THE TIMES'S'APOLOGY.

Evening Star, Issue 7876, 8 April 1889, Page 3

THE TIMES'S'APOLOGY.

* The Times' of February 27, in its leading editorial, quotes in full the apology tendered by Attorney - General Webster before tho Parnell Commission for the publication of the forged letters, and continues : —" We desire to endorse as appropriate every word of the foregoing statement. Moreover, Mr Parnell having In the witnessbox stated that the letters are forgeries, we accept in every respect tho truth of that statement. In these circumstances we deem it right to express our regret, especially and sincerely, at having been induced to publish the letters as Mr Parnell's, or to use them in evidence against him. This expression of regret includes also the letters falsely attributed to Mr Egan, Mr Davitt, and Mr O'Kelly. It is scarcely fitting now to enter into the circumstances under which we received and published them. We are bound, however, to point out that Pigott was not tho person with whom wo oommunicated. Moreover, wo must add that we believed that the letters were genuine until tho disclosures made by Pigott on crossexamination. It must bo evident to all reasonablo persons that if a conspiracy existed, 'The Times' was victimised by and not a party to it. Errors in judgment may havo boon committed, and for them the penalty must be paid. It must be clearly understood that what we have done is altogether upon our own motion, and our own responsibility, and in the public interest alone. This withdrawal, of course, refers exclusively to the letters obtained from Pigott." The ' Daily News' of tho same day said : "'The Times' tried to destroy Parnell. Paruell has destroyed ' The Times,' Never again shall any man who respects himself read its base accusations without a smile of

' languid disgust. ' The Times' is no representative of the English Press. We do not hesitate to say that no other English paper would have been capable of engaging in the abominable traffic which has led 'The Times ' to such a dismal depth of infamy." Patrick Egan Bays that he had known Pigott to be a forger and swindler for twenty years.