MR PARNELL AND "THE TIMES."

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1971, 16 October 1888, Page 2

MR PARNELL AND "THE TIMES."

(Per mail steamer at Auckland )

The SpeoialJudioial Oommissiaa for the inveatigation of "The Times" ohargee against Mr Parnell aod other leaders of the Irish party met on September 17db m London. Judge Hannen presided. The small and gloomy court-room was crowded to suflooalion. There were upwards of 200 reporters 'present. Judge Hannen announced that the enquiry would be confined to the persons aooused, and the oharges and allegations made m the O'Donnell trial. It was decided that the letters should begin the proceedings. The gißt of the journal's case is given m a conversation with Mr Graham, one of the counsel, and Judge Hannen. "Do you propose," asked th,e Judge, «.« to substantiate any of the oharges?" "We propose, {answered the lawyer) to give you all the information we can." The Judge repeated the same question and got the same answer He asked it a third time, and Mr Graham said: "J-propqae to lay before you all the information we Mave, which we believe will tend to substantiate the oharges an.d allega* tions that have been made." Judge Hannen : " Whioh oharges ?" Mr Qraham : " That X cannot tell. lam sot »« & poßitfan t© {& your Lordßhip, but I shall lay before - „„* suoh evidence as we can. We<fa»»" ./Tl oh,argea againat any partiQUJa»pe^ on h ™ f „! Bay the entire Irish, orgam^,^^^ 6 acting j^n thig way," uasDeen pjj, r o i?™?lf B^ S6ll « who aoted for Mr Parnell, made application for photographs Tof client, and it was granted. He further asked the Commissioners to send a Commission to M? nntS-**? evideQOe - He next requeated Mr PiUon'a release, m order that he might be enabled to prepare his evidence. Bef erring Tjmes," he said he particularly desired to see the Egan-Harria letter whioh he pronounced a forgery, •\The Times" attorneys said they were willing to produoe all letters m their posseswon, but objeoted to an order for the disoovery of documents. Sir Charles Bussell insisted that the ease should not prooeed until the Commissioners nave dewded the question as to the produc 'Th °T* a 00111611 * 8 m the^posseßßion of

Judge Hanneo said : « Assuming that the Commissioners thought they had jurisdiction to order the' disoovery of the documents, what restrictions wovjld Sir Oharleß RusseU claim T . . ■

« L^? rl6B Btated that he wanted to know V ll The Times " oharged Mr Parnell or his, aßsooiates with oomplioity m the Phoanix Park; murders. l Mr Orahara replied that • u .Tha linxea;* would produce evidenoe to substantfota aU t»»' . oharges made m the articles on ". Parr* -«* and Crime." . ' • . .. * A **'■ ; " .oiiiem . The order o^ diaooTery *~ OharlGaßmßs^U^aVß^*' " fl!ted ft»,by.= Bir T.h,eQo"urfc;t|io(ijgb*'' .aiedi ,' Ifoe persojag %»**■ - ihat the details 1 against ta b« givft** - Ufl ed by " The Times " ought ba**»" - 1 : Th e enquiry by the Court would .. trough and followed to the end. Sir Charles Russell's application for a Commission to examine Patrick Egan m the' £ m^S ta J^ WMW S 8ed ' ;te *' a ?W-.ttalilledr m England he would receive a certificate of ' indemnity. . Mr Dilfoa was released on September IBth, i but will not appear at the publio sitting of the Court.

An order was given for the inspection of the bankers' books belonging to the National League, after which the Commission deoided to adjourn till Ootober 2nd. The Irish party profess fmuob satisfaction with the situation;

The Commission is made up of Judges Hannea, Smith, and Day. Startling evidence is expected before the Parnell Commission. Several Irish conspirators undergoing imprisonment m England haTe offered to make disclosures with the hope- of obtaining remission of their sentences. These disclosures will relate to the dynamite conspiracy m 4nierioa. jtjg believed these witnesses will be"- called m Mr ParneU's aotion Bgaioit " Xba Timie,"