Richard Webster, in a speech of intermin able length, and far from striking lucidity. Then came the evidence for the prosecution — files upon files of Irish and American newspapers, to connect the home and the transatlantic wings of the Parnellite move ment; and then troops of Irish peasants to speak to the terrorism which had prevented them from paying rents, and Jo the boy< cotting and the outrages which the "Times" maintained had " dogged the steps of the Land League." A strange sight it was, this succes sion of Irish peasants, imperfectly acquainted with the English language (Mr. Murphy, Q. C, a son of the Emerald Isle, is reported, by the way, to have been, taken into the case by the "Times "not only or chiefly because of his great gifts as an advocate, but in order to facilitate the examination and crossexamination of these troublesome wit nesses), scarcely knowing where they were, or for what purpose, and yet touched with a keen sense of the humor of the situation. After this part of the case had been com pleted, Major Le Caron, with whose "Twenty Years in the Secret Service "American readers are doubtless familiar, appeared on the scene. His evidence was designed to connect Mr. Parnell and his followers with the Clanna-Gael movement. He was cross-examined at great length, and with ability, by Sir Charles Russell, the leading counsel for Mr. Parnell; and since the elevation of Sir Henry Hawkins to the Bench, the greatest crossexaminer at the English Bar. But " the Major " was a match for his adversary, and it is said that as he left the witness box Sir George Lewis, the well known solicitor who was acting for Mr. Parnell, said : " I should like to have tackled that gentleman myself." Sir Charles Russell's solatium for his defeat by Major Le Caron was not, however, long in coming. After a brief cross-examination of the late Mr. Macdonald, the manager of the "Times," by Mr. Asquith, Home Secretary under the Gladstone government of 1892 (the first forensic honors, it maybe
[ observed, that Mr. Asquith won), the I famous or infamous Richard Pigott, from whom the "Times" bought the alleged Parnell letter, and several supplementary letters, for sums amounting to £2,520, was called upon to testify. The cross-examin ation of this witness, by Sir Charles Russell, was a masterpiece. No speech can give any idea of it. The forgery was exposed, and the forger made good hrs escape to Madrid, where he blew out his brains to prevent his arrest and extradition. The "Times " proposed, it is understood, to fortify the evidence of Pigott by expert testimony as to the genuineness of the Par nell -letters. Fortunately for their profes sional reputation, however, these gentlemen were not called; and the " Times " with drew the charges based on the letters, and apologized. Immediately there was a wild outcry that the work of the Commission was over. Solvuntur tabulae risul But the judges thought differently, and pursued their even way. The subsequent course of the inquiry was not disturbed by many I startling incidents. Sir Charles Russell's "opening" for the Irish members is as well known in America as it is in England. It I received (and deserved) Lord Hannen's encomium, sent down in a pencil note to Sir Charles Russell as he resumed his seat after repelling the " Times's " "indictment against a nation " : "a speech worthy of the occasion." Considerable interest of course attached to Mr. Parnell's evidence. He was briefly examined in "chief" by Mr. Asquith, and then passed through the ordeal of a three or four days' cross-examination by the Attorney-General. Sir Richard Webster, it must be admitted, went some way towards eclipsing the Pigott episode in his contest with the great Irish leader, and the Unionist journals seized eagerly on the admission which was extracted from him that he had on one occasion endeavored to "deceive the House of Commons." The only other dra matic scene was the withdrawal of Sir Charles
