The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-01-12
MONEY WAS no OBJECT.
The History nf the London Times Nego-
tiatIon, ior Certain Evidence.

ttatlOus Tor ANrtaln lNihfhf's
DrxyIR. Col. Jan. 1.-THE News pub
lishes iye-column special from Omnha
purporting to be an interview with Thos.
Brennan. who was FIRST secretary of .
land league in Ireland, and one of the few
men in the United States who knows
thoroughly and enjoys the confidence of all
the leaders in the league movement m Ire
land. Brennan furnishes the history of the
case, which shows how the London plpers
were trying 10 manufacture +. j. sheridan
into witness against Parnou before
the London commission. He also explains
the cable message sent 90 himself and
Alexander Sullivan ON May q. lsSa, from
Michael Davitt at Paris, and 20 which pr.
McCahey attempted to give Significance ln
connection with tie disappearance OF Dr.
Cronn. He snid that on the day mentioned
hc received a cahlecram from Paris un-
signed. but winch he believed was from Da
Wit. informing him that some person on
this side had offered 10 60 10 London ana
give evidence ON behalf Of the Times IN the
Pamcll commission, and that money had
been sent by the Times people 10 Chicago
and Pueblo, Col, aud asking MIN 10 con-
suit Patrick Egan ON the sub
his Office in Omaha, where they had
long consultation as 10 WIN tue person
was who was gong 10 turn traitor. On
Nav 9Th and 1th the Chicago and Omaha
papers contained articles announcing the
dlsappeAi ance of Crouin. I'VE at once
su ,pscted him. say3 Brennan. "and sent
men to New York 90 watch the vessel which
sailed on the l2th, but which amounted 10
nothing Soon alter this n messenger came
q 4 lat Al....at luf Itt
the man the Times expected 10 get. We
then felt at ease, as We had perfect conh-
dence IN Sheridan and knew nothing could
tempt him TO 90 over. Now. for
Sheridans part of the story, which de
clare is true. TN October 15tn,
lsSs, n man came TO my rnnch in Il o Grande
county, Col, aud introduced himself rs an.
agent Of the London Times. lie SAID he
had been sent over byJOseph SOames, attor-
ney lur the Times, TO see II would come 10
London and testify on behalf of that news
paper before the Pnnc,l commission; and
that he was prepared Co otlcrm ANY amount
Of money for my services. and guarantee me
absolute protection while in England. This
man gave me his name M j. 4. kllby, ana
after some further conversation l WAS ic-
uuested by him TO name my price. viii
tine Times give ne $l09,OOtodotm tmsthing!
] asked.
Kirby replied; 'Yes, provided yonr owl
dence is satisfactory. fOu will be paid the
amount one hour after your examination
closes
"'what will You consider satisfactory evil
dence.' inquired.
"'Ihe Times people want evidence TO the
effect that parncil WAS n party 10 the
Pnnuix park murders, If not the lnstlgltor
Of them, and your evidence 10 That effect
will be satisfactory to my friends. ana Sc
cure for you the fo tune you name and the
fullest protection of the government
"'Is tue government aiding the Times in
defrayng the expenses OF tho eommissi0nF
inquired.
"'Not us the government, but as indi-
yiduals, presume they are. he replied.
"'What guarantee will have that your
people will pay this money in the event OF
my eyi lence proving satisfactory Z asked.
"'Refore You leave thus country hs an
swered, Joseph Soames will cable draft
ltJiny bank that we may zee upon IN New
Ypk or Chicago IN favor of your Wl,e, or
whoever else you may nlm \, the same 10 be
paid over as soon az your animation
closes, provided it is deemed satisfactory.
"'Well, guess don't care for a voyage,
anyhow | said. Gould | not give my
evidence in this country before subcom-
mssionp
"'Yes; but You cannot hope for the pro
lection here, you would get in London he
replied.
1--WE then debated at some length the
question of Giving evidence before n sub
commits ion in this c luntry. and Ultimate
ly led m to believe that would give my
evidence before subcommission, and
az such evidence would make
it impossible for me 10 live in
my present home, provision was
10 be nude for nv wife and family by an
advance of 600 o TO my wife 10y mortgage
on property in Colorado before the sub
comm ,ssion sat. then suggested the ad-
Wis hlity of my being posted ON whatever
evidence OF Importance WAS TO be given by
vtner Witness, IN order that mine should
be corroboratiye, or at least nOn-contradic-
tive. In reply he said that a series of ques-
tions would be asked and the answers re-
quired 10 them would be prepaied by them
M soon as be Kirby got back to London,
after which he was 10 return here
aud perfect bis arrangements with me.
The original of the statement with all the
letters and kilograms were forwarded 90
Davitt June 2, lsSJ. Brennan concluded hy
SAYING that Sheridan kept Kirby waiting
for him until so late date MS the last ten
days Of Sir Henry James speech, which
was prolonged in the hope that Kirby would
be able 10 keep his promise and deliver