THE TIMES-PARNELL COMMISSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1970, 22 August 1889, Page 17

THE TIMES-PARNELL COMMISSION.

DAVITT PNDBR CROSS-EXAMINATION. THE WITHDRAWAL OF COUNSEL. . The examination in chief of Michael Davitt before the Times-Parnell Commission disclosed nothing new in connection with his career, but in the early pa*t of the cross-examination much interest was excited by Sir Henry James confronting him with a letter that was produced at his trial for treason felony 20 years ' ago. The letter ' began ■ " Dear friend," and went on apparently to suggest that a certain assas9inafciou should take place, but that the assassin should not proceed in ' the matter until certain permission from superiors had been obtained. The words were ", If you get Jem and Fitz*s consent let it be done by all means." This letter was found 20 years ago in the possession of a young man named Forrester. It was produced against Davitt at his trial. No explanation was given at the trial, but now Sir Henry James pressed Davitt for the name of the man to whom he had addressed the letter. This Davitfc refused to give, despite the president's urging, and said " I have been tried for this letter; it was a stupidly criminal letter, I admit. I have suffered seven yeare' penal servitude for it. Am I to be tried for it again?" The Attorney-general pressed for an answer, and finally Davitt gave the following explanation of the matter, suppressing, all names :— A young officer in the Fenian body took a personal dislike to a brother Fenian, and determined to kill him, and Davitt was consulted in the matter. The'latter he wrote in answer w&s a sort of blind, which, while apparently sanctioning the intended murder, was rt-alty written to gain time to let the matter cool down, hence the reference to obtaining the preliminary sanction of the chiefs called Jena and Fitz. Davitt swore that ho wrote secretly to these two men, both of whom he believed to j be now alive in America, asking thpm to forbid the intended crime, and that bis intention in writing the letter, which he again called criminal, was to delay and ultimately prevent the murder. "I f that letter had anything to do with the assassination," he exclaimed, " I would deserve penal servitude for life." Nevertheless h8 would not even now give up the names of Jem and Fitz, unless tbey released him from his obligations. When the point again came up as to ' the name of the man to whom he wrote the letter, ho exclaimed, " I appeal from tbia box where I stand to America to that chief to give the name to their lordships, and again I appeal to that man to take from my life the stigma I have borne for 20 years." ■In answer to the president, Davittadmitted that' bis explanation^ ' of the criminal document .was not put forward on his trial. In answer to further questions, Davitfc boldly declared for complete independence, Baying thas ; he- tflade the - tend ' qaeßtion and ; the

movement to exterminate and drive ont tho landlords a stepping stone to this end.' ' "Mr Parqell%a&not for the complete -separation of the two countries. "I am," &aid Davitfr. Then, 1 very firmly pressed, Davitt further repeated that he <vaa oue of the principals who were in favour of a general separation, but he would tomorrow, if Mr ParnbU'fi policy were successful, give his loyal support to it, and the idea of separation, he believed, might ultimately die out. Davibfc admitted • that he was on close 1 terms of intimacy with men like Dr CarroH, of Philadelphia, who was a trustee of tho Skirmishing Facd, the object of which was to do damage to England whenever possible, ami lsvel its greatest cities. ' Before The Times-Parnell Commission on July 10, Mr Davitt drew the attention of the court to what he considered a matter of' most serious importance.-- It was with reference to a-sensa-tional ' story published ' by ' au evening paper under the heading "The Dynamite Scare." Some boxes had been placed in the vicinity of the 'couit with "a view of 'showing how "easily disaffected -Irishmen might place 1 dynamite machines and blow up the court. Mr Davitt's application 1 was that the person who placedthe bbxes and the writer of the article bhould be brought before their lordehips. ■ | Sir James Hannen said tbafc he did not s"ee anything objectionable in the article, nnd felt'no appreh* nsion. As far as he could s( c tb& placing of the boxes was a silly hoax. Mr Davifct became ekcited and said that the thing had beeD got- up to tell againsb the Nationalists, and he alleged that Lectiron snd Houston were at the bottom of the affair. The president remarked that Mr Davitt musfc prove that, ami Mr Justice Smith informed him that he had no right to make such aj statement. > ' ■ j Sir Henry James said that Lecaron had not been in England for the last two days. The pXesidrnt, referring to Mr Davitt's angry and excited manner, said he regretted that he had departed from his usual demeanour. Davitt j s^id he felt very strongly upon the matter. Tbe president said he could understand that, but Mr ijavitt must take the proper course. Mr Houstbn, who was in court, desired' to make a statej ment contradicting Davitt, but the president de- | clined to hear it. Subsequently Mr ' Houston [ '^as recalled, when he had an opportunity of denying this accusation. j Sir I'haries Russell croPR-examined Mr Houstpn, inquiring as to the books of the Loyal and j Piatriotic Union. . Mr_ Houston-said- that the f books might be placed at the disposal of their I^rdbbip.o, but* that the committee 'objected to t^ieir being examined by their political opponents. (Sir James Hannen said that he could not see tpat they were called upon \o ordtr the books tp be produced." ' ' ' 1 I Sir Charles Rnssell and BJr Asquith urged tnat ifc.was necessary to the purposes of the inauiry that these books should be investigated. After the Attorney-general hart briefly addressed the court the president said that the pourt wag of opinion that the inspection should not be granted. | Sir Charles Russell said that he bad received instructions from Mr. Parnell on this Pjoint, and with due deference to the court, he hjad to consult with his clients before he decided on the course he would pursue. I Messrs Parnell and Lewis then left the court, apd were followed by Sir Charles Russell. The cjmrt then adjourned. ,