The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-01-12


the messenger to Mr.. Davitt. This l did
instead of trusting to the mails, which are
carefully watched by the British govern
ment's agents. Mr.. Sheridan had kept
detailed account of his meetings with
Kirby, the London Times agent, and had
preserved all the correspondence. by mail
and telegraph, between them. He promptly
furnished the entire record to me, aud 1t
has been sent by trusted messenger to
Davitt Sheridan himself furnishes a
sworn statement covering the negotla-
lion."
Mr. Brennan has complete copy of
Sheridan's affidavit. 1t is of absorbing in
terest in view of the extraordinary clrcum-
stances. In substance it is as follows:
ION or about October L, 1888, gentlemen
called on me at my ranch, Spring Creek,
Monte Vista, Colo, representing that he
wished to purchase my herd OF sheep,
which he had seen advertised. After some
! reference to wool growing in Colorado. he
introduced himself to me as representa-
tive of the London Times, and said as 1t
was better not to waste words or time he
would come to the point at once and tell
me that his friend Joseph ]. Soames,
attorney for the Times, had sent him direct
| from London to see if l had any objection
to come there and testify on behalf OF that
paper before the Parnell commission; that
| they believed that there was no man living
who could throw more light on the subject
matter before the commission than !, and
that he was armed with plenary powers to
come to terms with me, and to satisfy any
demand | might make for my services in
giving evidence. The Times he added,
did not think was a cheap man, and did
not want me at low figure. In other
words he said, come over to London and
name your price, l told the gentleman.
who by this time had introduced himself as
j. F. Kirby, OF Montreal, Canada, to go
/ back and tell his friends that England had
not gold enough to buy my secret, even if
had any secrets to tell, which ! have not.
| He then, with many apologies, took his DC
parture.
Next day he appeared again at my
| house and explained that he was sent d rect
London to meet me, and that he did not
think he would be justified in going back
without exhausting the powers invested in
from the Times to close with me
at any figure, provided l went
to London and told what l knew
before the commissioners. Meantime, l
had thought good deal over the short in
terview of the day before, and concluded
that while any summary termination OF
the subject was right enough from per-
sonal point of view, it fell short of what it
might have been in the interest of Justice.
Therefore determined to get as much in
formation from him as | could and at the
same time to fool him and his employers.
Accordingly, invited him into my house,
announced a change in my disposition
about his proposal, and after some CONVEX
sation was requested by him to name my
price He agreed that | should receive
800, 900, provided my evidence was salts
, factory, the amount to be paid one hour
after the close of the examination.
asked, what do you consider satisfactory
evidences' He replied, The Times wants
! evidence to the effect that Parnell was a
party to the Phoenix park murders, If not
the in. tigator of them. Your evidence to
, this effect will be satisfactory, and will
secure for you the fortune you name and
the fullest protection of the government.
/ inquired, IS the government aiding the
Times in defraying the expenses of the
commission He replied, Not as gov
a eminent. but as individuals. l preusme
they are 1 asked, What guarantee
{ will | have that your people will
! proving satisfactory" He answered Be
fore you leave this country, Soames will
: cable in approval to any bank that we
agree upon in New York or Chicago in
favor of your wife or whoever else you
may name.' 1 said, I do.not care for the
voyage. Could not give my evidence in
! this country before a sub commission"
T ut SAUL tS- ouG SOu Cdu lOg uOpC III
the protection you will get in London
suggested the ACCESSIBILITY Of my being
4 posted on whatever evidence ofimportance
was to be given by other witnesses, in
order that mine should be corroboratiye,
or at least not contradictory. He said that
, a series of questions and the answers
required to them would be prepared by
I Soames as soon as he, Kirby. got back to
I, London, after which he was to return here
\ and perfect his arrangements with me. He
promised to be back early in December II
+ was agreed before we parted that he should
3 be j. Donaldson. and should address me as
! M. Smart. Not having heard from him up
. to January 6, 1889, 1 wrote that 1 should
+ not consider myself bound by the contract
+ unless attended to at once. This com
. munication went through Miss Jennie
Donaldson, Ravenswood, near Chicago
4 March IA, 1889. Kirby cabled from London
to Sheridan as Smart that he was about tC
f leave: and on March %, 1899, from New
9 York Kirby wrote him that he would be
!. in Denver soon. The letter indicated the
:. precise object. After sending several
p April 4, at Mr. Sheridan's ranch. Kirby
o informed Sheridan that he Sheridan wa:
6 to be assassinated, owing to mistake made
4 by Mr.. Soames in giving evidence before
o the commission to the effect that Sheridan
a had offered to go to London and testify fol
# 100000. Kirby stated that as soon as ht
n saw Soames' evidence he asked Soame.
:, where he got his information, and tina
# Soames replied that he must have got il
a from statements appearing in som,
Irish newspapers. Sheridan told Kirb,
s that it was true that his assassination
r has been ordered by the Clan-na Geal, ant
!, that it would be impossible for him to Civ,
n the evidence as arranged, but that b.
+ would be willing to go London on condi
| tiOp tl a tho chOuld hlyv hic ronol
% and other property in Colorado for 10000
10 starting for London and 10000 to be PAL
- after he had given his evidence. and tn
G. protection of the government to b
!, guaranteed Kirby consented to Sher
r. dams terms, and said be would speak fo
p both the Times and the government in az
10 cepting them. Before parting Sherida
= asked Kirby how he should sign commun
- cations in the future. II was arranged tina
10 he should sign Smith
Or 1.-The subsequent correspondence show
he that Kirby was endeavoring to hasten th
ID closing of Tue bargain. On May 81, 1SS,
as Kirby called again at Sheridan's ranc
at aud arranged a meeting at Colorad
ed Springs on May a, when he would be pre-
&c pared to hand ever to Sheridan's viii
IN 100000 in payment for his ranch he sait
r. and added, Remember, it is for your wifi
h. sh that you may be able to state, whe
as called as witness. that you .eceived n
IN money for giving evidence
to Gan unforeseen delay arose in the arriv;
n, of the money, and on the 25th of Ma
of Kirby appointed another meeting wit
~ Sheridan, when he handed Sheridan lis
an of replies Sheridan declined to do so III
q til in London under the protection of tt
va British goyegnment. Kirby then intr
e duced to Sheridan Mr.. Birch, one of tt