P. J. SHERIDAN AND THE “TIMES.”

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 455, 19 March 1890, Page 5

P. J. SHERIDAN AND THE “TIMES.”

EFFORTS TO PURCHASE EVIDENCE. AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY. Our cable despatches during the past few days have contained numerous references to certain extraordinary statements made in the House of Commons with regard to an offer of £20,000, alleged to have been made by the “Times” to P. J. Sheridan, for evidence bending to criminate Mr Parnell. Attention appears to have been first drawn to the matter in consequence of a declaration made voluntarily by Sheridan. Early in January last the “ Denver (Col.) News” published a five-column interview with Thomas Brennan, who was the first secretary of tho Land League in Ireland, giving particulars of the attempt made by agents of the London “Times ” to induce Sheridan to give evidence against Mr Parnell. Mr Sheridan’s story is as follows : On October 15th, ISBB, says Mr Sheridan, a man came to my ranch in Rio Grande County, Colorado, and introduced himself as an agent of the London “Times.” He said he had been sent over by Joseph Soames, the attorney for the “Times,” to see if I would come to London and testify on behalf of that newspaper before the Parnell Commission, and that he was prepared to offer me any amount of money for my services, and guarantee me absolute protection while in England. This man gave his name as J, F. Kirby, and after some further conversation 1 was requested by him to name my price. “ Will the ‘ Times ’ give me §IOO,OOO to do this thing ?” I asked. lvirby replied : “ Yes, provided your evidence is satisfactory. You will be given the amount one hour after your examination closes.” “ What will you consider satisfactory evidence ?” I inquired. *■ £ll 4 Times ’ people want evidence to the effect that Parnell was a party to the Phoenix Park murders, if nob the instigator of them, and your evidence to that effect will be satisfactory to my friends, and secure to you the fortune you name and the fullest protection of the Government.” “Is the Government aiding the ‘Times’ in defraying the expenses of the Commission ?” I inquired. “ Not as a Government, bub as individuals, I presume they are,” he replied. “What guarantee will I have chat your people will pay this money in the event of my evidence proving satisfactory ?” I asked. “Before you leave this country,”he answered, “JosephSoames will cable a draft to any bank that we may agree upon in New York or Chicago in favour of your wife, or whoever else you may name, the same to be paid over as soon as your examinatiou closes, provided it is deemed satisfactory.” “ Well, I guess_ I don’t cue for a voyage now,” I said. “ Could I nob give my evidence in this country before a sub - commission ? J “ Yes, bub you cannot hope for the protection hero you would get in London,” he replied. We then debated at some length the question of giving evidence before a sub-commission in this country, and I ultimately led him bo believe that I would give my evidence before a sub-commission, and as such evidence would make it impossible for me to live in my present home, a provision was to be made for my wife and family by an advance of §IO,OOO to my wife by mortgage on property in Colorado, before the sub - commission sat. I then suggested the advisability of my being posted on what was the evidence of importance to be given by the other witnesses in order that mine should be corro borated, or, at least, non-contradictory. In reply, ho said that a series of questions and answers required by them would be prepared by Dea. Soames as soon as be (Kirby) got back to London, after which he was to return perfect his arrangements with me. Kirby, at the close of the interview, returned to London, promising bo be back early in December of that year. Before going we arranged that in any correspondence we might have I should address him as “J. Donaldson,” and he me as “M. S. Smart.” We had some correspondence by cable and the mails, and in April, 1889, Kirby returned to my ranch near Monte Vista, and in our interview he said be knew I was sentenced for assassination. I then told Kirby if it was true that my assassination had been ordered by the Clan-na-Gael, that it would be impossible to give evidence before tho sub-commissioners, as arranged in our last interview ; that at present I had two men armed with Winchester riffes to protect me, and as I would nob think of living in this country, I would go to London on condition that the “ Times ” would buy my ranch and other 1 Colorado property, £IO,OOO to be paid over to my wife bef< r® I started for London, £IO,OOO to be paid a ter I had given my evidence, and that I be guaranteed protection by the English Government. After some hesitation he consented to my berms, and said he could speak for both the “Times” aud the Government accepting them. About the nature of my evidence, he asked if it would nob be likely to create a sensation, and did I not think that after my first day on th« witness stand Parnell would be lik e 3 ■ fly the country, to which I replied that Parnell and Ins friends would either fly the country or walk into the dock after I had given evidence. I told him I was desperate, and was anxious to get even with the men who had ordered my assassination, and therefore wanted co go to London at once. He said he would immediately cable the “Times’ the result of our interview, and request the money to be immediately forwarded. Mr Sheridan then tells how the terms of the bargain were agreed upon, and how lie kept Kirby waiting for him until so late a date as the last beu days of Sir Henry James’s speech, which was prolonged in the hope that Kirby would be able to keep his promise and deliver Sheridan at the last moment as a witness for the “ Times.’j Sheridan’s account, as given to Brennan, concluded as follows :

“In conclusion, I have to say that I deliberately entered into negotiation with Kirby, as with a * Times 1 representative, for the purpose of getting such information as I could from him as to the methods which the ‘ Times ’ employed in getting up its case, for the purpose of fooling Kirby and bis employers, and for the purpose of selling my ranch at a good figure, when I found he was willing to buy it. I have no information to give that would be useful to the ‘Times’ or injurious to Mr Parnell or his friends. Dated Monte Vista, Col., this 23th day of May, 1889; P. J. Sheridan. Subscribed and sworn to before me the 28th day of May, 1889, Edward F. Everson, Notary Public.”