Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-14
THE PARNELL REPORT.
The Commission Finds That There Was
Conspiracy.

q Conspiracy.
The report of Judges Hammer, Day and
Smith, the special commission appointed to in
vestigate the charges made by the Times
against the Parnellite members Of the house OF
commons, was laid upon the table in the house
of commons yesterday by the Right Hon.
Henry Matthews, secretary Of state for home
affairs. Itconsists Of 120 pages and gives all
details Of procedure in arriving at the con-
cusion. The greatest interest centers in the
findings, which are as follows:
1--WE find that the respondents, members of
parliament, were not members Of Q conspiracy
having for its object to establish the absolute
independence OF Ireland; but We find that some
Of them, together with Mr.. Davitt established
and joined in the land league organization with
the intention by its means to bring about the
absolute Independence Of Ireland a. separate
nation. The names Of the respondents are
Michael Davitt, NJ. Harris, John Dillon, Vim.
OBrien, W. Redmond, ]. O'Connor, Jos. Con-
don and ]. J. O'Kelly.
1--WE find that the respondents did enter into
conspiracy by system OF coercion and in
timldation to promote an agrarian agitation
against the payment Of agricultural rents for
the purpose Of impoverishing and expellins
from the country the Irish landlords, who we're
styled the English garrison.
THE PIaoTT FORGERY.
1--WE find the charge that when on certain
occasion they thought it polite to denounce
and did denounce certain crimes in public they
afterwsrd led their supporters to believe that
such denunciation was not sincere is not estab-
lished. We entirely acquit Mr. Parnell and the
other respondents Of the charge Of insincerity
in the denunciation of the Phoenix park muir
ders; and we find that the fac simie letter upon
which this charge ID chiefly based a. against
Mr.. Parnell Is forgery,
I'VE find that the respondents did dissent
nate the Irish World and other newspapers tend
ing to incite sedition and the commission Of
other crimes.
I'VE lind that the respondents did not directly
incite any persons to the commission of crime
other than intimidation, but that they did in
cite to intimidation, and that the consequence
OF that Indictment was that crimes aud out
RACES we're committed by the persons so in
cited; but we find that it has not been Or owed
that the respondents made payments for the
purpose OF melting persons to commit crime.
I'VE find as to the allegation that the re-
spondents did nothing to prevent crime and
that they expressed no bona fde disapproval Of
crime, that some OF the respondents partic-
ular Michael Davitt-did express o bona fde
disapproval Of crime and outrage, but that the
respondents did not denounce the system of
intimidation which led to the commission of
crime and outrage, but persisted in this Austen
ton OF denunciation with the knowledge of its
effect
AoRARIAN CRIMINALS
1--WE find that the respondents did defend
persons charged with agrarian crimes and sup
ported their families, but that it has not been
proved that they subscribed to testimonials for
or were intimately associated with notorious
criminals or that they made payments to pro-
cure the escape OF such criminals from justice.
1--WE find, as to the allegation that the re-
spondents made payments to compensate per-
sons who had been injured in the commission
of crime, that they did make such payments
"As to the allegation that the respondents
invited the assistance and cooperation OF and
accepted subscriptions of money from known
advocates Of crime and the use of dynamite
we ind that the respondents did invite the as
sistance and cooperation Of and accept SUBJ
scriptions OF money from Patrick Ford, known
as an advocate OF crime and the use of dyn8-
mite; but 1t has not been proved that the re-
spondents, or any Of them, knew that the Clan
na-Gael controlled the land league or was COL
lecting money for q parliamentary fund; but it
has been proved that the respondents invited
and obtained the assistance and cooperation
OF the physical force party in America, includ-
ing the Clan-na-Gael, and in order to obtain
that assistance abstained from repudiating or
condemning the action Of that party. Besides
against MIR. Parnen personally, namely:
THAT at the time of the Kilmainham neeo-
tiations Mr.. Parnell knew that Sheridan and
Boyton had been organizing outrages and,
therefore, wished to use them to put down out
RACES. We find this charge not proved
That Mr.. 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 murders as their
handiwork. We find that there il no founda-
ton for this charge, and that the Invincibles
were not branch of the land league.
THAT Mr.. Parneu on January Z3, 1883, by an
opportune remittance enabled F. Byrne to es-
cape from justice to France. We find that Mr..
Psrnell did not make any remittance to enable
Byrne to escape from justice.
DAvIrr FKNIAN.
Regarding the two special charges against
Mr.. Davitt that he was Fenian and assisted
in the formation of the land league with money
contributed for the purpose of outrage and
crime; that he was in close and intimate asso-
citation with the party Of violence in America
and was mainly instrumental in bringing about
an alliance between that party and the Parnell-
lite and home rule party in America, we find it
proved that Mr.. Davitt was a Fenian and re-
celved money from the skirmishing fund con-
tributed for the purpose Of outrage. This was
not, however, for the formation of the land
league itself, but for the promotion of agita-
ton leading up to it. 1t has been shown that
Mr.. Davitt returned the money from his own
resources. We find also that he, in such close
and intimate association with the party of
violence in America, was the man mainly in
strumental in bringing about the alliance re-
ferred to-"
In the opening Of the report the judges refer
to the unprecedented character Of the inquiry
and say they have no example to follow upon
the mode Of pI ocedure. As the act empowered
all persons implicated to appear by counsel it
was decided that the inquiry should be con-
Quoted as though the issue was directed to de-
termine whether the persons charged were
guilty OF the acts alleged. The inquiry, there
fore, was based upon the laws Of evidence and
procedure prevailing in the ordinary courts.
The history of the actions of the leaders of the
Irish party from 1877 is recited; the relations
are traced that existed between the founders of
the land league and the Fenians and Irish
Americana. The land league is described as it
was originated by Davitt and adopted by Par
nell, with the support of the extreme party
both in Ireland and America
BoYcoTTISa DENOUNCED.
Referring to boycotting, it declares that the
instances adduced before the commission
proved that it constituted system of intimi-
dalton Of the most severe and cruel character,
and that it was directed not only against those
who took Land whence another had been
evicted but against every one who, directly or
indirectly, offered any obstacle to the reign Of
the unwritten law Of the league in place Of the
law Of the land. 1t was directed against those
paying rent when others refused to pay, class