St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-28
The London "Times" Admits
That Pigott Was a Very
Naughty Man.
And Condeseends to Make a
Halfway Apology to Mr..
Parnell.
Egan Publishes Letters From
Which the Eorgeries We're
Made.
Pigott Has Not Yet Been
Caught, But Is Probably
in Paris.

LONDON, Feb 81. - An immense
crowd was present in the court room
this morning during the session of the
ParneH commission. Much excitement
was manifested. Mr.. tParnell arrived
in the court room at an early hour. At
torney General Webster made the state
ment that Mr.. Shannon. the Times
Dublin solicitor, had received letter
from Pigott, who is now in Paris. The
letter is not in Pigott's writing. MI.
Shannon Immediately notified the Scot
land Yard authorities of the receipt of
the letter. The attorney general then
read the letter. 1t was dated Sat
urday. and contained the confession
Pig0tt made to Mr.. Labouchere on
tnat day, at the latter's residence.
Pigott added that he desired to fully
disclose that he fabricated the alleged
facsimile of Mr.. Parnell's letter pub
lished in the Times, and the other let
ters he had furnished to that paper. He
denied being in touch with the Ameri-
can league after he sold his newspaper.
The Irishman. He admitted he wrote
the conversation with Eugene Davis at
Lausanne from memory only. lie told
Houston that he found the letters in
bag. but he fabricated them, using
genuine letters of MeSSrS. Parnell and
Egan, copying certain words showing
the general character of the writing and
tracing them against a window pane.
He afterwards destroyed the genuine
letters.
THE SECOND BATCH OF LETTERS
ascribed to Mr.. ParneIl were initiated
from the fac-simile published in the
Times. He did not see Breslin in
America. He admitted that Mr.. La
bouchere's account of the interview
between them was in the main correct.
The letter dated Saturday was enclosed
in another letter bearing date Hotel
ing: Before leaving, the enclosed (the
confesSion) was handed me. having
been left while was out. / will write
soon again. Richard Pigott."
Attorney General Webster said every
body would agree that nobody could at
tach weighs to Pigott's evidence, and
it was his duty to ask the court to with
draw from considering the igenuineness
of the letters. The Times, he said, de-
sired to express regret for publishing
the letters, and the prOprietorS of that
paper would themselves more fully
express their regret later. He repu-
dated the allegation made by Sir
Charles Russell yesterday, that there
was foul conspiracy behind Pigott
and Houston. If such a conspiracy eX-
listed the Times had no share III
it. If the error of the Times
extended beyond that the court
should make the fullest inquiries.
Sir Charles Russell said he had hoped
the attorney general would have made
stronger statements. Mr.. Parnelt was
then called and sworn. He denied
signing the alleged letter of the 18th of
May. Mr.. Campbell, his secretary, did
not write the letter. Witness had not
heard of such letter until he saw it
published in the Times. Mr.. Campbell
had gone to Antwerp to endeavor to
find PigOtt. Mr.. Parnell denied the
genuineness of the other letters
purporting to have been signed
by himself and Mr.. Egan. He said
he and Mr.. eEgan had had extensive
correspondence. He dictated to MI.
Campbell a letter regarding an inter-
view asked by Pigott. The letter which
the Times reproduced was evidently
initiated from it. He had no interview
with Pigott. At this point Attorney
General Webster asked that the com
mission adjourn until tomorrow, but
the court adjourned until Friday. Pig
otis arrest in Paris is regarded as i'm
minent, but it is doubtful whether the
French government will regard perjury
as an eXtraditable Offense.