Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-08-10
WHOLESALE swINDLaNG IN FRANCE.

Twelve men were ON Saturday tried by the
Tribunal of Correctional Police of Paris on the
charge of swindling in connection with q COM
pany called lie Cheptel. This company was
started in 1853, with q nominal capital of
5000, 000f, to be raised in shares, for the pur-
pose Of providing oxen to farmers to be fattened
and then selling them the profits of the sale to
be divided between the farmers and the com
pany. The company had two gerants, each with
salary at the commencement Of 6,000f, and
afterwards of 100000; and it had directors,
sub-directors5 and inspectors, q. salaries vary.
ing from 1,000f. to 6.000f, with ID per cent. ON
the profits in their respective districts. and 5
per cent on all subscriptions obtained by them
In the frst year, the operations of the Com
pany only amounted to 2, 260f., and yet the
salaries of its officers and the general expenses
were 9o,s5Of. The gerants and agents gave out
that the Company was destined to realize enor-
nous profits; 100, 600 ,0OOf in its hands being,
for example, it is said, certain to realize
Z3,OOO,OOOf year. Several persons subscribed
share to the amount of rs, 400f., of which they
paid up 343, 320f. Of that amount I79. 2o7f.
were employed in providing oxen, and the rest
was swallowed up in salaries, and expenses
yet at general meeting of shareholders held
IN 1919 1t was announced that the expenses were
Az per cent. A dividend of not more than 9
Per cent. was, however, declared. Notwith-
standing this apparent prosperity at the next
general meeting, held in 1856, it was announced
NeAOe VI 'iV,OOjI existed but neyerthe-
less the meeting was made to vote discharge of
OF all liabilities to the gerants, and an aug
mentatlon OF the capital to the extent of
SO,O0O,OOO New gerants were appointed. but
the company did not prosper, and a loan to the
amount Of $50, 000f was raised
AT length, in November, 1856, the Comnanv
was "ellged to dissolve itself, and then IL was
discover that gross frauds had been COM
mitted, none and shares having been appro-
priated, larger su us than were paid ha wing Been
charged in the acc, 'unts, false Representations
having been made to in luce persons to subscribe
for shares, &c. On the N~hcie, according to q
statement draw up to the let of January, a
deficit existed of not less thsa I,563, 63Sf.
The tribunal, in q judgment OF gTest length,
condemned three Of the accused, naloe6 Marie,
Reverchon and Scghers, who took fsading
part in the fraud, but who have abscopdst, to
i've years imprisonment and 5000 francs
fine each ; another, named Marie Plot, to one
years imprisonment and 500 francs fine; tvs
others names Mercier and de Waroquier, each
20 two months imprisonment and the former to
1O0f., the latter to ,000f. fine and one named
Guerin to 500. Of the other five accused, two,
Nm. Butler and Lafitte, advertisement agents,
who were charged witi some irregular transac-
tons respecting advertisements, were acquitted;
and judgment on three was postponed. Mer-
cier, in addition to the condemnation on him, was
ordered to pay IA ,000f. damages to two persons
who had been specially injured by him.-GatIg-
nGJt's Messenger.