PARNELL V. THE TIMES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1855, 19 February 1889, Page 1

PARNELL V. THE TIMES.

London, February 14. Before the Times-Parnell Commission Mr Soames, London solicitor for tbe Times, produced a number of letters which he stated bad been obtained from the clerks of tbe League. He also produced seven letters signed Parnell. The body of these letters is supposed to have been written by Campbell, Mr Parnell’s private secretary. Eight are written by Egan, which were obtained from Pigott, and a letter written by Byrne acknowledging receipt of £IOO from Mr Parnell, The Times paid for these letters. A number of forged letters were received from America, but were not nsed, Mr Flanagan, son of an Irish judge and a member of tbe literary staff of the Times, was the author of the articles “ Parnellism and Crime.” February 15. It is reported that Mr Parnell is in a critical condition of health. While under examination before the Times-Parnell Commission to-day, Mr Soames, who is solicitor for the Times proprietary, and also acts as London solicitor for a number of provincial journals, deposed that Pigott, from whom he bad obtained a number of letters written by Egan, had informed him that Mr H, Labouchere, member for Northampton, had offered him (Pigott) the sum of £IOOO if he would go into the witness-box and swear that be had forged tbe letters which the Times had published in the article on Parnellism and Crime, This evidence caused a great sensation in court. The witness also testified to having received information that Pigott was seen in the company of Messrs Lewis, Parnell, Labouchere, and Egan’s agent, at the residence of Mr Labouchere, and that Pigott had shorlly afier the interview disclosed the result of the meeting to the Times with authorities. Thu Times, Mr Soames added, had not provided Pigott any money for the information divulged, nor had they paid him any, but he admitted that the proprietors would not see the man ruined. Mr McDonald, the manager of the Times, stated that Mr Parnell’s letters had been offered to the Marquis of Hartington, who held tbe portfolio of the Board of Control for India in the Gladstone Ministry when ■ Lord Cavendish was murdered, for £IOOO, but ho refused the offer. The Times then purchased the letters, along with those written by Egan, for the sum of £I7BO.