Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-22
FOUND In A BAG.
A BATCH OF PAREELL AND orHER
LETTERS.
Piggctt Continues His Testimony and De-
nies that he had Anything to Go with
Writing Them.


Richard P,eoott was again called for exam
nation. He testified that In January, 1886,
he had two or three interviews with Eugene
Davis as Lausanne. Witness told Davis that
he required material for a pamphlet on
the league and that the documents pro-
cued must be substantisted by sig
natures. The next day Davis said he
had carefully considered the matter aud
could not comply with the request be-
cause the Feniau Brotherhood was bound 10
Parnell not to interfere with his movements
until the expiration OF certain period.
Several months later witness, at the sugges-
ton OF Houston, revisited Lausanns and
again saw Davis. DAVIS stu adhered
to his refusal TO impart the Information
until the day The witness left. He then
proposed 10 Davis 70 write pamphlet ana
fix a date for ifs publication. He offered
him C100 10 give the principal fscts.
Davis aid so, and witness took rough
notes OF Dayis's statement. Immediately
afterwards witness wrote a detailed
Gceount OF the interview at the hotel
at Lausanne or hotel paper. He gave
Houston the COPY that was read Yesterday.
Witness had not seen Davis in London
since. In consequence OF letter when ne
received from a friend 10 Paris early IN
April. 1886, witness bad a conference with
HOUSTON anu ANtU htnt W 4 bAtos Ait ~
NAMED 10 that city week or more before
he learned ANYTHING. Then be was ac-
cOsted Oh the street by q man giving
the name OF Morris Murphy, who said
he had been a compositOr in witnesses
employ. He did not recognize the man, nut
saw no reason TO doubt his statement. IDfy
conyersed for some time and subsequently
met again, when Murphy said he had not
been able 10 ascertain anything about Tue
documents. A week later Murphy said he ha1
found the documents In bag. lie de-
scribed the bag 10 witness snd said It con :
tanned five or six OF Egan's letters. some OF
Psrnelrs. and some old accounts. witness
said be was authorized 10 find the documents
and asked n price for their surrender.
Murphy said that the agents OF the Clan Ma
Gsel from New York claimed the letters,
and In order TO obtain them II would he
necessary TO 20 TO New York to obtain au-
fboritY from the beads OF Clan Ma Gsel.
Murphy suggested that witness 90. Witness
was strongly opposed TO going, knowing
that ne would incur great danger AFTER
a long discussion Murphy told witness that
IL would be- utterly impossible u obtain the
letters unless witness went To New Ok.
Witness consulted with Houston aud went 10
New York. There he saw Bresiin. to whom
Murphy bad given him letter. He bad not
known Bresln before the meeting. lie did
not know what MuTphy's letter contained
II was sealed. Tie interview with Bresin
lasted five minutes. Breslin met hlm hall an
hour after bs arrival. He told him that
ne had received cable dispatch from Paris
insttucting him TO meet witness. After a
few remarks be handed witness sealed let
ter which he said witness was TO deliver 10
Murphy in Paris. Witness continued: "
returned to London and told Houston what
had occurred. He believed the letter con-
iained authority TO deliver the bag. | went
10 Paris july 10Th and saw Murphy at the
Hotel It. Petersburg. handed him the letter
and he said II was all right, but he explained
that he could not give me the letters until ha
had seen other people. Two evenings later
Murphy tO0S me 10 4 cafe N Rue 81 Honote.
lie conducted me 10 private room, where
i've men were seated around a table. These
men, he said, represented the Flan-Na-Oael
lie made me swear on q Catholic prayer
book that under no circumstances would |
reveal The source from which had obtained
the documents also swOre that would
not mention names and II any proceedings
followed the publication Of the letters that !
would not testify" Piggott did not ger the
documents that night. Houston had SAID
that he would take the documents on PIG
U0ttF description NNUNiM fNNiNh- W TT -
himself. but Pirgoit pressed him 10 come.
witness detailed the purchase Of The letters
snd hurphy's oder 10 repurchnSe them, cor
roborating UOuston's testimony on this
poipt. Witness had nothng % do directly
or directly with the writing OF the letters.
"The suygesllon that forged them l. quite
untruer He said witness knew t2au' s
writing md signature and was convinced
that Egan wrote the lett rs 2eclincd 10 hlm.
Murphy wss displessed with the refusal TO
return the letters. lie SAID be wouid prefer
70 nav piggott himself something rather than
70 lose possession OF the letters. Witness
saw Hayes, president % the /. r. b. and
Casey the Fenan in Paris.
SIR Charles Russell here objected 10 the
admission Of evidence as 10 what passed be-
tween HAYES and Ca-ev and the witness.
After a long wraugle Dayiit rose and said
that he bad seen Casey and Hayes IN Psris
since the aDpointment Of the commission.
Piggott, resuming, said that be first beard
" the existence OF the other letters at the
beginning Of 1858. His informant was
Thomas Brown, a member OF the Clan-Ns-
Gael. Hayes introduced Brown and witness
Ia the Gale ROyale, Rue 81. HOnore, Paris.
Brown produced The letters. and witness sent
10 Houston copies OF two OF ParnePs and one
OF Fsan's. Piggoti had not The slightest
doubt that the signatures were genuine. In
July. 1883. he heard OF other letters 10 a
person in Paris. VINO declined TO reveal his
name, who offered 10 surrender them for
cjoO He was paid GOO, Of which sum wit
ness received $50 back. Piggott denied
that he had forged any part OF the second or
third batch Of letters. He destroyed HOus-
toms letters when he changed his address IN
1887, Witness previous TO IIOustOn's taking
him 10 SamOese's Office bad been subp9n2ed
by Lewis. Of counsel for Parnell.
Piggoit continued: A man named Brown
alas Sinclair had visited HIM In Dublin.
Sinclair appointed rendezuous Tor the
meeting with Labouche. | went to the
place, but was disappointed, as Labouehe
was not there. declined 10 hold CONVEX
sation with Sinclair, who pressed me 10
20 10 Lah0ucbes house. | refused and
al HOuston's instance | refused neeo-
tialiDg with Sipclair. | afterwards wrote
10 Labouche with0u, SinclaH's know
ledge. I.sbouche replied. and | had
an interview with Parnell and Labouche
at the latler's house. Plggoit said that at the
meeting referred TO PTnsll told him that he
held DriRQ. fdcie evidence that witness had
forged the letters. and LabOuche proposed
that witness admit the forgery. witness
could hardly believe that LabOuche wos
serious. Lewis entered during the inter-
view and said that il witness followed
directions he woud be his best friend,
but that II he failed TO obey the IN
structlons he iLewis) would prosecute
him for forgery and perjury. After
wards witness saw LibOuche alone
outside of the room, when Labouche said
he was prepared 10 pay $1,000. but that
! money matters must be mentioned to Par
nell. Witness induced Labouche to say
that he would sccede to the proposal, but on
returning 10 the room be said that nothing
would induce him to swear that the letters
were iorgeries. Lewis then asked wiines. TO
write TO him Lewis tbat be believed The
letters to be forgeries, when the Times would
withdraw the letters. Witness asked Tor
time TO consider this proposal. Lewis saw
him the following day, when witness asked
whether LabOuche's offer would hold
good II witness induced the Times TO
Withdraw the letters. Lewis said
ayes" Acknowledged Webster here
read Lewis notes OF the interview. Witness
challenged their accuracy, aud denied bawDg
ssd that be believed the letters were not
genuine. On the day after Lewis visit
witness accidentally met PafneI and Lewis.
tn. 1attar 1anfa6 that he had given witness