The Parnell Letters

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 3, 22 May 1914, Page 5

The Parnell Letters

" KISS ME, 6WEET WIFE."

LIGHT OK THE HOMB RULB MOVEMENT.

Timei and Sydney Bun Services. London, May 20.

Mrs. Parnell states that when the divorce decree was issued Parnell said I there would be a howl, but it would be the howl of hypocrites. Hs died saying, "Kiss me, sweet wife, and I'll try to sleep a little." When acting as Parnell's intermediary with Mr. Gladstone and other leaders, Mr. Gladstone conversed with her, walking arm-in-arm, in Downing Street. He bargained for the Irish vote. He got letters from Parnell dat« ed from her house.

Parnell, after leaving Mr. Morley, told her thai Mr. Morley had eaid, '<Can't you do something ts stir up the people?" When the exposure came Mr. Gladstone and others were duly shocked, but Parnell was not angry, remarking, "The old spider has nearly all my flies in his web."

Many of the statements in the book arc borne out by letters from others, but Mrs. Parnelt depends on her memory.

Add Parnell t . sL. »., _ V

| On September 1 Tuh last, Mr William O'Brien published a letter te which the late C. 8. Parnell (formerly leader of the Irish Home Rule party) under date of January, 1890, referring to the o"Shea divorce case, said: "If the case were fully gone into it would show that discredit and dishonor are not on my side." The letter stated that he subsequently told Mr. O'Brien that the whole complexion of the affair would hare been altered had he given evidence concerning Captain O'Shea. He had impressed on Sir Frank Lockwood (Mrs. O'Shca's counsel) that he should he examined, and almost came to blows with Sir Frank Lockwood over the 1 matter. The latter, many years afterwards, told Mr. O'Brien lie was afraid ParneU had ] jbecn badly treated, and added: "I have j some remorse about it myself." Mr. O'Brien said that the letter was important, as it was ,the only confidential glimpse in Pamell'B own handwriting of the inmost truth of a transaction which, if it had been fully investigated, would lave saved 1 ParneU a moat painful part of the discredit, prevented the divorce suit, and revolutionised history during tile last twenty years. On September 10th Mr. Gerald O'Shea, in a letter to the press, stated that his mother was now Parnell's widow, ond he was hastening the publication of Parnell's letters in order to refute Mr. O'Brien's allegations. On April 23, it was said: Mi*. Parnell is publishing in the middle of May, a history of the O'Shea. divorce suit, the Parnell love-letters, and political revelations, including l Parnell's draft of the Irish Constitution with Gladstone's comments. As Mrs. Katherine O'Shea, she acted as Parnell's go-between in the negotiations with Gladstone and Mr. Joseph Chamberlain.