Parnell and the Times.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 313, 3 November 1888, Page 6

Parnell and the Times .

London, October 21. Proceedings have been opened in the action Parnell v. the " Times " in the Court of Session, Edinburgh.

London, October 22. Bir E. E. Websfcei, Q.C , AttorneyGeneral, in opening the case before the " Times "-Parnell Commission, promised that he would supply the amplest evidence respecting what are known as the forged letters, and would indicate the sources from whence the Commission would be able to elicit evidence as to the general charges. Referring to Parneli's utterances in America, he said they were distinctly seditious,, and it would be shown that, the expenses of his tour were paid by the League. Sir JR. E. Webster further asserted that Ford cabled to Egan to prompt Parnell to issue the " No Kent Manifesto " from Kilmainham Gaol, and that Egan agreed, statins: that this was the only weapon left. He commented on the failure to | produce the League's books of 18S0 and 1881. He proposed to prove that the Central League paid its brandies tocairy out the boycotting system and to commit outrages. He acquitted Davitt of being concerned in the agrarian outrages of 1881-82. Egans letter to James Care}', suggesting that the latter should set to work forthwith, was found in Careys house. Referring to the Parnell letter?, the Attorney-General said they had been purchased by the " Times " newspaper after the fullest test had satisfied the proprietors of that paper that they were written by Parnell, and were genuine. Th* 1 learned gentleman concluded by citing numerous murders which had followed upon strong speeches made by members of the League inciting people to acts of outrage.

London. October 24. The Attorney-General, in the course of his opening speech for the " Times," charged Mr Parnell and his friends with approving and allowing a system which necessitated murder. Mr Parnell, he said, was clearly aware that Sheridan piomoted outrages, Egan supplying the funds. He also said that Egan had threatened to resign if the funds of the League were devoted to discovering the Phoenix Park murderers. The " Times " declared that Camp oell wrote the body of Parnell's leiiers. They were willing to disclose who supplied those letters for publication, provided they were released from their pledge of secrecy. The Commission must elicit what had become of the official books of the National and Land

Leagues. London, October 24. Sir ' R. -WeDsfcer, in his opening^ speech, produced the original of the famous " Times" letters, aud intimated that he pppposed^+to call .a witness^to prove ParhelPs repugnance' to sign £he," manifesto condemning the .Phoenix Park murders. He stated that he was in possession of certain documents supplied to a cleik, who had until recently been employed in the central office of the .National League, which would prove that the outrages were paid for, and that Mr Forstei's name was mentioned. One of the letters was subsequently read to show that it was ingeniously constructed in order that quite another meaning could be attached, and that nothing like personal outrage was suggested. Sir R. Webster, in conclusion, stated that he intended to call persons po,n-. victed of the perpetration of outrages in Ireland as witnesses before the Commission. » Altogether, there are four hundred witnesses to be examined. The "Pall Mall Gazette" declares that the documents in the possession of the Attorney-General came from different sources, and that, while partly genuine, they are partly bogus productions. The vendors, being uncertain whether the " Times" would keep their names secret, offered the documents to' several London papers for .£l,OOO, and : .tho "Times" closed for a higher figure. The Parnell defence fund amounts to £11,000.

London, October 26. Sir C. Webster has concluded his opening addiess before the Commission. He intimated his intention of calling as witnesses persons who had been convicted of outrages in Ireland. Sir C. Webster in his speecn stated that American subscriptions to the .Land League had been withheld until Davitt could induce Parnell to approve of a violent programme. He reiterated the statement that the Parnell letters were authentic, and admitted that they were purchased by the " Times."

London, October 27. The " Times" states that the condition of Ireland is causing grave trouble to the Vatican. The attitude of the priesthood is regarded as rebellions.