Page:The Art of Cross-Examination.djvu/191

 that letter to the archbishop at all, or any of the circumstances it refers to.'

"Russell. 'First of all you knew this: that you procured and paid for a number of letters?'

"Pigott. 'Yes.'

"Russell. 'Which, if genuine, you have already told me, would gravely implicate the parties from whom these were supposed to come.'

"Pigott. 'Yes, gravely implicate.'

"Russell. 'You would regard that, I suppose, as a serious charge?'

"Pigott. 'Yes.'

"Russell. 'Did you believe that charge to be true orfalse?'

"Pigott. 'I believed that charge to be true.'

"Russell. 'You believed that to be true?'

"Pigott. 'I do.'

"Russell. 'Now I will read this passage [from Pigott's letter to the archbishop], "I need hardly add that, did I consider the parties really guilty of the things charged against them, I should not dream of suggesting that your Grace should take part in an effort to shield them; I only wish to impress on your Grace that the evidence is apparently convincing, and would probably be sufficient to secure conviction if submitted to an English jury." What do you say to that, Mr. Pigott?'

"Pigott (bewildered). 'I say nothing, except that I am