PARNELL V. THE TIMES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1860, 2 March 1889, Page 2

PARNELL V. THE TIMES.

London, February 26. Pigott did not appear in Court to*day, and it was ascertained that be was miasiqaf from his hotel where he was staying simJe eleven o’lock last night. A warrant has been issued tor his arrest. Sir Charles Russell slates that on Saturday Pigott, in the presence of Messrs Labouchero and G. A. Sak, signed a written confession that he forged the letters himself. Mr Shannon, one of the solicitors engaged by the Times, produced a letter stating that the confession was untrue. In the letter , Pigott stated that he got the first batch from Pat Casey, and believed them to b« genuine. Pigott wrote the body and Casey forged the signature to two of the second batch of the Parnell ’letters, and also one of Dayitt’s and one of O’Kelly’s. He asserts that none of Egan’s letters were forged. It having been found that the case of Murphy, formerly a compositor on the Irishman, from whom Pigott said he purchased Parnell’s and Egan’s letters, wos identical with that of Pigott, the Commission adjourned early to enable the proprietors of the Times to consider their position.

Sir Charles Russell, counsel for the Parnellites, declared that a foul conspiracy existed behind Houston and Pigo*t, and he was determined to probe the matter to the bottom. Mr Parnell has taken out a warrant at Bow Street Police Station for the arrest of \ Pigott on the charge of forging letters and | committing perjury. At the sitting of the Special Commission to-day, Sir James Hannan called for affidavits in support of Pigott's confession. The manager of Anderton’a Hotel, where Pigott had been lodging, gave evidence that Pigott had not been seen at the hotel since Monday, after Sir Charles Russell said he was prepared to prove that Pigott; had carried on a system of commercialy forgery for years. The confession which Pigott is said to have made before Messrs Labouchere and Sala was forwarded to Mr Parnell, who returned it with the intimation that he refused to negotiate, either directly or indirectly, with Pigott. In his letter to the Times Pigott adheres to his former statement that the first batch of letters were genuine, and he begged the Times to intercede and provide for his children. In his letter Pigott charged Houston with betraying the Times, and he charged the Times with breach of confidence in disclosing his name. Pigott made an affidavit endorsing his statement in the letter.

Sir R. E. Webster, Attorney-General and counsel for the Times, said he was undecided as to the course ho would take in future.

As Mr Parnell left the Court and proceeded along the streets ho was greeted with cheors. In the House of Commons he was met with ringing cheers from his party, and there were leud cries of ” Pigottiam ” and “ Pigottry.” Mr Parnell challenged the Government to capture Pigott. In reply, Mr H. Matthews, the Home Secretary, replied that he had not been officially informed of Pigott’s disappearance. Mr A. J. Balfour, Irish Secretary, when questioned on the subject, said ha was not officially concerned in the whereabouts of Pigott.

The police explained they shadowed i Pigott in order to prevent his beini; mobbed in the streets, but they were not instructed to prevent his escape from the country. It is suspected that he left for France by tho Saturday night’s steamer.

In London Pigott’a evidence has caused a great deal of excitement, but Ireland is seething. Pigott has telegraphed to his housekeeper to burn papers which he left behind him in his house at Kingston. The action brought in Scotland by Parnell against the Times has been dismissed by mutual consent, and the Times was allowed costs. Feb. 27. The Press are commeniing on the extraordinary disclosures in Pigott s evidence in defiance to the order of the Court. The Standard advises that the / '-Commission should be abaodonded. It celßSures the Times for gullible negligence, and says that Parnell has been recklessly injured. The paper adds that by the action of the Times the prestige of the English Press has beeu shaken. The Daily Telegraph asserts that the charges have practically collapsed, and it considers The Times guilty of “ fatuous inaptitude." Parnell, it says, is innocent of the damning suspicions, and having been injured and persecuted is triumphant, A witness named Maguire while waiting to give evidence before the TimeaParnell Commission died suddenly, and it is rumored that he committed suicide. It is supposed that Pigott has made his escape to Antwery. Later, The Times has determined to withdraw the letters from the enquiry, and expresses its sincere regret that they were ever published in its columns.

