Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-02-18
THE TINES WEAK CASE
1t Hinges on Pigoli's Word--Amaz-
ing RecklesSness.
THE CRISIS IN FRANCE.
which the Alleged ParneII Letters
Were Received = O'Brien's Case.
AustrIa's Royal Rake.

publishing the gaFnen letters without max
ing any attempt TO trace the channels whence
Pigott derived them The Times is severely
condemned on all sides for accepting them
blndfold, with no guarantee but Pigotts
word, and Mcdonald, the manager of the
paper, is pronounced the greatest innocent of
Pic age
The court appeared to lie astounded at Mr.
McDonalds admissions that Pigott was sub
jected 10 no cross examination and that he
swallowed with avidity every forgery the ex-
proprietor Of The Irishman presented. The
one test Of genuineness appears to have been,
does this damage the PanellitesW
The letter branch of the case is conceded to
be smashed unless Pigott is able to produce
conclusive evidence of the genuineneSs of the
letters 1t can hardly be expected that he
win succeed in this. The single expert con-
suited was Inglis, who figured on the Fenian
trials twenty-four years ago Much will de
pend ON Pigott's character, and that is being
picked to pieces with great industry by the
Parnelltes and their Gladstonian friends.
The Pail Mall Gazette, commenting ON this
phase of the trial, says: Everything depends
absolutely upon Pigott's word. The charac-
ter OF Pigott, therefore, is of the first inn
portance. The Times stakes everything upon
has word IL PIgott were the Apostle Paul
his solitary word might suffice, but if he falls
short of the apostolic character, what!" The
Gazette ends its articles dangerously near
contempt of court.
Pigott's cross examination will make sem
sation. Ii is said he once wrote a letter con-
Tossing the forgery, but refused to testify
except he was paid, and that this letter will
be placed in evidence. Labouchere's version
of his interviews with him is eagerly looked
forward to. The editor of Truth says he gave
Pigott in all only ESQ, but refuses to say any
more until he takes the witness stand
The Dublin Freeman's journal promises a
startling sensation for this week II SAYS that
even the testimony of the last fortnight, in
Guiding the American spy and the Parnen
letters, will be thrown into the shade, and
promises "a thrilling end to the career of a
spy, informer. detective and purchaser of the
false testimony which is destined to become
historic in England and Ireland" This is
variously interpreted to refer to Pigott, to
the doings of ex-Detective Mosher in New
York and the notorious "Red JIM McDer-
mott The probability is that the latter is
meant, and hints are given that one O'Brien,
said to be his half-brother, has induced the
ex-Brooklynite to repent
The cabinet ministers and the members are
hurrying to town for the meeting of parlia-
ment on Thursday, aud lively times are ex-
pected. The treatment of the imprisoned
Irish members viii supply copious material
for debate, and the feeling against the harsh
ness used has undoubtedly grown. 1t will
take the shape of an amendment To the adj
dress and will lead to long debate William
O'Brien will, of course, supply the leading
feature of the discussion, and his attitude is
now a subject of heated controversy in the
press.
The Irish appeal court has decided that
O'Brien shallstay in prison by rejecting his
appeal against the Judgment of the court
at Carrick-on-Suir, on the ground that he
was condemned in his absence The higher
court decides that the magistrates We're iusti-
fed in proceeding with the trial, the pris-
oner having voluntarily absented himself.
Mr. Parnelrs health is slightly improved.
PARIS, Feb. IA peculiar phase of the
French crisis is the complete indifference of
the Bourse TO the situation. The postpone
ment of the revision of the constitution has
caused general rise in prices, but other
wise no interest in the political situation is
excited in financial circles. President Carnot
favors a moderate ministry under Meline, the
president of the chamber, but on the other
hand the followers of Maillefeu are in favor
of q combination of the senate and the cham
Der of deputies to create a sovereign assem-
bly, which shall choose new president TO
govern pending general election. The Re
publcans would thus be still in the majority
and the existing institutions temporarily
preserved The present republic in any
form means peace, while a dictatorship.
a monarchy or any degree of an
archy means war. kilograms from
Berlin show that the keenest interest in the
outcome of the French situation is felt in the
German capital, and dispatches from Vienna
indicate a similar state of feeling. The
masses in France particularly outside of
Paris. have no realization of the gravity of
the position IN which the country is placed.
and it is perhaps fortunate that this is the
case. The German government is increasing
in its military preparations Since the adop-
ton of the small calibre rifle, the gun fac
tories have been working night and day, and
a million weapons of similar pattern have
been ordered from individual contractors at
Hamburg. The Rottwell powder factory has
an exclusive contract to supply an enormous
quantity of powder and a large number of
sub-contractors have been placed in order to
fulfill that firms obligation As to time.
VIENNA. Feb. 17.-Despite the lapse of time
since the death of Crown Prince Rudolph of
Austria, the mystery surrounding the affair
is still the foremost subject of discussion and
comment in the continental capitals, and the
Emperor Francis Joseph is gradually coming
to . realizing sense of his sons iniqultous life.
1t Is said that The emperor is very much dis
pleased with the intimate friends of the crown
prince for having concealed the irregularities
Of his career.
Prince Rudolph was addicted to remark
able combinations of lntoxicants, his favcrite
drink being mixture of champagne and cog
nae. a connection calculated to shatter the
nerves and addle the brain of Hercules OF
this compound he is said to have absorbed
great quantities in day, and his conduct ON
several memorable occasions attests the po-
fency of his peculiar tipple. His debts in
Vienna amounted to $500, 900, though his al
lowance in the Treasury was $4,000 per