Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-02-15
THE PARNELL LETTERS.
important Testimony Introduced festor-
day Before the Commission.

important Testimony Introduced Yestor-
day Before the Commission.
LONDON, February l4.-Mr. Scans, 60
licitor for the Times, testified before the
PArnell Commission to-day that he visited
Dublin in 1888, in quest OF evidence. At
the Office of Mr.. Alexander Morphy, Crown
Solisitor for Kerry, he had an interview
with a person who was introduced to him
as q former employe in the Office Of the
League, aud who produced a slip bearing
the signature of Miss Anna Parnell, speci-
mems of Patrick Egan's handwriting and
handle of documents, which the witness
inspected at length. He copied some Of
these documents aud made notes Of others.
Witness arranged that the documents
should be brought 10 LoEdOn, and they
were brought here On Whit Monday, 1888,
and embodied in an affidavit produced in
the trial OF the suit of O'Donnell against
Walter for libel.
The witness was about to put in evidence
another letter, TO which, it appeared no
official names were attached, but Sir
Charles Russell, of counsel for the Parneil-
ties, objected.
Attorney General Webster, for the Times,
argued that the letter was admissible, az 1t
had been obtained with other Documents
from Mr. Phillips.
Sir Charles Russell said this was the first
time he had heard Phillips name. He
did not know Mr.. Phillips.
Attorney General Webster said be re-
eret.ed that he had mentioned the name;
but il had been proved that Mr.. Phillips
was the accountant Of the League. Tee
letter, with other genuine League docu-
ments, had been obtained from perfectly
proper custody.
The Court refused to admit the letter in
evidence.
Mr.. Soames, continuing, said be was first
consulted regarding the alleged PsrDell let
ters at the end of November or the begin
ming Of December, 1886. He produced five
letters, including the letter fac smile OF
which was printed in the Times.
Attorney General Webster said the let
ters had been photographed. At Chief
Justice Hannen's request he handed the
photographs to the bench.
Mr.. Soames said that Mr. Mcdonald, the
manager of the London Times, handed him
the letters. Witness did not know then
from what source they had been obtained.
He afterwards ascertsined from whom they
had come. The letters were submitted to
an expert in April. 1881 Before that ger
uine specimens Of ParnelPs writing was
collected, and other specimens have since
been collected.
Soames next produced letter from
Brine referring 10 a check for cl0O which
Mr.. Parnell promised him when he sud
denly went 10 France in September, 1887.
Witness said he had employed detective
Moser 10 20 to America to trace the eourcs
of certain documents which were known
TO be forgeries He never used these doc
uments in any way. They were not re
eeived through Piggot.
On cross-examinaiiOn the witness said no
was not consulted regarding the publica-
ton of the articles on Parnellism and
Crime, though he knew they were being
prepared early in 1857. Mr.. Flanagan,
ths son of sn Irish judge, c)-operated
wilhs gentleman on the staff Of the IiHcs
in preparing the articles Up to January
1855. twelve letters had been obtained
from Piggo.t. Later, more letters WIT
ten bv Esan, O'Kelly and Davitt, were OBJ
tsined. making total Of seventeen. He
did not know precisely what was paid Tor
the Letters. probably whatever was paid
asssd through him. The frat payment Of
81 coo was made to Houston. 1t was
nartly for his expenses in going 10 America
and partly for the payment Of DR.. Maguire
aud other assistants. The successive sub
sequent payments to Houston were goo,
ESQ. e4G, e12, ESQ, ESQ, e342 and elOO.
witness paid Moser about e2,000, Kirby
e25O, and another sgsnt named Thompson
600.
Touching Mr.. Davitt's letter, the witness
said he took pains TO form conclusive
opinion. he decided that it was genuine.
Before the Court adjourned Attorney Cen
eral Webster said be desired TO state that
Mr.. Flanagan had written for the Imes
without the knowledge Of his father. Sir
Charles Russell remarked that he quite be-
lieved that.