THE PARNELL INQUIRY. THE ESCAPE OF PIGOTT. ADJOURNMENT OF THE COMMISSION. SUICIDE OF A WITNESS. London, February 26.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 347, 2 March 1889, Page 4

THE PARNELL INQUIRY. THE ESCAPE OF PIGOTT. ADJOURNMENT OF THE COMMISSION. SUICIDE OF A WITNESS. London, February 26.

At the sitting of tho Special Commission to day, Sir James Haimen called for affidavits in support ot Figott's eolifession. The manager of Andci ton's Hotel, wheio Pigott had been lodging, gave evidence that Pigott had not been .such at the hotel since .Monday afteirooii. >Sir Chailcs Russell said lie was piepaied to ptove that Pigott had carried on a system of commercial forge ly for years. The confession which Pigott is said to have made befoio Mes.sis Laboucherc and Sala has been ten wauled to Parnell, who returned it with an intimation that he lefuscu to negotiate either directly cr iudiiectly with Pigott. In h : s loiter to the "Times " Pigott adhcics to his fonnei sta'ement that the liist batch of letteis n as genuine, and he begged the "'rimes'' to intercede and piovido foi his childien. In t h'js lettei Pigolt chaigcd Houston with bctia,^m<r the "Times,' and charged the "Times" with a hi each of confidence in disclosing his name Pigott made an affidavit endoising his statements in the letter. bii I\. Vl. Webster, Attomey-Geiic-ral, and counsel foi the '• Times'' said he was undecided as to what couise he would take in futiwe. As I\lr Parnell left the Court, and pioceedod along the sticcts, he was greeted with chcci^. Jn the llou>o ot Commons he a\ as met with linging cliceis fiom his patty, and thcie weie loud ciies of '• Pignttism " and "Pigottiy." j\lr Parnell challenged the Government to capture Pigott. In icply Mi 11. Matthews, the Home Secietaiy, leplicd that he had not been officially informed of Pigott's disappearance. Mi A. -3. Ealfour, liish Secietary, when (}ues!ioncd on tlio subject, said lie was not oilicialiy concerned in the whereabouts of Pigotl. The police explain they shadowed Pigott in oidei to pi event his being mobbed in the streets, but they weie not instructed to prevent his escape from the countiy. It is suspected that he left for France by Satuulay night's steamer In London Pigott's evidence has cic-itcd a good deal of excitement, but li eland is seething. It having been found that the case of Murphy, formally compositor on the " Irishman,"' from whom Pigott said he purchase 1 Parnell and Egans letter, was identical viith that of Pigott. the Commission adjourned caily to enable the piopiietois of the '• Times' to consider their position. Sir Chailes Kussoll, counsel for the Parncllitcs, dcclaied that a foul cons})iiacy existed behind Houston and Pigott, and he was determined to pioho the matter to the bottom. Mi Pamcll has taken out a wairant at Bow -street Police Station for the aiiesc of Pigott on a chaige of foigmg the letteis and committing pcijuiy. London, Fcbi uaiy 26. The picss declaiGS that the case ag unst Painell, so far a* the lettei.saie concerned, has collapsed, and ccnsuies the leckless and impudent conduct oi the " Tunes. ' Pigott has sent a tclemam to his housekccpei to bum the papeis which he left behind him in his house al Kingston The action hi ought in Scotland b\ Pamcll against the "Times ' has been dismissed by mutual consent, and the "Times"' was allowed costs London, Fcbuiaty 27. The pics aie commenting on the oxtiaoidinary disdosmes in Pigott's evidence in defiance of the older ot the Couit. The " Standard " advises that the Commission should be abandoned. It censiucs the "Time-, ' foi gullible negligence, and sa)S that j\li Pamcll has been recklessly injuied. 'The paper adds that by the action ot the "Times ' the piestige of the English piess has been shaken. The " Daily Telegiaph ' asseiU tiiat the charges have practically collapsed, and it consideis the " limes " guilty of fatuous inaptitude. Mr Painell, it says, is innocent of the damning suspicions, and, though injured and pei.secuted. is triumphant. A witne s named Maguiic, while waiting to give evidence before the "Times"-Pamcll Commission, died suddenly, and it is rumoured that he committed suicide. It is supposed that Pigott has made his escape to Antwerp.