Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-14
ENDED AT LAST.
THE FINAL CONCLUSIONS m THE PAR
NELL COMMISSION CASE.
Nine Special Categories and IN Exhaustive
Review OF the Investigation -
Signed by the judges.


LONDON, February 13-Ine report or the
Parnell Commission Is dated to-day and IS
signed by all three of the judges. 1t ex-
tends 70 l2l closely printedpages and gives
the details of the mode OF procedure
adopted. The court recites tho charges,
dividing them into nine categories.. The
greatest interest centres in the final con-
illusions, which are as follows-sertattm:
FIRST We find that the respondents, the
members OF Parliament, were not MEM
bers OF the conspiracy having tor its object
to establish the absolute independence OF
Ireland; but we find that some OF them,
together with Davitt, established and
Joined. in the Land Leage organization
with the intention by it's means to bring
about the absolute independence of Ire
land as separate nation. The names OF
the respondents are Michael Davitt. NJ.
Harris. John Dillon, William OBrlen,. W.
Redmond, J. O'Connor, Joseph Condor,
and J. j. OFelly.
Second. We find that the respondents
did enter into the conspiracy by the sys-
tenn Of coercion and intimidation to pro-
mote an aggregation of agitation against
the payment of agricultural rents for the
purpose of impoverishing and expelling
from the country Irish landlords, VINO were
styled the English garrison.
Third. We find the charge that when on
certain occasion they thought it polite
to denounce and did denounce certain
crimes in public they afterwards led their
supporters to believe that such denuncia-
ton was not sincere, is not established.
We entirely acguit Mr.. Parnell and the other
respondents of the charge of insincerlty IN
their denunciation of the PhGnix-Park
murderers, and we find that the fac Siniiie
letter. upon which this charge is chiefly
based as against Mr.. Parnell, is forgery.
Fourth. We find that the respondents
did disseminate the Irish World and other
newspapers tending to incite sedition and
the commission Of other crimes.
Fifth. We find that the respondents did
not directly incite any persons TO commits
sion of crime other than intimidation, but
that thew did incite intimidation. and that
the consequence of that Indictment was
that crimes and outrages were committed
by persons so melted: but we find that il
has not been proved that the respondents
made payments for the purpose OF melting
persons TO commit crime.
Sixth. We find as to allegation that the
respondents did nothing TO prevent crime.
and that they expressed no bona tide dIsap-
proval of crime. that some OF the re-
spondents. in particular Michael Davitt,
did express bona fide disapproval of the
crime and outrage. but that the respon-
dents did not denounce the system Of in
timidation which led to the commission of
crime and outrage, but persisted in this
abstentiOn of denunciation with the
knowledge of its effect.
Seventh. We find that the respondents
did defend the persons charged with the
agrarlan crimes and supported their tamil
lies: but that it has not been proved that
they subscribed 10 the testimonials for or
were intimately associated with the noto-
rious criminals, or that they made pay
ments toprOcure the escape Of such crImi-
nails from justice.
Eighth. We find as 20 the allegation that
the respondents made payments TO com-
pensate persons who had been injured in
the commission OF crime that they did
make such payment.
Ninth. AS to the allegation that the re-
spondents invited the assis lance and CO.
operation of and accepted subscriptions of
money from known advocates Of crime and
the use of dynamite, we find that respond
ents did invite the assistance and coOpera-
ton and received subscriptions of money
ourPatrick Ford, known as an advocate
OF crime and the use Of dynamite but it
has not been proved that the respondents
or any of them knew that the Clan-na- Gael
controlled the Land League or was collect
ing money for the parliamentary fund;
hut it has been proved that the respond
ents invited and obtained the assistance
and cooperation OF the physical-force party
in America, including the Clan-na-t Gael, and
in order to obtain that assistance abstained
from Iepudiating or condemning the ac-
ton OF that party.
Beside these there remain three specific
charges against Dir. Parnell personally,
namely:
/. That ut the time of Kilmainham nego-
tiati0ns Mr.. Parnell knew that Sheridan
and Boylon had been organizing Outrages,
and therefore wished to use them to put
down outrages. We fad this charge not
proved.
2. That Parnell was intimate with the
leading Invincibles, that he probably
learned from them what they were about
when he was released on parole in April.
1882, and that he recognized the Phoenix
Park murderers as their handiwork. We
find that there is no foundation for this
charge, and that the Invinclbles were not
branch of the Land League.
3. That Parnell on January %, 1888, by
an opportune remittance enabled Byrne to
escape from justice to France.
We find that Parnell did not make any
remittance 10 enable Byrne TO escape from
justice. Regarding the two special charges
against Davitt that he was IA Fenian and
assisted in the formation Of the Land
League with the money contributed for
the purpose of outrage and crime, that no
was in close and intimate association with
the party of violence in America.
and was mainly instrumental III bring
ing an alliance between that party
and the Parnellite party and had
ruled the party in America. we find
it proved that Davitt was Fcnhn and
received money from the skirmishng
fund contributed for the purpose Of out
RAGE. This was not, however. for the
formation of the Land League itself. but
for the promotion of the agitation leading
up to 1t. 1t has been shown that Dayitt
returned the money from his own re-
sources We find also that be was in close
and intimate association with the party OF
violence in America and was mainly instru-
mental in bringing about the alliance re-
ferred to.
Here follow the signatures of the judges
In the opening of the report the judges
refer TO the unprecedented character OF
the inquiry, and say they had no example
90 follow upon the mode OF procedure. AS
the act empowered all persons implicated
TO appear by counsel, it was decided that
the inquiry should be conducted "a though
the issue was directed 10 determine whe-
Their the persons charged We're guilty OF the
acts alleged. Inquiry. therefore, was based
upon the laws cIs evidence anu plDctuulc-
proving i'll ordinary courts. The his
tory Of the actions of the leaders
Of the Irish party from 1877 is re-
cited: relations are traced that existed
between the founders Of the Land League
and the Fenians and the Irish-Americans.
The Land League is described as 1t was
originated by Davitt and adopted by Par
nell. with the support OF the extreme party
both in Ireland and in Africa. Referring TO
boycotting, il declares that the instances
adduced before the commission proved
that il constituted system of intimida-
ton of the most severe and cruel charac-
ter. and that il was directed not only
against those who took land whence
another had been evicted, but against
every one who directly or indi-
rectlv offered any obstacle to the reign
of the unwrtten law of the league in
the place of the law of the land. 1t was
directed against those paying. rent when
Others refused to pay-the class whom
Parnell designated as weak and cowardly,
and against whom public opinion must be
brought to bear, even though 1t should
manifest itself in unpleasant ways. This
boycott combination was illegal, both III
its objects and the means adopted to carry
it out. 1t was an elaborate, all-pervading
tyranny, aiming to iniure the landlords as
d class and TO drive them out OF the coun;
try. This action of the league far exceeded
the limits Of lust force or pubic opinion,