The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-11-16
Sensational Evidence in the
O'Shea Divorce Suit.
DEFENDANTS FAIL TO APPEAR.
The Irish Leader Will Be Compelled
to Retire to Private Life.
lie Virtually Confssses His Guilt-Inti-
mate for Years with the Wife Of .
Friend, Who Was Apparently WILL
ing-Ssxton Succeeds Parnell.

Cable. l-Al other topics are cast in the
shade by interest taken in the divorce suit
OF Captain O'Shea. 1t will be.remembered
that O'shea was employed by Gladstone's
government in 1882 to communicate with
Parnell, then in prison in Klmainham.
His negotiations resulted in the celebrated
Kilmainham treaty. under which Parnell
and his fellow prisoners were liberated and
promised to give general support to the
Liberal party. At that time. and for long
time Afterwards. O'Shea was on the most
confidential terms with Parnell, greatly to
the disgust of many Parnellites, who al.
ways oistrusted him. Tim Healy espe-
ciaily followed him up with an exceedingly
sharp stick. and although Parneil insisted
on returning him to the house of COM
mons second time, he did not long re-
main there.
What happened afterwards to bring q
total breach in the rela ions between Par
nell and O'Shea must be largely matter
of conjecture. 1t could not have been new
developments in domestic affairs, but all
at once he took an attitute towards the
Irish leader which has eliminated in the
present suit
Bearing in mind that upon the result de-
pends Parnell's future position in public
life. the interest attaching to the proceed
ing now causes no surprise. Should the
judgment 60 against Parnell it is not
doubted that he must practically withdraw
frow the leadership of the party, and there
is reason to believe that he holds this opin-
ion himself in most decided manner and
will stand or fall by the verdict of the jury
Trial OF the case was opened this morning
before special jury. Parnell, correspond
ent, was not represented by counsel. and
O'shea was the only prominent figure
present
Coward briefly opened the case for the
petitioner. He said that. as he understood
the case, the respondent denied that she
had committed adultery. as did also the
correspondent. Respondent further alleged
that petitioner had connived at her adult
cry, and had wilfully separated himself
from her.
Lockwood. counsel for Mrs. O'Shea,
stated that he did not intend to cross
examine any Of the witnesses for the petit
toner. He would not cali any witnesses
on behalf Of Mrs. O'Shea, nor take any
part in the proceedings.
Clarke, of counsel for Captain O'Shea,
said Lockwood's announcement seriously
altered the position. Now that neither
Parnell nor Mrs. O'Shea would take an
oath. the case was undefended, and that
continuous sets Of adultery had be0n COM
mitted by respondent and correspondent
would be placed beyond doubt Witness
would prove that while respondent was
visiting Bedford Square she was visited by
Parnell. who went under the name of
Smith. At another house he visited her as
Stewart, and on one occasion he had to
escape by balcony to avoid O'Shea. Re-
spondent and Parnell had actually lived to-
gether at Eastbourne. ParnelI could not
face the evidence. He allowed judgment
TO go by default. He dared not 60 in the
witness-box. He did not wonder at Par
nell's refusal to answer the charges of
faithlessness and falsehood and the be.
trayal Of the friendship of the man who
had trusted him.
O'Shea stood for parliament until 1880.
and Was then introduced to Parneli, who
dined with him and Mrs. O'Shea. Mrs.
Steele being one of the party. Nothing ex-
cited O'Snea's suspicion until 1881.
when Parnel visited respondent at Eltn-
ana. His annoyance over Parnell's ap-
proaches TO his wife led O'Shea to send
challenge. Mrs. Steele saw Parneil, who
assured her that there was no ground for
jealous suspicion. O'Shea wrote Parnel.
The latter answered through the assurance
that he had filed petition for divorce.
Parnell then put in q simple denial, and
Mrs. O'Shea made a denial aud counter
charges against her husband. alleging that
he had committed adultery with number
OF persons. including her own sister, Mrs.
Steele. She also charged him with
cruelty and with having connived at her
adultery for a series of years. The plea al
most amounted to . confession of adul-
terry. The husband would be able abso-
iutely to disprove every possible sugges-
ton against him. He could show that the
when O'Shea first heard of it he challenged
Paruell to duel
Mrs. Steele Afterwards stated that the af-
fectionafe relations between 0'Shea and his
wife continued. Parnell was again in
vited TO Ethan In iss2 After Parnell had
been released from Kilmainham Jail he re-
newed his vsits 10 Ethan and almost
hanisaally slept there. Parnel used 10
drive from p~Fsismsnt 70 EitAau. and Mrs.
O'rhsz weaid 20 aesnssalss - mssf sin.
somstimus sh@ a.sps seas fFem fhs hoa=s
ehsn Farssu sas aot thssa - $3.50 sfo&s
- 90 $50 rnaauassrss1nH aeetasx go sss
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s..s sssr.sa = a. sass~s@s = SO sas 49,
wsr sasAs&
causasaaas aa-r--aa. So ne~ssa s'..saa
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ss aaeV #sse@s So eH e eae
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