The Odessa herald. (Odessa, Del.) 1888-1892, 1889-03-02
THE PARNELL INQUIRY.
A Leading Witness Against the
Home Rule Leader COnfesses.
Admitting the London "Times"
Letters Were Forgeries.

After a searching examination of sixty
days. the Parnell inquiry in London has re-
suited In the most sensational developments.
The Parnell Commission, as it is called, was
instituted to examine into allegations Of the
London Times that Mr.. Parnell had written
letters sympathizing with criminal efforts
murder and the use OF dynamite-to further
the cause Of Irish Home Rule. The Times
published what purported to be letters OF
Mr.. Parnell favoring criminal action in be-
half of Irelnnd's liberation from English
domination The Irish Home Rule leader
asserted that these letters were fergeries and
demanded an investigation. A Special COM
mission was appointed to take testimony, and
the trial began over two months ago.
The most important witness upon whom
the Times relied was one Richard PiRott, who
had furnished the paper with the alleged Par
nell letters, and who swore before the Commits
sion that they were genuine. Upon cross
examination, however, Pigott went to pieces
completely when confronted with a letter
which he had written to Archbishop Walsh,
offering for pay to prove that the Parnell
letters were fraudulent. In further cross
examination Pigott involved himself in q
complete network of lies, and the case of the
Times seemed knocked all to pieces. To put
clincher upon the matter Pigott made a
confession that the letters were forgeries, and
then disappeared. A London dispatch gives
these further particulars:
Richard Pigott, the principal Times wit
ness in the Parnell case, has made a startling
confession, He declares the Parnell letters,
published by the London Times, absolute
The announcement of this sensational de-
velopment was made at the morning session
of the Parnell Commission.
Sir Charles RUSSELL counsel for Parnell
arose shortly after the opening of the court
and stated that on Saturday last at the
house of Henry Labouchere, editor OF Lon
don Truth, Pigott signed confession. This
| confession stated in SO many words that the
| alleged Parnell letters printed by the Times,
and on which the Times based its charges
| against the Irish members, were forgeries.
Mr.. George Augustus Sala was also present
| when the confession was made.
Plgott had, without invitation, called on
] Mr.. Labouchere and offered to confess. Mr..
Labouchere declined to listen with
out witnesses, wheereupon Mr.. Sale
that he was the forger. He admitted
that he forged all the letters ascribed Ia
| Messrs Egan, Parnell, Davitt and OiKelly.
He also admitted that he perjured himself
before the Commission.
The statement of Sir Charles Russell was
! corroborated by the witnesses.
Having made this extraordinary statement
to the court, Sir Charles Russell applied for @
warrant for the arrest of Pigott The Presid
ing Justice said that within an hour a war
rant would be ready.
Mr.. Shannon, Dublin solicitor, who as
sisted the Times in constructing its case wa
then called to the witness box. Mr.. Shan
non testified that on Sunday night Pigot
came to him and gave him a written state
ment denying the statement he had made on
Saturday to Mr.. Labouchere that he hat
forged all the letters The first batch Pigot
declared he believed to be genuine. Tie sec
ond batch, including two of the Parnell let
ters, was forged by himself and Casey. Tn
third batch, which includes those of Davit
and O'Kelly, were similarly forged.
Pigott added in his statement to Shannon
that he now having stated the truth an
confessed before the world, the Time
should deal leniently with him.
Sir Charles Russell, Mr.. Parnell's counsel
cross examined Mr.. Shannon, who stated i
answer to a question that he took no steps
prevent Pigott from escaping, but that h
fully expected to see him appear in court
It was very evident to all present that I'll
Times had met its Waterloo and that th
case was in state Of complete collapse
The following cablegram has been receive
in Chicago from Michael Davitt by AlexaI
der Sullivan:
!. "Pigott has bolted. 1t is the general b
lief here that the Times and the Governmer
have paid him to clear out"