Times-Parnell Commission.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XVI, Issue 2392, 21 February 1889, Page 2

Times-Parnell Commission.

Loitdon, Feb. 18. — Mr Soames, solicitor for the Time8 t gave evidence before the Commissioners that Houston, i the secretary of the patriotic league, brought letters to the Times, stating that Pig^ot wanted £5000 for them. After satisfying themselves that they were genuine the Times gave Houston £3000 and retained the letters. Of this sum Houston paid Piggot £1780. The Times paid Detective Moses, of theTJnited States, £1400. They also had Parnell, Labouchere, and others watched. Mr Lewis, solicitor fojr Pjrnell^ employed a detective to shadow Piggot, and the Times, unaware of this proceeding, did the same. They did not enquire how Piggot himself managed to secure the letters. They obtained letters from Labouchere to Piggott, enclosing a £10 note, and a letter from Mr Lewis to Piggot, charg. ing the latter with admitting forgery. Houston's Evidence. London, Feb. 19. — Mr Houston, secretary of the patriotic league, deposed to having employed Piggot to obtain evidence connecting Parnellism with crime. He admitted that the widow of Joseph Willett, one of *the men found guilty of participation in the Phoenix Park murders, gave up one of the letters produced. Frank Bvrne^ when escaping to New Ypzk aiter the Phoenix Park murders, were committed, left several letters in the handwriting of Parnell and Egan* behind in a bag at Borne and Paris. These letters Piggot apparently obtained from Kelly, a man who supplied knives to the murderers of Cavendish and Burke. Houston admitted that the letter written by him to Piggot had been destroyed when Parnell subpoenaed him (Houston) in fulfilment of an agreement of secrecy.