The Portland daily press., 1889-02-27
BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS
The Announcement Of the Flight of
the EoYQeF.


Sala signed confession stating that the let
ters upon which the London Times based its
charges against the Irish members Of the
House Of Commons were forgeries
Upon the reassembling OF the court Sir
Charles Russell applied for warrant for
the arrest Of Pigott.
Presiding Justice Hannen said a warrant
would be ready in an hour.
| Attorney General Webster, for the Times,
said that other witnesses were ready and he
would have to consider what course to pur-
| sue. He would also have to decide whether
| or not be would resume any part of the case
When Plgott was called to again take the
stand he did not appear.
After the court had waited for some tim
| the counsel for the Times stated TO the judg
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 where
abouts. This statement caused a sensation
In the court room.
Mr.. Soames. solicitor for the Times, en-
phatically denied doing anything directly or
Indirectly to assist Pigott TO make his escape.
Attorney General Webster said that yes
terday morning Mr.. Shannon, the Dublin
solicitor who was assisting the Times, re-
ceived letter from Pigott and he would call
Mr.: Shannon to prove 1t:
OH OHdElco IkuSStil SdlQ nc TcHTcLLtQ LUdL
he had not learned of the letter earlier. He
desired to put in as evidence a letter from
Mr.. Egan to Mr.. Labouchere.
Attorney General Webster objected to the
introduction Of the letter.
Sir Charles said that owing to the attornev
generals objection he would not read the
letter, Dut as the letter with other documents
bore upon Pigotts disappearance, he claimed
that IN the interest Of justice he should make
Presiding Justice Hannen said that evil
dence must be called in support Of the state
ment.
Sir Charles acquiesced in this decision.
He added that the letter and documents
showed the means by which he had fixed up
on Pigott as forger. PigOtt confessed TO
Mr. Lewis, Mr.. ParnelPs solicitor, that he
was forger. Messrs. Labouchere and Par
nell, who were present when this confession
was made. woald corroborate this statement
On Saturday. Pigott, without Invitation,
called upon Mr.. Labouchere and stated that
he desired to make confession. Mr.. La
bouchere declined to listen to him unless
witnesses were present, whereup0n Mr..
George Augustus Sala was summoned and
PigOtt made the confession referred TO at
the opening Of the court to-day. Sir Charles
Russell also said that whatever course was
adopted by Attorney General Webster, he
should pursue his own course and should in
sist that the whole matter be thoroughly in
yestigated because 1t was deliberately charg-
| ed that between PigOtt and Houston there
1 udu Dctu d lOul COuoplEdCJ. nb dSkcU Lue
court to take charge Of the documents which
arrived addressed TO Pigott in care Of Hous-
| ton.
Sir Charles added that Pigott had made
his escape, assisted by body guard consist
| ing Of an Irish constable and two Scotland
| Yard detectives. Sir Charles asked permis-
| sion to call witnesses TO testify to informa-
| ton which the court ought to have he fur
then said that Pigott, in the presence Of
| George Augustus Sola, signed a confession
i that the 6opnmantQ ha had nroduaaA
| forgeries, and that he was the forger. His
| confession was sent to Mr.. Lewis, who yes
| terday returned II to Pigott, saying that Mr..
Parnell refused to have anything to do with
| him.
Mr.. Shannon was then called as a witness
| before the Commission. He testified that on
| Sunday night Pigott gave him a written
| statement denying the statement made TO
Mr.. Labouchere that he forged all the letters
| Pigott said he believed that the first batch
Were genuine. In the second batch, two Of
| the Parnell letters were forged by himself and
| Casey. The third batch consisting Of let
ters from Messrs. Davitt aud O'Kely, were
also forged by himself and Casey. Plgott
added in his statement that having now
stated the truth and confessed before the
world the Times should deal leniently with
him.
Upon cross examination Mr. shapnon said
he had taken no steps to prevent Pigott from
bolting. He expected him to appear In court
today.
