further Details by the San Francisco Mail.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 206, 4 June 1887, Page 5

further Details by the San Francisco Mail.

The publication of ajac simile letter to the " Times," alleged to have been written by Parnell palliating the Phoenix Park murders^ has causeda great sensation. The wording of the letter fills^owe side of a leaf of note paper. On the other leaf, at the top, are the words, " Yours very truly, Charles S«. Pabnell." ParnelLdenounoes the:letter

as a base forgery in every letter and line, and has gone to) Dublin to sift the matter. A committee has been appointed by the Speaker of 1 the House to .investigate the matter. In the meantime the "Times" reiterates that the document, as published, is a genuine one, and on April 20th published a second series on " Parnellism and Crime," including a Jac simile of the letter and articles connected therewith, for distribution throughout Great Britain. The managers of the Press Association assert that they have seen signatures written by Parnell in 1873, and others in 1883, showing some of the characteristics noticeable in the signatures given in the "Times," but all differ from one another somewhat, so thai a definito opinion cannot bo formed from a comparison of them. Mr Frederick George Netherclift, the well-known oxpert in handwriting, who has been for 40 years a specialist in caiigraphy ; says there were disparities between the " Times " signature and the two admittedly genuine signatures submitted to him ; but he also remarked that in the latter signatures even there were discrepancies. The most significant feature in the "Times'" letter to Mr Netherclift's mind was the fact that the writing on the first page was crammed at the bottom, so as to avoid turning over the leaf ; whereas, the writer, knowing that the document was to be signed, would in the ordinary course have turned over the last few j words on to the next page, instead of so cramping the last paragraph as to prevent the signature being written. This peculiarity gave him an idoa that the signature, if genuine, was written before the letter itself, if not genuine the signature in the "Times" letter was a very good imitation ; but it was not fair to give an opinion on two signatures given as test writings. The "Central News" says that shortly | after nine o'clock on Monday, Mr Parnell accorded an interview to one of its repre sentatives. Mr Parnell pointed out that although at fust sight some of the letters iv the signature attached to the fac simile letter in the " Times " appear to resemble those in his autograph, on close inspection there is a decided and striking ditlbrence

in many important points* For example Mr Parnelf s signature invariably slopes in an upward direction, whereas the signature in the "Times" slopes downwards. Again, Mr Parnell in signing his name places a full-point after the "S," while in the " Times' " signature no such stop appears. MrParnell further pointed out that the " r " in Parnell and the " C " in Chas. are quite different from anything he has written. The " Ch " in Chas. is of abnormal length, very much longer, Mr Parnell asserts,- than he has ever written it. The "S" and "P' are the only letters in tho whole signature which resemble the letters in a genuine signature. Mr Parnell further states that at the beginning of the' "a" in Chas. in the "'Times," the pen had evidently been taken off the paper, while he invariably writes Chas. without any break. With regard to the signature generally, the hon. gentleman stated that it is in the handwriting of a person accustomed to penmanship, and writing a flowing hand, while his own handwriting is cramped in style. The "a" in Chas. isalsQdifferent,MrParnellstated', from the "a"heisaccustomedtoinake. Theletter and signature Mr Parnell characterised as impudent forgeries, and he stated that he had a strong suspicion as to the identity of the writer. The hon. gentleman has not yet considered the question of instituting logal proceedings against thY" Times." Mr F." Labouchere cables to the " World :" — " Parnell's denial is quite enough for me and for every man not blinded by party animosity, but if the "Times" wishes to strengthen its case it should state to whom the letter? was addressed, how it got into fche hands of the person of whom it was bought, and what was paid for it. The " Times " asks us to believe ■ that Parnell is associated with the vilest ruffians. If so, would not one of these ruffians be capable of making a trifle by forging a letter and selling it to a person silly enough to buy it ? Which is more likely, that? Parnell, the most cautious of men, would write' "such a letter, or that there is to be- found one man in the world capable of forging it ? The " Daily News " says : It is deplorable that in the heat of a political- controversy an English gentleman such as Salisbury is shouldbave adopted a principle which would place every public man ac tho mercy, o unscrupulous libellers. .

1 The height of" politeness is' passing around upon the opposite side of a lady, when walking with her, in< order not to step upon her 'shadow;