The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-02-14
.REPO. ~ THE JUDGES.
The Work Parnell Commits
sion Com. After Many
Wear. Jnths.
But One Charge Sustained Against
the Irish Leader, that of
Boycotting.
The Commission Gives More Credence TO
spy Lecaron'> Word Than 10 That
ot Parncll.

A4hNAfoNt AtRs EANlhAA VI 1NA-tN
Hannen, Day and Smith. the special com
mission to investigate the charges made by
the Times against Parnellitc members of the
house of commons, WAS laid upon he table
in the house to-day by Hon. Henry
Mathews, secretary for home affairs. The
report occupies iG2 pages. Each member of
the house against whom charges were made
is treated separately. The judges find the
speeches made by many of the Parnellites
were intended 20 bring about separation
Of Ireland from England. That the
speeches. in view of the state of the coun-
Try. created ferment such speakers must
know.
The greatest interest centres in the iina
conclusions, which follow;
Flrst-We find respondent members of
parliament were not members of "A con-
spirscy having for it's object the establish
ment of absolute independence Of Ireland,
but find some of them. together with Davitt,
established and joined The Land League
with the intention by It's means TO bring
about absolute independence Of Ireland as
separate nation.
Second-kespondent did enter into
conspiracy by system of coercion and in
,iDldntlon To promote agrarlan agitation
against the payment of agricultural rents
for the purpose of impOverishing and sx-
pelling from the country Irish landlords.
Third-The charge that after denouncing
certain crimes they led their supporters 10
believe snch denunclation was not sincere,
is not established. We entirely acquit Mr..
Parnell and the other respondents of the
charge of insincerity in their denunciati0n
of the Phnnix Park murders and We find
the fac sImile letter upon which this charge
is chiefly based against Parnell is a forgery.
Respondents did disseminate newspapers
tending 10 incite sedltion and the commits
sion of other crimes; respondents did not
directly incitc any persons 10 the
commission of crime other than
intimidation. and the consequence Was
crimes and outragcs were committed
by persons 50 melted. As To the allegation
that the respondents did nothing To pre-
vent crime, and expressed no bonatide dis
approval OF crime. some of the respondents
in particular Michael Davitt-did express
bonatide disapproyal OF crime and outrage;
but respondents did not denounce the sys-
tenn of intimidation which led TO crime and
outrage, but persisted in this abstention of
denuueiation with the knowledge of it's
effects. Respondents defended persons
charged with agrnrian crimes and supported
THEN families; but It is not proved that they
subscribe 10 testimonials iOr, or W re IN
nails. As to the allegation that the respond
ents mnde payments to compensate persons
who had been injured in the commission of
crime. we find that they did make such
payments.
As to the allegation that respondents in
yited the assistance and co-uperation of. and
accepted subscriptions of money from
known advocates of crimes and the use of
dynamite, we find respondents did invite
49,. 4. A
cepted subscriptions OF money from Patrick
Ford, known as au advocate of crime and
dynamite; but il has mol been proved that
respondents knew that the Clan nn-tiael
controlled the lard league or was collecting
money for the parliamentary fund: but II
has been proved respondents invited and
obtained the assistance and corporation
Of the physical iorce party ia America. in
cludlng the Clan-na-Gael. and in order Ia
obtain that assistance abstained from re.
pudiating or condemning the notions ol
that purity.
Beside these there remain three specific
charges against parnel personally,
namely
First-1hat AT ihe time of the kilmain-
ham negotiations Panlell knew Sheridan
and Boynt0n had been organizing uutrages
and therefore wished 10 use them 10 put
down outrages. Not proved
Second-lhat Parnell was intimate with
leading lnvincibies; that he probably
learned from them what they were about
when he was released on parole in April,
lss2 and that he recognized the phGnix
Park murders as their handiwork We find
there is no foundation for this charge, and
that the Invinclbles were not branch Of the
Land League.
Third-lhat Parnel 10y opporlune re-
mittnnce. enabled L. Byrne 90 escape from
Justice 10 France. We find parnoll did moi
make any remittance 10 enable l5yrne 10
escape from justice.
Regarding two special charges against
DaNitt, that he WIS a Feuian aud assisted
the Land League with money contributed
for the purpose of outrage and crime; that
he WIS in close and lniiinnte nssociatio ION
with the party OF violence in America. and
was mainly instrumental ia bringing about
the alliance of that party and the Parnelllte
and home rule party in America. We
find il proved that DHyitt Was 70
Fenian and received money from the
skirmishng fund contributed for purposes
OF outrage. This was not. however, for
the formation Of the land league itself, but
for the promotion Of the agitation leading
up TO il. We find also that he was in close
and intimate association with the party Of
violence la America and was the man mnin-
~ instrumental in bringing about the ALI
ance referred 10.
In the opening OF The report the Judges
refer 10 the unprecedented character os the
inquiry. The history Of the actions uf the
lenders nf the Irish party from 1si7 Is re-
cited relations traced that existed between
he founders Of the Land League and
Fenians. and Irish AmCrIcans. Refer
ring 10 boycotting. It declares
instances adduced before the commission
proved II constituted system OF intimida-
tion Of the most severe gud cruel chnrhctef.
Boycott combination was illegal. both in
uhlecis and means adopted TO carry them
out. II was selabOrate.all- -peryading tyranny,
aiming "a iuiure landlords RS n class and
drive them from the country. This action
OF the league far exceeded the limits Of q
Just form of public opinion and created
we'll grounded terror IN the minds of those
suffering under IL. The commission comes
10 the conclusion that this WAS the inien-
ton Of those dcvising aud carrying out the
system. In our Judgment the lead
ers of the league thus combin-
ing 10 carry out the boycott
were guilty of criminal conspiracy. We
consider this charge established against
/ pRrnell. Dillon, Bggar. Sexton. NJ. H.,
/ VConnor, Matthew Harris, w, OBrien. T..
ID. Sullivan. 7. Nj. Healy. T. Harrington, h..
/ Harrington. A. OConnur, J. J.. kenry, w.
Redmond. j. l.. Redmond. Justin Mccarthy,
]. T. OConnor, r. j. Condor, J. J. O'kelly,
Cummins. Cox, Patrick Hea, j. q. Sheehan,
A. Leahy. +. Lamy. j. Barrie,
c. X. Hanna, Maurice Healy, r. Quinn,
Daniel O'Reilly, Henry Campbell. +. j.
| Foley, J. j. Clancy, j. +. X. O'Brien. X.
| Iawlor, 7. Manne, j Deasy. j. G. Flynn. j..
Jordan, W. !. Lane. d, Sheehy ID. Sullivan.
G. n. Burn and Michael Dsvitt. Under the
charge Of disseminating newspapers tending
20 incite To crime. the report lays stress
upon tho fact that PRrnell did not