Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-16
FAILED TO APPEAR,
Sensational COIIapSeOf the Noted
O'Shea Divorce Case
at the Opening.
PARNELL FAILS TO APPEAR,
And Mrs. 0'Shea's Counsel Deserts
the Fair Respondent.
THE IRISH LEADER BADLY SCORED
By Captain 0'Shea's Counsel and the Testi-
mOny of Plaintiff
THE IRISH LEADER BADLY SCORED
SOME DAMAGING CHARGES MADE

Mr. Lockwood, for the respondent, stated
that he did not intend to cross-examine any
of the witnesses called for the petitioner.
He would not call any witnesses on behalf
OF Mrs. O'Shea, nor take any part in the
proceedings.
Sir Edward Clark, of counsel for
Captain O'Shea, said that Mr.. LockwoOd's
announcement had seriously altered the
position, as neither Mr. Parnell nor Mrs.
O'Shea would take any part in the case,
therefore it was an undefended case.
Continuing he said that in the interest of
his client it would be necessary to prove the
petitioners case by sufficient evidence. The
petition for a divorce was, he said, filed In
December last. Mr.. Parnell had then put
in a simple denial of the charge of adultery.
Mrs. O'Shea did not content herself with
denial, but made counter charges against
her husband, alleging that he had COM
mltted the ofense with a number of differ
ent persons, including her own sister, Mrs.
Steele She also charged him with cruelty
and with having connived at her adultery
for a period extending over a series of years.
The plea almost amounted to a confession OF
adultery.
The husband was cruelty annoyed at the
defendants charges, but would be able ab-
solutely to diSprove every possible sugges-
tion against him. He could show that the
charge of connivance was groundless.
BAD CHARGES AGAINST PARNELJ.
In 1882, after Parneu had been released
from hilmainham Jail, be renewed his
visits TO Ethan, and almost hsbitually
slept there. Captain O'Shea wrote to his
wife demonstrating against these visits, and
declaring his intention Of Yacating his seat
in Parliament. Furious scenes occurred
between him and his wife. On one occasion
he had found portmanteau belonging to
Mr.. Parnell at his house, and carried it of,
throwing it out at a railway station.
Sir Edward Clark further said that the
same night an angry scene occurred between
O'Shea and his wife, and the former leaving
Wauherst Lodge, where they were staying
walked to London. The following day he
went to Mrs. Steele's house and told her of
what had happened. 1t was then he chal-
lenged Parnell to a duel, but the quarrel
vss arranged through Mrs. Steele's assur-
ances. In April, 1888, Mrs. O'Shea and
her family went to reside In Bedford Square,
Brighton. Her husband used to go there
from time to time. When he was not there
a strange gentleman was a constant visitor.
Mrs. Dawson, who kept the house, and two
servants would tell the jury who the
stranger was and would prove that the pair
were sometimes locked in Mrs. O'Shea's
room together.
KEEPING OUT OF o'SHEA'S WAY.
At another house Parnen also visited the
respondent. He was careful always to keep
out of the way of O'Shea, escaping by way
of back balcony to avoid the Captain and
sfterward going to the front OF the house
and presenting himself as having just ar
rived.
O'Shea went abroad i'll, and during his
absence, Parnell lived at Ethan. Rumors
reached O'Shea about his wife and Parnell,
and he wrote TO Mrs. O'Shea for an explana-
ton. He also wrote to Parnell, saying:
You have behaved very badly to cause
scandal by your continued visits
To this Parnell replied: 81 don't know
any reason or any cause for scandal" Mrs.
O'Shea also wrote TO her husband, pointing
out that the children's chance of inheriting
the property of their aunt, Mrs Woods.
would be damaged by a scandal This oc-
Cured IN 1884 O'Shea's suspicious were
lulled asleep and the pair seemed more
confident as to what they could do at
Ethan. After that new room was built
for Parnell, with access to the respondents
room.
DENIALs FROM MRS. o'sHEA.
In 1856 a paragraph in the papers de.
scriDed carriage accident that happened to
Parnell at Ethan. O'Shea saw the nara.
graph, and telegraphed to his wife, asking
her its meaning. Her reply, which was
couched IN afectIonate terms, said:
haven't the slightest idea of what it means
unless il is intended to get raise out of YOU
It has been made up by Healy and company
Il is better not to retaiate for 1t is as fghtipe
wllh sweep-you are sure to get dirty
She also sent her husband a letter, which
she alleged she had received from Parnell
which was false and invented That letter
was cODcocted purely for the purpose of be.
ing shown to O'Shea. In it Parnell wrote
that be had a couple of horses at Bexlev out
at grass, and that ne was sorry if anv an.
noyance had been caused by the paragraph
1t would be shown that Parnelf slept al
Ethan that night He was in brougbam
when the accident occurred. Afterwart the
respondent and Parnell went to the stables
and removed the horses and harness Lest
O'Shea should come home and see them.
A SCENE AT CARLSBAD.
Sir Edward next told OF scene that oc.
CURED at Carlsbad while O'Shea was stay,
ing there A lady who was reading a paner
began to read aloud a paragraph in which
O'Shea's name appeared, when suddenly
she stammered and was unable to proceed
and everybody OF course became curious
The paragraph referred to the immoral re-
lations OF the respondent and Parnell dur
ing the absence of her husband. O'She;
wrote to his wife, mentioning the incident
and telling how the paper narrated the
story OF Parnel's suburban retreat with hi,
Aspasia at Ethan and how he had put the
best face on things by exclaiming agaips
the Introduction of the worst features O
American politics into English public life
Another paragraph appearing in s
Brighton local paper to the effect that Par
nell was staying with Mrs O'Shea at East
bourne with her husbands knowledge
O'Shea wrote to his wife concerning tht
story. She replied that she knew nothinc
of ParnelIs movements O'Shea aIyay,
received specific denials of this kind. Soor
a;terward O'Shea returned to London anG
met his son, who, unwilling to cause trouble
told his father that Parnell was not a,
Ethan.
KNOWN TO HER SON.
The son, himself, although making tbi,
statement, took action, with the result thai
the respondent gave her son an understand
ing not to nave Parnell at Ethan. How
utterly untrue were her declarations TO bel
husband that she knew nothing of Parnell's
movements. For 19 weeks in 1886 thev oc
cupied a house together in St. Johns, East.
bourne. After this they occupied house
in st. Avely road, Eastbourne, at which
Campbell, Parnell's Secretary, was a vis
tor This occurred before November, 1886
after the respondents promise to her sor
that a new course would be adopted. A
gentleman calling himself Fox went to the
Office of house agent, and engaged house
on Tectivils street, Brockley. The gentle