THE "TIMES" AND ITS AMERI CAN WITNESSES.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7245, 27 February 1889, Page 5

THE "TIMES" AND ITS AMERI CAN WITNESSES.

. f The freeman's Journal, in an article on I the Times and the Special Commission, •'ajys:*- ---■ • The object of the Times in droning out »evidence about the agitation in 1881-2 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 declaring that at the - opening of the inquiry the Times* counsel : 3bad not a shred of evidence upon which '.to proceed, beyond the contents of tbe '/"mysteriousblack box" (which they resoilately refused to "discover" so long as " they could do so), and were at their wits' ""end for evidence to back up "Parnellism : and Crime," the Freeman goes on to r assert that, feeling the ground slipping from under" their feet, the Times resolved '" on playing ! 'a desperate game to retrieve L Its'- fortunes at the re-opening of the Commission:— • ; The oae roan who could really injure Mr ' Parnell, they said, is the organiser men- ' tiooed by him in the Kilaiaiubam letter to ; Captain O'Shtt.'Str P. J. Sheridan. Ty- ' nan, Byrne, and others had beeuvainiy 'tempted. A striking blow must now be ' attack. There need have been no diffl- ' eulty in making out the whereabouts of _'3w isheridan, -whose residence has never ' been a matter of secrecy. Tbe Times agent 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 called '-'"Monte Vis to. Here again he drew a blank, ; sad started for Pueblo, and after many . disappointments, finally came upon the rgecueman he had been at such needless - pita to interview. j;„ What occurred between the brilliant ;%i?ne4 man aud the ex-Land League orga- j ;.'niser Is of the 6piciest. We propose only *tq.pl*ce the substance of it before the pub- ; jSftj reserving several details which may '. perhaps be matter for subsequent examina'lffon,' After much beating about the bush,, "rtfee secret emissary gave his name as Mr :'"Georee" (as a matter of fact, only his ' Christian name is " George "), and said, rafter long parley, that he knew Mr Sheri- : dan could be of immense assistance to the ■■ firms, delicately inquiring whether it ; would be convenient for him to * repair to London, and give them ' the benefit of his services. Mr '"Sheridan kept his counsel, but required a ,' Certain time for reflection and consultation. The detective, however, grew ; urgent. The Judges, he pleaded, ana the ; public, were described in the New York ' papers as getting sceptical and impatient, * and, besides, the Tijnes could not hope to keep tbe inquiry going on their side for more than a month or so afterthe Commission resumed its sittings. 'After a long time had been consumed in these preliminary skirmishings, matters came to close quarters, and i n blunt reply -'to a pointed inquiry, the victim calmly -said that if 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 * should be expected until a witness placed 'himself under the protection of the British hag. "Then what sum do you i propose r ** Well, I will take upon myself to offer £10,000. It will be paid within an ; hour after your examination in London, if ; that examination proves satisfactory." ; quietly Mr Sheridan asked Mr , "George •* •* did he suppose that if he were teen boarding a British steamer at New ''Tori he would ever reach the Strand in .London? The least to be expected would be that some provision should be made in * advance for the benefit of his wife and family." Mr "George" replied that the v Canadian ports were open, and a witness could sail from Quebec "But," was the retort, "do you think Canada a healthier ""dfcaate for a suspected informer?' And Mr Sheridan pointedly observed upon the fate of the late James Carey, who was Boot on shipboard at the Cape of Good Hope. This was a staggerer, so Mr "George" r fail back on tbe suggestion that half the ' atone? should be lodged for the benefit of Mr Sheridan's heirs with the British Consul at New York, or with some banking agent. But no; this could not be accepted. A man could not be asked to risk nisMfe in addition to losing all his farming stock, and imperil the safety of very family, without something substantial in hand. *' This is a matter you amst conclude right away," said Mr Sheris dan. *' I can't have you hanging round here." As the Times emissary was unable to •conclude anything without reference to i ~*ds principals, the interview abruptly ended. Mr " George" left Pueblo with the intimation that his employers would Set a week—and a week only—to make up weir minds, the ultimatum being to pay ; £5000 down and £3000 in London.