PARNELL V. THE TIMES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1875, 6 April 1889, Page 1

PARNELL V. THE TIMES.

London, April 2 .

la opening the case for the defence before the Times-Pernell Commission to-day, Sir Charles Rnssell said that 340 witnesses had testified lo what was much irrelevant to the issue, and which was not in existence, viz., “ Irish crime.” After the collapse of the forged letters, learned counsel contended that the pith and marrow of the inquiry had been destroyed. The courl was rmlly trying an Irish revolution. The Times, he said, was persistent in its hostility to Ireland, and had to a large extent assisted in estranging Ireland from England. He characterised the procedure of Sir R, E. Webster in accusing the league of being concerned in landgrabbing, boycotting, cattle-maiming, as unfair, as offences of this nature had been in existence long before the league was established. The action of the longue, Sir Charles said, had lessened crime in Ireland, as it had only discussed the historic aspect, of the Irish question. The court was crowded during the day. April 3.

In opening tie case for the defence before the Parnell Commission Sir Charles Russell detailed the particulars of the Tory-Paraellite alliance in 1856, and uaid that lo would prove that Lord Carnarvon conferred with Messrs Parnell and Justin McCarthy, thereby showing that the Conservative leaders did not believe that tie Irish members were implicated in the murders which bad taken place in Ireland. It is expected that Sir Charles’ speech will last a week.