THE "TIMES" LIBEL ACTION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1897, 19 July 1888, Page 2

THE "TIMES" LIBEL ACTION

(F3R PRESS ASSOCIATION.) London, July 7. In the House of Commons Mr Parnell declared that the letters produced at the trial of the libel action against the "Times" and purporting to be signed by him were forgeries. /The press expresses the opinion that his denial is valueless, and challenges him to disprove them. London, July 9; The solicitor who appeared m Court on behalf of O'Donnell, declares that every step taken m the recent action against the ff Times' l was first submitted to Mr Parnell.

In the House of Commons, to-day, Mr Parnell applied for the appointment of a Select Committee to enquire into the authenticity of a . letter pro* duced at the recent trial. Mr \V. H. Smith refused to grant the request, stating that Parliament was incompetent to deal with such charges while the Courts were available. Mr Parnell thereupon gaye notice to move, (hat 4 Committee he appointed. $he « Pall Mall Gazette,!' referring to the disclosures m the " Times n libel action, challenges the Government to move for Mr Parnell's expulsion from the House of Commons.

Mr Davitr, speaking at Glasgow, challenged his opponents to prosecute him and Mr Parnell on charges of murder and conspiracy, as the only course to properly sift the charges levied against them.' He admitted that the subordinate leaders of the League had committed grave crimes," but denied that Parnell or his followers were guilty. He regretted the crimes which had been committed, and said they wer£ £he work 'of a e'esperato bodyofmsn ? ' " ' '" " •" *