The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-02-27

pned that he had not relieved the Times
from the obligation tn maintain secrecy,
Houston had deceived Mr.. Soames, just as
he had deceived Piggott. Piggott said he
was informed that IL he testified his oppOn
ents would produce evidence that would
neutrailze his testimony and endanger his
life. He declared that Houston was re-
sponsible for LPiggott'sl negotiations with
Mr. Labouchere. Mr. Soames wrote TO Pig
g0tt that the pledges given by the latter
must be- performed. Piggott told Mr.
Soames that he had had an interview with
MI: Mccarthy. Mr.. Soames testified that
to the best of his belief he had not informed
counsel that Piggott was the source of the
letters before the commission act was passed,
He did not inquire into Piggott's character
he saw Mr.. Walter constantly, and did not
doubt that he had mentioned to him that
Piggott was the source of the letters. The
witness did not know what arrangements
had been made to watch Piggott. He sent
Sergeant Fawcett to AndertOn's hotel, on
Thursday, to see that no one interfered
until yesterday. The witness was Lot
aware that detectives had been employed
to watch Piggott. Mr.. Shannon saw Pig
g0tt at noon yesterday. On Oct. 10 Piggott
released the witness from the obligation of
secrecy: Until then he had not mentioned
Piggotts name to counsel PiggOtt wrote
on Saturday, asking for money, but the
witness did not send him any.
Mr.. Shannon continued: II saw Piggott
before his cross-examination, and at Pig
gott's request. On Thursday, Saturday and
Sunday. Piggott asked to see Mr. Soames,
who. however, was too busy. Piggott wrote
take. 1 told him if he believed the facts
were rightly set forth in the letter, to send
1t to me. On Monday | received the letter,
and prepared an affidavit, which Piggott
swore to before commissioner"
Attorney general Webster then read let
ter written by Piggott at Anderton's Hotel,
on'Sunday. In this letter, Piggott says:
Il informed Mr. Labouchere on Saturday
that l forged. all the letters gave to the
Times. That is not so. (Laughter.l got
the first eleven letters from Casey, at the
Hotel du Monde, in Paris. / knew him
we'll. Murphy was fictitious name.
Casey had lodgings where / saw the letters
had them three months before could in
three-fourths of the f5O6. These
letters believe TO be genuine.
The second batch comprised two Parnell
letters and one Egan letter. forged the
forged the signatures. Casey gave me
Egan's letter, which do not doubt is gen.
uine. The last batch comprised three let
ters. Davitt's and OKelley's, which were
similarly forged. Egan's letters were ggenu-
inc. 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
was afraid of a prosecution for forgery.
MIR. Labouchere promised me that l would
not be prosecuted if | made a statement.
He also said that, although he would not
give me f2,00O, 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. ask you to inter
cede in my behalf with the Times. / feel
that have treated the Times very badly.
Having stated the truth and made con-
fession which brands me before the world
as forger. l ask the Times to deal with me
leniently. have been in difficulties and
great distress for the last twenty years,
and to support myself and family l have
been. been guilty of many acts that must dis
The Attorney general produced Piggott's
affidavit stating that the contents of the
letters were true.
Presiding Justice Hannen here said: 1--WE
seem to have arrived at this point: Piggott
states that he forged four letters. two of
Mr.. Davitt, and one to Mr.. OKelly."
Mr.. Shannon, under cross-examination,
seid that he never gave PiggOtt farthing.
Higgott, on Monday, was sperplexed because
gott had only f5, and his hotel bill was un-
When the witness had concluded his tes-
timony. Sir Charles Russell stated what he
would prove by Glasgow agent. that Pig.
gott had committed a series of forgeries.
evidence to be presented.
Mr.. Lewis, of counsel for the Parnellites,
then testified that he had subp9naed Pig.
gOtt in September. Regarding Plggott's
Labouchere wrote the confession, and Pig.
gott signed it. Even after the confession
the witness expected that Fggott would be
IN court to-day.
AttOrney-general Webster asked that an
adjournment be taken until tomorrow, to
enable his clients to consider their position
and decide as to what part of the case they
should abandon. His clients, he said, also
wished to ascertain whether PiggOtt was
accessible. He promised to announce to-
Times. In accordance with the Attorney.
generals request, the commission ad-
journed.
Professor Mcguire, Houston's patron and
colleague, who had been summoned to tes.
mission, died suddenly in London to-day
1t is reported that he had a stroke OF
apoplexy upon hearing that Piggott had
The magistrate sitting in the Bow-street
Police Court, at the instance of Messrs. Par.
nell and Lewis. this afternoon issued a
warrant for the arrest of Piggott on the
charges of perjury and forgery:
Before the commission adjourned Sir
Charles Russell intimated that, however
repugnant it might be to the feelings of Mr.
Parnell, that gentleman intended to apply
for warrant for the arrest of PiggOtt fOl
perjury.
Constables Gallagher and Fawcett, who
protected Piggott at Anderton's Hotel, say
they last saw him at 4:30 o'clock yesterday
afternoon.
The greatest excitement prevailed in the
courtroom when the commission adjourned
Messrs. Parnell and Davitt, Mr.. Gladstone
and q larger number than usual of Irish
members of the House of Commons, against
whOn charges were made, were present
Sir Charles Russell and Messrs. LabOuchere
Healey and Parnell held another CONVERSE
tion after the court adjourned.
In the House of Commons, this evening
Mr.. Healy asked whether Home Secretary
Matthews had ordered the arrest of Richard
Piggott. and if not, why he had allowed Mr.
Piggott to escape.
Mr.. Matthews replied that warrant had
been issued against PiggOtt.
Mr.. Healy then asked whether the gov
ernment had taken measures to prevent
Piggott's escape; whether the telegraph had
been used, warning the police authorities
of the various seaport towns of the king
dom. Piggott, he said, was a valuable per
son. Had any attempt been made to cap
ture himi
Mr.. Matthews admitted that as yet he
had taken no steps in the matter. The
knowledge of PiggOtt's disappearance had
reached him within the past hour. He
promised that the government wOuld dc
their utmost to capture the fugitive.
1t is believed that PIggott has fled tc