Before the Timos-Parnell Commission to-day, Mr Parnell was examined, and deposed that the letters produced alleged to be signed by him were forgeries. He was not cross-examined.

Up to the present no reliable evidence Jiftß been advanced before the TimesTarnell Commission connecting the leading members of the Parnell party with outrages. It is believed that the Times hopes, with the assistance of the Government, to bring pressure to bear on the imprisoned dynamiters and Invincibles to give evidence to show that they were connected with Mr Parnell. Mr Parnell is being urged by his friends to prosecute the Times for conspiracy. February 38.

At the Tiraes-Parnell Commission today, Sir R. E. Webster produced a letter received by Mr Shannon, one of the solicitors employed by the limes, from Paris, and it was believed to be from Pigott, though the address was not in his handwriting. Sir James Hunnen opened the letter, which was found to be dated the 23rd instant. Pigott’a confession to Messrs Labouchere and Q. A. Sala, was enclosed, and was dated Hotel Du Monde, Tuesday, la bis letter Pigott said that he would write further. Mr Parnell has sent his private secretary, Mr Campbell, to Antwerp to search

for Pigott. The confession states that the reported interview with Eugene Davis at Dausanne was untrue, Pigott admits that he forged Mr Parnell’s and Mr Egan’s letters by placing the genuine letters which he had received from them against a window and writing the forgeries over certain phrases, and also the signatures. He further admits that be copied Davitts ' pencil manuscript, and also O’Kelly’s old private note on his voyage to America. The story about J. J. Breslin, member of the 1.8.8., and hospital superintendent of Richmond Gaol, Pigott says was fictitious, and be avows having deceived Houston. Pigott acquits Mr Labouchere of the charge of attempting - to bribe him. Sir B. B. Webster said that the Times had relied absolutely on Pigott’a veracity, and he admitted that his evidence was Worthless, The Times had been the victim of an imposture, but he denied that there had been any conspiracy behind, and the paper, he said, would make reparation at the proper time and place. Sir Charles Russell regretted that only a qualified reparation had been made, and again asserted that there was a conspiracy behind Houston, which he was determined to unearth. He did not intend to hint that the Times was concerned in the conspiracy, blit meant that the Patriotic Union and others aupp'ying the funds were concerned in it. He requested the judges to make a special report exonerating Mr Parnell from the charges. Sir R.E. Webster did not cross-examins Mr Parnell but said that he had decided to call Mr Campbell andjMr Davitt before the judges reported their decision. Pigott will be extraditioned from France on a charge of perjury.

The post mortem examination on the body of the witness Maguire, who died suddenly while waiting to give evidence before the Commission, shows that the

statement that he had committed suicide was incorrect. Death resulted from natural causes. . In a leading article this morning The Times apologises to Messrs Parnell, Egan, Davitt, arid O’Kelly, for the charges made 'against them in connection with the letters. It pleads that it was a victim to unscrupulous men but was not a party to any conspiracy.

The American Senate has passed a motion expressing sympathy with Mr Parnell.

The inquiry into the charges made against Judge Rawson will commence at New Plymouth, on Monday next. H.M.S, Lizard has arrived at Auckland from Wellington. Ann Ross, a middle-aged woman, was found dead in her bed at South Dunedin yesterday. The •supposed cause is apoplexy* . , t> f • The Wellington Preserving and Retri' aerating Company have agreed to write off one-third of the capital to meet losses which have accrued since the formation. In the last year’s transactions a small profit is shown for the first time, and a statement will be mads at the annual meeting showing prospects for the future much better. Holloway's Oimtmbnt and Puls. Outward infirmities.—Before the discovery of these remedies many cases of sores, ulcers, &o M were pronounced to be hopelessly in* curable,, because the treatment pursued tended to destroy the strength it was incompetent to preserve, find to exauporate the symptoms it’ was inadequate to remove. Holloway’s Pills exert the most wholesome powers over the unhealthy flesh or skin, without debarring the patient from fresh air und exercise, and thus the constitutional J vigour is husbanded while the most -'•■'"malignant ulcers, abscesses, snd skin diseases are in process of cure. Both Ointment and Pills make the blood richer and purer, in* stead of permitting it to fall into that poor, aud watery state so fatal to many labouring under chronic ulcerations.

