New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-23

cIIned to give their names They had an inter-
view lasting two hours, during which they asked
him TO publish a statement, which was an out
rageOus libel about the spending OF the League
funds, and which was to be so constructed that
It's publication would do much harm. He added
that, he was badly IN want Of 500 pounds. but
would be Sausiied With 300 pounds In addition TO
the 200 already sent in consideration of his paper.
Pgott concluded the letter by saying:
Bad as l am, can truly say that have always
been true TO those who trusted IN me. Q,aughter)
The witness said Egan did not send the money.
On March Pigott wrote to Mr. Egan giving
an outline of the statement referred to- he also
stated in the letter that Mr., Egan would see that
if he (Pigott) published the statement he would
get 500 pounds, and that whatever the conse-
ouences might be he would be compelled TO accept
the offer, unless Mr.. Egan assisted him. On
March Egan replied that he regarded the letter
as threat, and declined to pay anything even II
he could. The witness said he received letter
from Egan on June 8, 1881, in relation to the
sale of The Irishman."
CLOSE BEHIND THE FoRGER.
Sir Charles Russell read Egan's draft of a
letter written ON the fiy-leaf of Pigott's letter.
The phrasing of the first thirty-eight words was
identical with "The Times version of Egan's
letter of June 1s 1881, but the dates in the
text of "The TimeS'sn version were changed
to June 2 and June Is.
The witness admitted that the similarity was
remarkable
Sir Charles pressed the witness regarding several
similar resemblances in the phrasing of letters
Egan had written to Pigott and Pigott had sup
Piled Houston.
The witness admitted that, assuming Sir
Charles's copies to be correct which he would not
admit, the circumstances were striking The
copies, he said, might have been forged. II they
were not the coincidence could be got over, be-
cause men were in the habit of using the same
phrases IL he wanted to forge a document hav-
ing genuine letter to initiate would assist him
He could not say how he would use the original
because he had never tried.
Pgott admitted thai he misspelled the word
hesitancy" in the witness-box yesterday. lie
believed that the knowledge that the letter OF
January o. 1852, similarly misspelled the WORD
had influenced his mind. This letter did not come
into his possession until the summer of 1886, so
he could not account for the msspelling OF hesl-
fancy in his own letters prior TO thai AIter
Parnel had declined TO employ him on the stan OF
The Irishman.D he asked priest named Meagher
to intercede with ParnelL
Sir Charles Russell produced the witnesss letters
to Meagher, and pointed out further resemplanceS
ness il he was not ashamed Of himself
Pjgott replied hotly: Under the crcum-
stances, no. 1t is scandalous that should be thus
questioned I did not forge the letters II l did
Mr. Reid produced letters written by Pigott
TO Mr.. Forster, in which Pigott asked a loan:
poverty Mr. Forster sent him 100 pounds as
private loan. Some time later, as a matter OF
personal sympathy, Mr.. Forster loaned Pgott 90
pounds to enable him TO 20 to America, Pgoh
did not 90, however. but renewed his applications
for money, until Mr.. Forster granted him an
Sir Charles Russell produced letter after let
ter, including Pigott's demand for loan OF zVg n
pounds TO enable him 10 go 70 Australia, until
the witness became da2ed and forgot everything
The Commission then adjourned