THE "TIMES" LIBEL CASE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1898, 20 July 1888, Page 2

THE " TIMES" LIBEL CASE.

-v • [PEU PRESS ASSOCIATION J London, Jaly 12 In the House of Commons last night Mr W. H. Smith said the Government were willing to appoint a Commission, mainly composed of Judges, to enquire into the "Tirm-s " charges against Mr Parnell. London Ju ! y 14. Mr W. H Smith proposes that the Commission to enquire into the •' Times " charges against Mr Parnell shall possess power to compel the disclosure of facts and the production of any necessery documents, also to grant certificates protecting witnesses. Counsel will be allowed to appear.

London, July 17. The Bill providing for the appointment of a Commission to enquire into the "Times" charges against Mr Parnell was read a first time m the House of Commons to-day. Mr Parnell angrily refused to say whether he would accept or reject the appointment of a Commission until the Bill had been circulated among members of the House. Continuing, he said no Government ought to nominate a tribunal, and then fix terms with reference to it. He accused the Government of being accomplices of the " Times," and compared them to butchers, the Parnellites being the sheep for slaughter.

Mr Parnell, m speaking on the first reading of the Bill providing for the appointment of a Commission to enquire into the charges against him, said it was monstrous to expect him to accept a measure until it had been explained. If the Government believed the charges, it ought to insist on an { inquiry being held, instead of bargaining with the accused, He objected to accept the tribunal without knowing the judges, and he asked why he should trust a Government who, he alleged, were accomplices of those who had published these foul libels. He absolutely declined to make a bargain beforehand. Mr Smith replied that the Government were still convinced that the proper tribunal to hear the charges was a Court of Justice,, but the House would be afforded an opportunity of fully discussing the Bill, the second i reading of which would be set down for Monday.