Sir Charles Russell demanded that the
court summon the constable and detectives
who were with Pigott in order that they
might explain how he succeeded in getting
away.
Mr.. Houston testified that Pigott had not
taken his luggage with him. H1 produced
the letters left for Pigott but they contained
nothing OF Importance. He also produced a
letter that Pigott addressed to him on Sat
urday asking for a balance Of e33 which
Pigott said ne had been often promised.
H. IL N.Nk.. n a u
would be prosecuted for perjury and wanted
money to send TO his poor children.
Mr.. Soames Of the Times, was called and
produced letters which Pigott had written TO
him. In one letter, dated November, 1888,
Pigott complained that Houston after in
forming him that the Times had ageed to
pay him e., 900 refused to make such prom
ise. Pigott claimed that according to agree
ment his name was to be concealed, and he
said that II called as witness he would re-
fuse to testify. He enclosed letter from
Mcdonald, in which the latter guaranteed
that Pigotts name should not be given In
any court Pigott wrote that IL he were
compelled to appear in court he would con-
slider 1t unfair treatment. He said he was
convinced that the cross-examinati0n would
discrediL his evidence. He offered to make
an affidavit but hoped he would be allowed
to leave the country. Mr.Soames replied that
the agreement as to secrecy had been re
moved as Pigott's visit 10 Mr.. Labauehere
and 9th srs rendered full disclosure necessa-
ry. The Times would see that PigOtt was
not harmed II he confirmed in court the evil
dence he had given.
Mr.. Soames afterward verified under oath
that he was unable to sanction giving Pigott
money to enable him to leave the country
but he consented to pay his expenses and
recoup him for loss OF work. He enclosed
| 9l0 in letter. PigOtt replied that he had
| not relieved the Times from the obligation
| to maintain secrecy and that he had not
| promised to testify. Houston had deceived
| Mr.. Soames just as he had deceived Pigott.
| Pigott said he was informed that ifshe testi-
| fed, his opponents would produce evidence
| that would neutralize his testimony and en-
| danger his life. He declared that Houston
was responsible for Pigott's negotiations
| to Pigott that the pledges given by the latter
must be performed. Mr.. S0ames testified
| that to the best of his belief he had
| not informed the counsel that Pigott was the
source Of the letters before the commission
act was passed. He did not inquire into
Pigotts character. He saw Mr.. Walter con-
stantly and did not doubt that he had men
toned to him that Pigott was the source Of
the letters. Witness did not know what ar
rangement had been made to watch Pigott
lie sent Sergeant Fawcett TO his hotel on
| Thursday 10 see that no one interfered with
| Pigott. Fawcett stayed at the hotel until
| yesterday. Witness was not aware that de-
| tectiyes had been employed to watch Pigott.
AT the hearing before the Parnell commits
| stated that he would prove by a Glasgow
| agent that Pigott had committed series Of
/ fOrgeries.
The court, however, would not allow this
| evidence to be presented. -,
| Mr. Lewis. counsel for the Parnellltes,
| said that NJ. Labouchere wrote the confess
| sion and PigOtt signed It, Even after the
| confession witness expected that Pigott
| would be In court today.
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. Ibis clients also wished TO
ascertain whether Pigott was accessible. He
promised to announce to the counsel tOmOr-
row the course to be pursued by the Times.
In accordance with this request, the Com
mission adjourned.
Prof. Mcguire, Houston's patron and col
league, who had been summoned to testify
Tor the Times before the Parnell Commis-
sion, died suddenly in London today. IL is
reported that he had a stroke Of apoplexy
upon hearing that PigOtt had fed.
The magistrate sitting in the Bow street
police court, at the instance of Messrs. Par
nell and Lewis, this afternoon issued war
| rant Tor the arrest of PigOtt on charges OF
| perjury and forgery.
Prof. Maguire's death appears somewhat
| OF a mystery. His illness was marked by
| vomiting blood and other peculiar symptoms.
| The nhvsfeian who attended him has not vet