New-York tribune., 1872-02-14
THE ARMS SCANDAL IN PARIS.

THE ARMS SCANDAL ~ PARIS.
HE Is SENTENCED TO PAYMENT OF A FINE AND
TO PRIsONMENT-STATEMENT OF HIS RE-
LATIONS WITH THE FRENCH AGENTS IN
AMERICA FOR THE PURCHASE OF WAR MA
TERIALS
lFRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT oP THE TRIBUNEl
PARIS, Jan. 26.-The late Consul General of
France at New-York, NJ. Victor Place, was yesterday
condemned by the Cour dAppe to imprisonment for two
years and fine of $500, for maversatiOn Of money be-
longing TO the French Government during the late war
This was the maximum penalty which could be inflicted
in the matter the Public Prosecutor abandoned the
graver Charges oorgery and conspiracy to defraud the
Government of which Tie prisoner accused at his
previous trial in September last The Interest of Amer
cans aroused this trial not only because the sce
of action was in York, but because the Remngtons,
the well known manufacturers of small arms, were re-
peatedly mentioned during the late ConsulGenerafs
trial The charges brought by NJ Victor Place. in de-
Tending himself against the Remingtons in particular,
and Americans in general, were nearly II not quite as
serious as those brought by the French Government
against NJ Place himself If we are TO believe NJ Pace'
there does not exist man in NewYork who has not his
prce or who is not willing to do anything for the sake OF
money.
Whenever he was charged with anything which,
Judged by ordinary rules of morality, was unworthy OF
anv honest man. NJ Place invariably replied "Oh but
then it was in America and in the United States people
always do that" 1t was he declared, when accused OF
having winked at the taking of bribes by his clerks and
agents. the universal custom in the United states 10
grease peoples hands" Really If he had done Things
which he should have done In Europe 1t was be-
causa everybody else did the in NewYork and be-
cause prices were so dear These fair specimen OF
NJ Places accusations against Americans In general
With regard 10 the Remngtons the eAConsul dld not
hesitate TO affirm that those gehtemeh were utterly
rned before the Prnsian war oroKe OUT that
thew had efauded the French Government out OF far
ho
embezzed; and last not least, the firm OF RemDg
ron had caused their hooks TO he recoped and their ac
counts to he cooked" in order 10 conceal their gu
These are very bitter words, which are strangely in
contradiction with these words of the DIke dAudhret
Pasouier the President OF the Commission on the fur
chases Of Arms by the Government OF the NatlonaI
Defense "The Commission, in the name OF France,
thanks NJ Remington for the step which he mas taken I'D
giving IL the benefit of his evidence: the Colnmssion
acknowledges completely his fidelity and that OF DIS
agents Ny colleagues request Inc to thank NJ Reinine
ton and TO inform him that they are completely satisfied
with his conduct toward the French Government IL
is only fair to state, however. that NJ Places oppor
tuntes Of Judging America have been OF somewhat
limited nature for he only appointed to NeWforK
in April 1870, and he himself admits that he does not
understand word Of English, although he had been
Consul for three years, Immediately previous TO MS
coming to New-YOrk, at Calcutta.
will give brief outline OF the trial ltself In sep
tember 1870 Immediately after the fall of the Empire,
the French Government began purchasing arms ana am
muntion very large extent IN the United states NJ
Place then French COnsuGeneral at New-York, was IN
formed credit had been opened III his name by the
French Government, with August Belmont, ana was IN
structed TO give checks in payment for arms purchased
by the agents Of the French Government In America
but he was also ordered not TO buy arms himself but
only 10 pay for them and use all possible dlhgehce III
having them shipped to France. The French Govern
ment did not employ NJ Place TO buy arms because ne
was totally ignorant Of English and knew nothing about
arms or ammunition Place. however, thought tit TO
purchase very large quantities of arms, on ms
own account for the French Government. In
the mean time the RemngtOns had been ap'
pointed, by TING Tours Government, sole agents
in the United States, for the purchase and supply OF
arms ammunition and, in short all kinds OF material OF
war Place was duly informed of this; bat he paid no
attention 10 the kilograms sent him, and went on with
his purchases of arms, paying the most extravagant
prices-over S6,SO0OOO spent in few months In
order TO facilitate his operations. he engaged man
named Chauvteau to act as his agent ana Interpreter
Cbauyteau of course, at once an opportunity OF
putting money in his own pocket He accordingly went
TO Col Squire, the RemingtoDs agent in New anu
proposed that commission Of rs cents should be eVed
on every musket sold TO the French Government. In
order to induce Col Squire to agree to this proposoD
Chauviteau offered 10 give the Remingtons onerd OF
all the commission levied in this manner SQUIRE md
ing he could obtain money in payment for the very
then making was forced to consent to this arrange
ment but he Immediately telegraphed what had passed
10 Mr. Samuel Remington, who was then In France
Mr. Remington lost time in informing NJ. Lecesne,
the President Of the Armaments Committee Of these
facts and stated that he should credit the French Gov
ernmcnt with all received by his firm under ths
Arrangement Among many accusations brought by M.
Place against the RemngtOns OF the principal was
that they were secret partnership with M Lecesne
the President above mentioned OF the French Armament
Committee The President Of the Court OF Appeal was
hostile to NJ Place, when, is the custom In French
courts law he interrogated the prisoner lie began
by showing that Place had right whatever to even
the commission OF per cent which he had without any
authority from the French Government levied on all hs
transactions In reply to this Place said that when
Minister Foreign Affairs, which authorized him 10 levy
per cent commission on some purchases made by nun
| for the Minister oi War. He was unable 10 pro.
questioned NJ Place at great length ana appeared 70
| me to establish plainly enough that the average
price per t1n charged BY ae nv YVu The
tons France the Public Prosecutor declared In turn
had lost at least gy the conduct OF her own Con
sui In this matter. There were innumerable other as
maid in currency and then charged the French Govern
| inent as II he had paid In gold - -,. . 40 -.
M Place wse we'll defended by M Rvoef. except that
the latter fell into error his client, and In
order 10 defend latter did not hesitate to renew the
seyerest accusations against third parties Ihe main
argument OF M. Ryolet was OF course the resutnnon
nt uy me- ~ the reouest Of M. dAudret Pasquier. the
Presidept of the Commission on Contracts but the re-
suit OF all NJ Rvolets pleading was hat M rlace Tas
senteaced TO two years imprisonment and $500 fine The
clerical papers all very angry az tis sentence NO
eause Place has brother who ~ Bshop OF Mnrssiies
and they seem TO think that IL Is ~ ~ @