The Times-Parnell Commission

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 96, 19 February 1889, Page 3

The Times-Parnell Commission

SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE.

By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright { PER UNITED PREBB ASSOCIATION. I London, February 15. While under examination before The Times-Paraell Conimi-Hion to-day, Mr Soames, who is solicit >r for The Times proprietary, and also acts as London solicitor for a number of pro- 1 ▼racial journals, deposed that Pigott, from whom he had obtained a number of letters written by Egan, had informed him that Mr Henry Labou-c-hore, member for Northampton, had offered him (Pigott) the pum of JgIOOO if he would go into the witness-box and swear that he had forged the letters which the Times had published in the article on Parnellism and crime. This evidence caused a great sensation in the Court. The witness also testified to having received information that Pigott was seen in the company of Lewis Parnell, Labouchere and Egan's agent at the residence of Labouchere, and that Pigott had, shortly after the interview, disclosed the result of the meeting to The Times authorities. The Times, Mr Soames added, had not promised Figott any money for the information divulged, nor had they paid him any, but he admitted the proprietors would not see the man ruined. Mr Macdonald, the manager of The Times, stated that Parnell's letters had been offered to the Marquis of Harrington, who had a portfolio in the Board of Control for India in the Gladstone Ministry, when Lord Cavendish was murdered, for £1000 but he refused the offer. The Times then purchased the letters, along with those written by Egan, for the sum of £1780. A representative of the New York Herald has had an interview with Major Lecaron the -result of which was published in the London edition of the paper. Lecaron stated that he possessed positive evidence that Darnell's advisers were party to the Phoenix Park murders, and that the whole tauth had not yet been told, as Government were unwilling to disX close certain documents to the Commißßion - Later. Mr Parnell is in indifferent health. Mr v Soamesi'softcitor of 'The Times, c evidence before the Commissidn ?hat h Hr Houston, secretary of the Patriotic League, brought the letten

to The Times, stating that Pigot wanted LSOOO for them. After satis: c fying themselves that they were gen t vine. The Times gave Houston L 300( l, and retained the letters. Of this sun Houston paid Pigott LI 7 80. Th< - Times paid Dectective Moser, of the United States, LI4OO. They also had Parnell, Labouchere, and others » watched. Mr Lewis, solicitor for the * Parnellites, omployed a detective tc shadow Pigott, and The Times, un- , aware of this proceeding, did the \ same. They did not inquire how , Pigott himself managed to secure the letters. They obtained letters from > Mr Labouchere to Pigott (enclosing a LlO note, and a letter from Mr Lewis ; to Pigott, charging the latter with ad- ' mitting the forgery.