ARREST OF TB BOOTI. Opotiki, Feb. 27. The Maoris ere coming and going in small numbers all day, A large meeting has just been held at the Masonic Hotel. Thirty armed volunteers were enrolled. Arrangementa have been made for the protection of women and children to-night. The troops from Auckland arrived at Ohiwa, per the s.s. Chelmsford, at 11 SO a,m. to-day, and marched to Opotiki. The force consisted of SI permanent artillery, 40 Auckland naval artillery (Captain Parker). 25 Ponsoby navals (Captain Millar), 11 Waitemata artillery, 3 A Battery of signalling corps, under Sergeant-Major Campbell, making a total of 80 volunteers and 31 permanent force. About two hours after arrival of the Auckland troops the Gisborne forces came in sight, all mounted on good horses, and consisting * a follows -. —68 Bast Coast hussars, under the command of Captain Winter ; 12 constables, under the command of Sergeant-Major Sullen ; 55 Ifgatiporou, under Major Ropata —all under the commond of Major Porter. The arrival of the troops relieved the settlers from a great amount of anxiety, Gisbosnb, Feb, 28. The following message was telegraphed from Ormond at 12.30 to-day s—l am directed by the Premier to forward you the following information, which he received last night. Te Booti wrote a letter to Mr Bush to say that he should return to Waikato. This was after the forces had arrived at Opotiki. Major Porter wired this morning : ‘ Advanced with force at 5 a.m. to Waikoeka. When near the pah met all Te Booti’s followers—upwards of 500 had advanced with Wi Pare—and negotiated. They informed me that Te Booti lefc for Waikato last night, after the policemen returned with Te Kooti’s letter. Only bis wives and two or three men were with him. lam detaining his people until I receive instructions as to whether I shall let them depart to their various homes, I will now consult Mr Bush re possibility of cutting him off. To-day all danger as to any outbreak or resistance is over. Te Booti evidently was afraid to martyrise himself as he professed, or to resist, and has evidently escaped in fear of ultimate results.—T. W. Poster, Major.’ A later telegram informs the Premier that Te Boot! has been seen on the Waikato track, and that parties have been sent in purnuit to arrest him, a warrant being in the hands of the polios for that purpose. It is the intention of the Government to pursue Te Eooti until he is arrested and to detain his followers for the present so as to render him powerless.— -Eosekx Lbokib, Secretary to the Premier." Later.

The Premier met the native* at Baraka thii afternoon at the invitation of the chiefs controlling the assembly there. His advice to them was to return to their homes peacefully, or otherwise they would only be increasing the mana of Te Eooti. Various speakers, who followed the Premier, agreed that no good would come of Te Booti’s visit, but he had been invited to the district to attend a great day of his religion. Aa fear was caused by his coming, and as Government said he should not come, those present at the meeting were willing to abide by the decision of the Government, otherwise evil might come of his visit. The meeting was unanimous in its determination to break up to-morrow morning. Before the visitors loft many of those who had vehicles started for home, taking stores of provisions that were left. On hia way in from the meeting the Premier received a telegram from Opotiki stating that Te Booti had been captured nine miles outside of Opotiki. The news wan received with the utmost satisfaction. Wehinotok, Feb. 28.

Government have received a telegram from Opotiki this evening stating thac Te Booti had been arrested at Waitatahi, a few miles from Opotiki, by Inspeotor Gould and six policemen, supported by troops under Major Porter, The prisoner was conveyed to Opotiki.