THE GREAT LIBEL ACTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1766, 21 July 1888, Page 1

THE GREAT LIBEL ACTION.

London, July 7. In.the House of Commons Mr Parnell declared that the letters produced at the trial of ‘lp libel action against The Times, and purporting to be signed by him were forgeries. The Press expresses the opinion that the denial is valueless, and challenges him to disprove the letters. The Pall Mall Gazette, referring to the disclosures in The Times libel action, challenges the Government to move for Mr Parnell’s expulsion from the House of Commons. July 9 The solicitor who appeared in Court on behalf of O’Donnell, declares that every step taken in the recent action against The Times was first submitted to Mr Parnell. In the House of Commons to-day Mr Purnell applied for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the authenticity of a letter produced at the recent trial. Mr W. H. b'milh refused to grant the request, stating that Parliament was incompetent to deal with such charg s while the Courts were available. Mr Parnell thereupon gave notice to move that a Committee be appointed; Mr Davitt, epeakiog at Glasgow, challenged his opponents to prosecute him and Mr Parnell on charges of murder and conspiracy, as the only course to properly sift the charges levied against them. Ke admitted (hat the subordinate leaders of the League had committed grave crimes, but denied that Parnell or his followers were guilty. He regretted the crimes which had been committed, and said they were the work of a desperate body of men. July 12, In the House of Commons last nighi Mr W. H. Smith said that the Government wer« willing to appoint a Commission; mainly composed of judges, to inquire into The Times charges against Mr Parnell. Mr W. IV, Smith proposes that the Commission shall possess power to compel the disclosure of fac's and the production of any necsssary documents, also to grant certificates protecting witnesses. Counsel will be allowed to appear. July 16. The Bill providing for the appointment of a Commission to i quire into The Times charges against Mr Parnell was retd a first lime in the House of Commons today. July 17 Mr Parnell, in speaking on the first reading of the Bill providing for the appointment of a Commission to inquiie into the charges against him, said it was moustroas to expect him to accept the me isuie until it had been explained. If Government believed the charges they ought to insist on an inquiry being held instead of bargaining with the accused! ' He objected to accept the tHbunal Without knowing the judges, and he asked yvhy he shotrd trust a Government whom' he alleged were the accomplices of those who had published the fou bbels. He accused the Government of b dog the accomplices of The Times, and compared them to butchers, the Parretlites being the she. p for slaughter. H« absolutely declined to mtko a bargain beforehand. Mr Smith replied that Government were still convinc’d that the proper tribunal to hoar the charges was a court of justice, but the • House would bo afforded iin opportunity of fujly discussVg the Bi'i, the second reading of which would be s t down fur Monday.