Journalist. Richard Pigott was a 19th century British journalist, who received notoriety as the forger of "The Parnell Letters", which attempted to incriminate that Charles Stewart Parnell supported the Phoenix Park murders. Parnell was a Member of Parliament, who supported Home Rule for Ireland. "The Times" newspaper of London published a series of articles based on "Parnellism and Crime" in 1887. On April 18, 1887, the newspaper published a letter from Pigott's collection, allegedly signed by Parnell, condoning the Phoenix Park murders. On May 6, 1882 at Phoenix Park in Dublin, Lord Frederick Cavendish, newly appointed Chief Secretary of Ireland, and Thomas Henry Burke, Permanent Under-Secretary were stabbed to death by five members of the Irish National Invincibles. The newspapers had labeled the crime as "Phoenix Park Murders." Harboring animosity since 1883, Pigott had a long-time disagreement with the Irish National Land League, which was allied to the Irish Parliamentary Party and led by Parnell. In April of 1888, Parliament appointed a commission of three judges, to inquire into the authenticity of the allegations against Parnell. When Pigott was called as a witness, he confessed to the forgery under the forensic questioning of Parnell's counsel, Charles Arthur Russell. The next day Pigott escaped being arrested by the police by catching a train to France enroute to Spain. Later in August, he was found dead in a Madrid hotel room from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Ending the case, Parnell did sue "The Times" for libel, receiving in an out-of-court settlement the equivalent of today's $600,000 plus court cost. Richard Pigott was married and the couple had nine minor children at the time of his death.
Journalist. Richard Pigott was a 19th century British journalist, who received notoriety as the forger of "The Parnell Letters", which attempted to incriminate that Charles Stewart Parnell supported the Phoenix Park murders. Parnell was a Member of Parliament, who supported Home Rule for Ireland. "The Times" newspaper of London published a series of articles based on "Parnellism and Crime" in 1887. On April 18, 1887, the newspaper published a letter from Pigott's collection, allegedly signed by Parnell, condoning the Phoenix Park murders. On May 6, 1882 at Phoenix Park in Dublin, Lord Frederick Cavendish, newly appointed Chief Secretary of Ireland, and Thomas Henry Burke, Permanent Under-Secretary were stabbed to death by five members of the Irish National Invincibles. The newspapers had labeled the crime as "Phoenix Park Murders." Harboring animosity since 1883, Pigott had a long-time disagreement with the Irish National Land League, which was allied to the Irish Parliamentary Party and led by Parnell. In April of 1888, Parliament appointed a commission of three judges, to inquire into the authenticity of the allegations against Parnell. When Pigott was called as a witness, he confessed to the forgery under the forensic questioning of Parnell's counsel, Charles Arthur Russell. The next day Pigott escaped being arrested by the police by catching a train to France enroute to Spain. Later in August, he was found dead in a Madrid hotel room from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Ending the case, Parnell did sue "The Times" for libel, receiving in an out-of-court settlement the equivalent of today's $600,000 plus court cost. Richard Pigott was married and the couple had nine minor children at the time of his death.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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