Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-23
"PARNELL is INNOCENT"
Joseph BIggar Looked Into the case ana
40 Pronounced Him.
To ne Editor Of The Boston Glooe;

To ne Editor Of the Boston GLOBE:
L had a conversation to-day with Major
Beirne. of Cincinnati, a gentleman lnti-
mately Acquainted with one OF the most
imnortant railroad systems of this country
and who is one of Parnelrs most trusted
friends In America, and confdsnt OF Dillon
and OBrien, anent the great lrish leader
course in the OShea case. Among other
things he said: o,o,..
charges he cannot remain the leader OF tne
Irish cause in Parliament or out OF IL.
Rome would thunder against him, and so
nure in morals are the Irish people that
they would refuse 20 recognize his right TO
sneak for them. But | do not believe that
he is guilty. Mr.. Parnell knew that the
case was coming TO trial aud that ne IN,
tended making no defence before ne sent
Dillon, O'Brien, Harrington, ana MS other
representatives here, and he certainly
knew that if he were guilty that their ms
SION wonld be failure. and that if it
should be n failure il would seriously Mn
der and delay the Irish cause. >,
The bitterest Tory enemies OF Parneil
have never accused him OF being fool,
and if he were TO send men like those WAC
are here representing him, handicapped oy
the faint Of his guilt, II would prove that
he was a fool of fools.
"He is very peculiar man and bis me
thods are peculiar My own belief is that
the Tory English Government is behind
this prosecution, just rs 1t was behind the
forgeries of the London Times. by the
way. / am informed the Times is issuing
the details of the O'Shea case and trial IN
pamphlet form for extensive distribution,
and this confirms my idea that tins Is an
other damnable plot of lreland's enemies,
who, unable TO cope with Parnell .openl y or
fairly, are endeaYOring TO strike him down
in the house of his friends.
People may say, He was quick enough
TO resent the charges made against nm by
the Timee. why does he not meet these IN
open court with equal promptltude?' To
those people | will say that, though they do
not know it, Parnell and bis friends are
we'll aware that he had the very narrow
est of escapes from defeat in the Times
case. Knowing what do of that case,
when l look back at 1t, it seems
TO me that God Himself went direct
ly TO Parnelps aid. How else were Pig
gott's forgeries made plain and empha-
sized by Piggott's death by his own hand.
1t is well to bear in mind, too, that O'Shea
testified IN that case against Parnell,
identifying his signature. Our people are
well aware that O'Shea is in the employ OF
the British Government, and no doubt
the result of put-up jobs in which appear
ances and manufactured evidence would
be against him, though really he was as
innocent as a child.
"Of course, Dillon, O'Brien, Harrington,
and the rest of us cannot speak out and
tell all that we know, but this much will
say, and that is that Joseph Biggar, before
his death, went all over the case, inyestl-
eating it in every particular, and he was
fully satisfied of Parnelps innocence. High
dignltaries of the Catholic Church have
also been fully informed in the matter.
They would not for moment tolerate for
a leader Of their people an infamous man,
and until they denounce and withdraw
from him it will be time enough for honest
people in this country TO do so.
Il honestly and firmly believe that Mr..
Parnell will in his own good time clear
himself of this horrible charge as he clear
ed himself of all previous ones. People in
America have no idea of the bitterness or
the unscrupulousness of Parnells foes.
They are rich and powerful, and all the
machinery of the English courts 10 in their
hands. 1t is not the first time in English
history that a wife's honor has been sacri-
feed for wealth or political preferment.
Our Samson may be among the Phillstlnes,
but in this case think he will reverse his
tory, and while he will pull the temple OF
defamation down on thor heads he viii
emerge from it unscathed."
JOHN b. Mccormick.
NeD York, November 10. 1890.