.
torney 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 re-
sumo any part of the case. When Pig
oft was called again 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 Pigott
had left the hotel at which he was
stopping at IL O'Clock last night
and that the counsel were ignorant OF
his whereabouts. This statement
caused sensation in the court room.
The court took recess for half an hour.
Attorney General Webster said that
yesterday morning Mr.. Shannon re-
ceived letter from Pigott, and he
would call Mr.. Shannon to prove it. Sir
Charles Russell said that he regretted
that he had not heard of the letter
earlier. He,desired to put in evidence
a letter from Egan to Labouchere. He
further said that Pigott. in the presence
fession that the documents he had pro-
duced we're forgeries. and that he was
the forger. This confession was sent to
Mr.. Lewis, who yesterday returned it to
PigOtt, saying thas MIR. ,Parnell refused
to have anything to do with him. Mr..
Shannon was then called as witness.
He testified that on Sunday evening
PigOtt gave him written statement
DENYING THE STATEMENT
made to MIR. LabOuchere that he forged
all the letters, Pigott said he believed
the first batch were genuine Ill Nle
second batch, two OF the Parnell letters
we're forged by himself and Casey. The
third batch, consisting of letters from
Messrs. Davitt and OKelly. were also
forged by himself and Casey. Pigott
said in his statement that now, having
stated the truth and confessed before
the world, the Times should deal leni-
emily with him. Upon cross-examina-
ton, Mr.. Shannon said he had taken no
steps, to prevent Pigott from bOlting.
He expected him to appear in court.
Mr.. Shannon testified that he saw Pig
oft at noon yesterday. Oct. 10 Pigott
released witness from the obligation of
secrecy. Until then he had not men
toned Pigott's name to counsel. Pigott
wrote Saturday asking for money, but
witness did not send him any. Mr..
Shannon continued: II saw Pigott be-
fore his crOss-examination, and, at Pig
otis request, Thursday. Saturday aud
Sunday PigOtt askea to see Mr.. Soames,
who, however, was too busy. Pig0tt
wrote letter in my presence which
refused to take. l told him if he be-
heved the facts were rightly set forth
in the letter, to send it to me. Monday
received the letter and prepared an
affidavit which Pigott swore to before a
commissioner" Attorney General Web
Ster then read
A LETTER WRITTEN BY PIGOTT
at Anderton's hotel on Sunday. In this
letter sPigott says: II informed Mr..
Labouchere on Saturday that forged
is not so. [Laughter.] | got the first
eleven letters from Casey at the Hotel
du Monde i'm Paris. knew him we'll.
Murphy was fictitious name. Casey
had lodgings where | saw the letters in
bag tnat Byrne had left there. Casey
had them three months before conld
induce him to sell them, | paid him
three-fourths of the G5oO. These letters
believe to be genuine. The second
batch comprised two Parnell letters
and one Egan letter. | forged the
bodies of the Parnell letters and Casey
forged the signatures. Casey gave me
Egan's letter, which l do not doubt is
genuine. The last batch comprised
three letters, Davitt's and O'Kelly's,
which were similarly forged. Egan's
letters were genuine. No Egan letter
that | gave the Times or Mr.. Houston is
forged. My evidence about Eugene
Davis is correct. When making the
statement to Mr.. LabOuchere l was
afraid of prosecution for forgery.
Mr.. Labouchere promised me that l
WOULD NOT BE PROSECUTED
if I made a statement. He also said
that although he would not give me
$4,000, he pledged his word of honor
| that the Parnellites would give my
children $4,000, and he promised to see
it expended for their benefit. This is
the truth regarding the letters so far as
| | am connected with them. l ask you
| to intercede in my behalf with the
| Times. / feel that | have treated the
| Times very badly. Having stated the
truth and made confession which
brands me before the world as forger.
| [ ask the Times to deal with me Ieni-
emily. [ have been in difficulties and
great distress for the last twenty years.
and to support myself and family have
been guilty of many acts that will dis
grace me-" The attorney produced
Pigott's affidavits stating that the con-
tents of the letters were true. Presid-
ing Justice Hannen here said: ssNEe
seem to have arrived at this point:
Pigott states that he
FORGED FOUR LETTERS,
| two of which were ascribed to Mr.. Par
neil one to Mr. Davitt and one to Mr..
O'Kelly."
Mr.. Shannon, under cross-examina-
ton, said that he never gave Pigotta
farthing. Pigott on Monday was per-
| sent him money. Pigott had only G5,
and his hotel bill was unpaid. Before
the commission adjourned Sir Charles
Russell intimated that, however repug-
nant it might be to the feelings of Mrs
Parnell, that gentleman intended to
apply for warrant for the arrest of
Pigott for perjury. Constables Gala
| CHER and Fawcett, who protected Pigott
at Anderton's hotel, say they last saw
him at 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The greatest excitement prevailed in