The Portland daily press., 1889-02-21
THE MAN WHO FURNISHED THE LETTERS
Pigott, Elderly and Benevolent, Call
cd to the Witness Box
P'sottiat Last Faces the members
OF the Commission.
houston Admits That He Mas Mad
Doubts OF His Man.

LONDON, Feb. 2O-When the Parnell Com
mission met this morning, the court room
and Its precincts were crowded. Mr.. Par
nell was present. Mr.. Houston, secretary OF
the Irish Loyal and Patriotic Union, was
further cross-examined. He said he destroy
ed Pigott's letters to him In accordance with
an agreement made between them that they
we're Intended for the witnesses eye alone.
and were not to be used publicly. Up to the
time the witness went to Paris, Pigott had
not given him the names Of any of the per-
sons connected with the letters secured by
the Times. He did not consider that A
knowledge Of the men from whom the let
ters were obtained was important in eonnec-
tlon with the question Of their genuineness.
Witness said his part was done when the let
ters were obtained. He accepted them with
out securing any means Of testing Pigott's
statement IN the event OF their genuineness
Deing Questioned, because he Understood
tnaL IL was useless to attempt 10 make com
Plete case, ana further Inquiries would Onlv
handicap himself. He had no means wnaf.
ever OF testing any part Of Pigott's story.
the na1vsn we Isga.uea as probable, especially as
tween MI. Parnell and the American ex-
tremistS 10 some extent confirmed Pigotf5a
story, that the letters were left in a bag
.t, .g.i,u ~ lOVh in Idrls witness showed
the letters to Lord Harrington and asked his
advice as to their disposition, but his lord
snip refused 10 advise him. He did not offer
the letters TO the Pail Mall Gazette. He saw
MT. Stead, editor OF the Gazette, before he
obtained possession Of the letters. and
asked him 10 make up matter which
would lead to the disclosures. Mr.. Stead
said he had lost e30O0 by the publication OF
the Modern Babylon" articles, and ne
would not IKE 20 touch anything else unless
knew WOnln he nj
ness visited Paris he had no genuine spec
linens OF either Mr.. ParnelPs or Mr. Egan's
wwrltlng lie accepted the letters solely on
atsHs. ~ Iud word III, said the witness, pig
attempt TO commit perjury, my action would
nave assisted him, but / DO not admit thar
Nc was either. Pigott's interviews with Mr.
tha1oge tLhaooggcneIe shook my faith In him, and
signed the sworn declaration Nitnese
iurtner SAID ne might have told Mr.. Stead
that Messrs. Sexton and Dillon were indi
sa5ed ,al 10 the fhenlx Park murders, but II he
ala so 1t was on the authority OF a Statement
made by Eugene Davis TO Pigott. a conv ~
which was produced by the witness ne ala
not know where the original was Two days
ppeiore the Commisslon opened Pigott wrote
him an abusive letter, demanding that after
giving testimony before the Commission ne
should be given GJOOO.
Mr.. Houston said he did not think Pigott's
statements very accurate because Pigott
only repeated what other persons said. Be
tween October, 1886 and January 1883 he
paid Pigott 200 pounds. The Times paid the
bills from May, 1887. He understood that
Ptgott obtained the second batch OF letters
from the same friends that supplied the first
9atch. figou when he wrote the witness
demanding 5000 said he had been cOerced
In Soames's Office into making a statement
under false pretences.
Attorney General Webster read a eopy Of
the notes made BY Pigott Of the latter's con-
NrFtfh n..~r ~.
that Egan took him into his Confidence.
Davis knew that the L. X. B., and T. b. were
connected with the league. Egan was In
Paris with Parnell, O'Kelly, Dillon, Brennan
and Harris In 1881 and told Davis he had
a long conference with those gentlemen. All
agreed that the situation rendered reprlsals
against England imperative and England's
power could be neutrallzed only by remoy-
as possible. Walsh, Sheridan @ saaSs anna otRsaa Rsa
70 plan murders. Immediately after Mt.
Parneirs'arrest, Egan applied TO the Fenl-
On an leauers 70 execute the work more energet-
lcaily. Egan was invariably consulted re-
garding the projected outrages and murders.
Egan strongly reproved Tinan for failing 10
appear at Kings bridge In time 70 give the
slgnaI Tor Forsters murder. Davis was
present In cafe In Paris when Tinan relat-
ed the history Of the Phoenix Park murder.
Iinan took pride In having given the signal
Tor the attack. Egan professed TO be highly
uSABhLeu, ana regretted that Itnan had not
commenced the work earlier Egan gave
Byrne letter the fac simlle of which was
published by the Times. There was a plot to
murder the Prince Of Wales and Gladstone
during the carnival at Cannes. Byrne and
I1nan were within striking distance but did
not attempt to carry out the plan.
Hu0uston, on erOss-examlnatiOn said he
did not regard all Of the above statements as
accurate.
Mr.. Houston said he destroyed Pieott's
letters because he believed that II they were
allowed TO exist and were published the
iives OF certain persons would be placed at
the mercy Of certain assassins.
Richard Pigott, well dressed and beney-
9lent looking man Of about 60, was called.
de testified that he belonged 10 the Supreme
Council Of the Fenian Brotherhood. All the
members OF the Amnesty Association Of 1870
were Fenians Mr.. Parnell belonged. The
witness detailed the negotiations by which
the lrlshman and Flag Of Ireland were sold
TO a company, in which Messrs. Parnell and
Egan were shareholders, In 1879. Hedid not
doubt the League provided the money. Later
MT. Egan said he proposed 10 render the
lives OF English officials in England not
worth an hours purchase. The witness said
MT, Parnell was aware Of this proposal. The
witness corroborated Mr.. HOnstonis testi-
mony In reference TO the preliminary negO-
tlations regarding the search for documents.
Ihe Commission adjourned.