THE PARNELL LETTER,

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8148, 20 April 1887, Page 4

THE PARNELL LETTER,

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH COPTRI6BT.J [Kbutke’b Telegrams.] {Received April 19, at 10.30 p.m.] LONDON, April 19. In the House of Commons last night, Mr Parnell declared that the letter published in yesterday’s Times and ascribed to himself was a forgery. [Special to Peess Association.] [Received April 19, at 11.12 aun.l * LONDON. April 18. The Times has published a facsimile letter, signed by Mr Parnell, which is believed to have been addressed to Mr Patrick Egan a week after the Phcenix Park murder. Mr Parnell explains that he was compelled to denounce the outrage as the only course open to him consistent with good policy, and although he regretted the accident by which Lord Frederick Cavendish was murdered he admits that Mr T. H. Burke got no more than his deserts. (Received April 19, at 7.SS p.m.) A tremendous sensation has been caused by the publication of Mr Parnell’s letter. In an article dealing with it, the Times says that the published views of Messrs Sexton and Healey on the Phoenix Park crime are mere unblushing denials of the accusation that the Parnellites were associated with the murderers. It believes that Mr Parnell feared his life would be endangered if he publicly denounced the perpetrators of the murders. The Times challenges him to explain the, letter, and calls attention to a speech be delivered two days after the tragedy, in which he suggested that the deed was committed by the enemies of the Land League. Itr further points out that in this speech Mr Parnell professed the utmost abhorrence of the heinousness of the crime committed by the enemies of Ireland, and, in conclusion, charges' him with having been associated with the murderers. A great scene is expected in the House of Commons to-night.