Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1888-10-20 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE PARNELL COMMISSION.  SPECIFICATION OF CHARGES. In accordance with the ruling of the judges, particulars of the charges brought by the Tima against members of Parliament and others were lodged with Mr. George Lewis on the lffih inst. Seven o'clock was named as the ultimate hour for delivery, and it was close upon that time when the documents were lodged. The printed form ran over nine pages of foolscap. The indictment is drawn up with considerable skill, which brings into fuller. light the poverty of the ground upon which it is based. A specific charge is brought against the Land League, the immediate object of which is alleged to be the establishment of the absolute independence of Ireland as a separate nation. It is further alleged that this object is promoted by agrarian agitation against the payment of rent, coercion, and intimidation, incidentally referred to as boycotting, and described as "a means to this end." The indictment is supplemented by a schedule of meetings held throughout Ireland, of which dates and places are given, together with the names of the persons indicted who have attended them. A further allegation against the defendants is that they have advocated resistance to law, that they have impeded the detection of crime, that they have provided payment for persons guilty of crime so as to enable them to escape from justice, and that they have provided for the maintenance of such criminals and their families. It is also charged that the persons indicted have in public denounced these offences against the public law when they found it politic so to do, but have afterwards led their associates to believe that such denunciation was not sincere. All doubt as to whether the TinteS intended to stand by the alleged forged letters is dispelled upon perusal of the particulars. The letter alleged to have been written by Mr. Parnell on the 15th of May, 1882, of which a facsimile appears in the pamphlet entitled Parnellism and Crime," is specially cited, as also are two letters alleged to have been written by the hon. member on the 16th of June, 1882. Another and vaguer specific charge alleged is that of holding meetings and procuring the delivery of speeches for the incitement of crimes. Not less than sixty-four members of the Irish party are specifically indicted. The majority of these have taken no prominent part in Parliamentary proceedings. Amongst the better-known names are those of Mr. Parnell, Mr. Sexton, Mr. Biggar, Mr. O'Brien, Dr. Tanner, Dr. Kenny, the Brothers Healy, Mr. Arthur O'Connor, Sir Thomas Esrnonde, Mr. T. D. Sullivan, the Brothers Harrington and the Brothers Redmond, Sir. Campbell (Mr. Parnell's private secretary), Mr. Justin McCarthy, Mr. Joseph Nolan, Mr. Jehn Dillon, Dr. Commins, and Mr. T. P. O'Connor. The list of "other persons" is still more eloquent of the desperate efforts to draw possible criminals into the net. Amongst them are James Carey, long since dead; Mr. J. J. Breslin, recognised as the hospital inspector of Richmond Gaol, who is said to have assisted , Stephens to escape Stephens himself, chairman of , the Fenian organisation; Frank Byrne, Pat Egan, Pat 6 Ford (of the Irish World), T. Brennan, P. J. Sheridan, Boyton, Condon (sentenced to death for murder of the 6 policeman Brett many years ago) ; and others assoI ciated with Fenianism. Going still further afield, the indictment embraces the Ladies' Land League, prominently including Miss Anna Parnell, sister of the Irish leader, and such • names as H. Reynolds, H. Lynch, Mrs. Malony, Clara 6 Strytch. and Mrs. Moore. There are many obscure persons attempted to be brought within the scope of . the indictment; but these names will probably 6 suffice to indicate its range.