THE PARNELL COMMISSION.
London, March 5. The Piggott aff >ir is sti 1 causing intense excitement. It is hinted that an agent of the Times connived at Piggott’s escape. The Wellington correspondent of the New Zealand Herald telegraphs to his journal:— “Some time since Lord Carnarvon, referring to Home Rule as a separatist policy, declared that the Australian colonies were “ loyalist? ” almost to a man. A gentleman, described as “ a member of the New Zealand Legislature,” has been travelling in England and Ireland, making speeches by the way, and he declares that the people of New Zealand and Australia are “ Home Rulers” with scarcely an exception. (Thia gentleman turns out to be Mr Geo. Hutchinson, M.H.R.) These irreconcile able statements have induced the proprietors of the Irish Times to send out a representative, Mr David Arnott, to these colonies to make inquiries on the spot, and Mr Arnott is now in the South Island. It is said that the Irish Times is backed by what in Dublin is known as “ The Castle influence,” which is au<*ther way of stating that it represents that section of the Dublin population who are indifferent or opposed to the Home Rule agitation, either becau eof the prejudi cial influence on business of eve< y sort of political agitation, or through their apprehensions of the consequences of a political severance from England, The fact, howev- r, of a newspaper “ commissioner ” being sent to the colonies for the purpose of countervailing the influence of professed political agitators is a new development of the Fourth Estate,” Mr Arnott passed through Gisborne on Sunday, and, we Under- : md, intends paying it a visit before he i jurns to Ireland,
The Freeman’s Journal, in an article on the Times and the Sp?ci4 Commission says :— The object of the Times in droning out evidence about the agitation in 1881 82 was merely a device to gain time in the hope of securing some testimony which would justify the opening speech of the Attorney General. After d cluing that at the opening of the enquiry the Times’ counsel had not a shred of evidence upon which to proceed, beyond the contents of the “ mysterious black box ” (which they resolutely refused to “ discover ” so long as they could do so), and were at their wits’ ends for evidence to back up “ Parnellism and Crime,” the Freeman goes on to assert that, fe ling the ground slipping from under their feet, the Times resolved on playing a desperate game to retrieve its fortunes at the re opening of the Commission The one man who could really injure Mr Parnell, they said, is the organiser mentioned by him in the Kilmainham letter to Captain O’Shea, Mr P. J. Sheridan. Tynan, Bryne, and others had been vainly tempted, A striking blow must now be struck. There need have been no difficulty in making out the whereabouts of Mr Sheridan, whose residence has never been a matter of secrecy. The Times agent first went hunting for the •* Rio Grande Cattle Ranche,” But no such ranche could be struck. Then he turned and tried his luck at a frontier town cubed Monte Visto, Here again he drew a blank, and started for Pueblo, and after many disapjointmenrs, finally came upon the gentleman le had been at such needless pains to interview.
What occurred between the brilliant Times man and the ex Land League organiser is of the spiciest. We pm pose only to place the substance of it before the public, reserving several details v hich may perhaps be matter for subsequent examination. After much beating about the bush, the secret emissary gave his name as Mr “ George ” (as a matter of fact, only his Christian name is “George”), and said, after long parley, that he knew Mr Sheridan could be of immense assistance to the Times, delicately enquiring whether it would be convenient for him to repair to London, and give them the benefit of his services Mr Sheriff m kept his counsel, but required a certain time for reflection and consultation. The detective, however, grew urgent. The Judges, he pleaded, and the public, were described in the New York papers as getting sceptical and impatient, and, besides, the Times could not hope to keep the enquiry going on their side for more than a month or so after the Commission resumed its sittings.
After a long time had been consumed in these preliminary skirmishings, matters came to close quarters, and in Hunt reply to a aointed enquiry, the victim calmly said that f he was wanted in London his fee would be £20.000, paid before sailing. Mr “ George ” expressed great surprise. The figure was too high Only expenses be expected until a witness placed himself under the protection of the British flag “ Then what sum do you propose?” “Well, I will take upon myself to offer £lO,OOO. It will be paid within an hour af er your examination in London, if that examination proves satisfactory.” Very quietly did Mr Sheridan asked Mr “George” “ did he suppose that if he were seen bearding a British steamer at New York he would ever reach the Strand in London ? Ihe least to be expected would be that some provision sh uld be made in advance for the benefit of hi - wife and family. ” Mr “ George ” replied that the Canadian ports were open, and a witness could sail from Quebec. “But, ” Was the retort, “do you think Canada a healthier climate for a suspected informer ?” And Mr Sheridan pointedly observed upon the fate ot the late James Carey, who was shot on shipboard at the C ipa «>f Good Hope, This was a staggerer, so Mr <f George ” fell back on the that half the money should be lodged for the benefit of Mr Sheridan’s heirs with |l|e Briti-h Consul at New: York, or with some banking agent. But no; this could not be accepted. A man could not be asked to risk his life in addition to losing all his farming stock, and imperil the safety of his very family, without something substantial in hand. “ This is a matter you must conclude right away,” said Mr Sheridan. “ I can’t have you hanging round here.” As the Times emissary was unable to conclude anything without reference to his principals, the interview abruptly ended Mr “ George ’ • left Pueblo with the intimation that his employers would get a week—and a week only to make up their minds, the ultimatum being to pay £5OOO down and £5OOO in London.
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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 270, 7 March 1889, Page 3
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1,087THE PARNELL COMMISSION. Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 270, 7 March 1889, Page 3
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