New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-21
THE ZRAHsCoYTIYESLAL RAILWAY

TRIAL IN THE PARIS POLICE COURT-GEN. FIRE.
M0NTs CONNECTION WITH THE CAsE-HOw
QUOTATIONS WERE PROCURED on THE PARIS
B0URSE.
At the renewed hearing of the case of the
Transcontnental Railway, in the beginning Of March,
before the Court OF Police Correctonee, in Paris the
presiding judge read the report OF the preliminary
aminatons in respect Of Lssignol OF the accused
NJ Lissgno, former engineer to various mines, denies
that he the partner Prolst, to whom however,
he sreated and that he had connection with
the persons who launched the scheme in France, and
only acted agent for Probst, drawing up plans and
estimates But. asks the report, he engineer
and had lived for time in the United States in init
mate acquaintance with Gen. Fremont why did he at
tach any faith 20 the statement that the Transcont
mental Railway in OF construction when he
knew very well that such not the fact Why did he
endeavor with such TO obtain for the scheme
quotation upon the Paris BOurse when u not quoted
upon the New-York Exchanged To these ques-
tons NJ. LissgnO replies that he was de-
oeived, and that after his return TO France he
led 10 believe that the works in pro
gress. The adopted 10 obtain official quota
ton were very curious, and the President read dOcu
ment showing thar NJ IissignOl received I23OOOf and
a from him 20 NJ Gauldree BOieau asking for
2O 70 procure the quotation on the Bourse TO which
NJ Gauidree replied: with the discount and exchange
you have 10 per cent that enough and You viii have
no more" Among the documents seized by the police
book containing entries OF eight separate sums.
amounting In the aggregate 10 DO 5OOf and headed
Pour admission IN COTE None OF che persons accused
would state TO whom these sums had been paid although
initials placed against each item. a sum OF
lo0OOO spent in advertising, and misled all the
newspapers even the Journal O1iceL When the agents
Of the TransoOntinental Railway the scheme threat
ened with revelations Of dsagreeabe character, they
took their precautions with great skill. certain M
FOntaine wrote a pamphlet which would have been very
inconvenient for them. One Of the Companys agents.
NJ Paradis, bought il OF the author for lO0 and the
manuscript was AT once destroyed"
Upon being nterrogated by the Court 81. Lissignol
declared that he had believed that nil authorizing the
construction OF the TranscOntnental line had been
passed by the American Congress although Il now APP
peared that those measures had failed 10 obtain egisa
tive sanction. NJ. Gauldree BOiean, in reply 20 the
Judge stated that he became acquainted with NJ PrODst
Paris through the introduction OF Gen. Frant, and
that person proposed 70 him 20 accept the chief drec
Of the undertaking he should carry his inten
ton Of resiguing bis post as Consul He had par
ucularly studied the line which IL proposed the
Transconnental Railway should take, but had gene
raj knowledge OF the various lines that had been sug
gested He, moreover, placed full confidence IN Gen.
Fremont his brOtherin-law. Upon quitting the United
States he had called upon Gen. Fremont 70 settle
certain FAMILY accounts and upon that occasion ne
received 2s bonds which realized francs When at
Lima, Minister Plenipotentiary ne became aware
of some sinister reports being IN circulation, and
that the money which had been paid TO him by
Gen. Fremont belonged TO the company. The money
thus paid entirely IN settlement or fanlly
scoOunts and in way related 10 the commission OF
three per upon subscriptions which had been
had not received anything. Being reminded by the
Judge of m one OF his letters promising official
quotation In New-YOrk for the scheme III. Gauldree
BOeau insisted that that statement proof Of his
experience in business. There no official quota
ton in NewYOrk He denied that he knew anything OF
OF the shares In New-YOrk He had taken no part IA
obtaining the favorable notices OF the scheme which
appeared in the Paris papers, aud had even protested
against the too hord descriptions which no read IN them
The Judge reminded the accused that he shoud have
protested strongly, TO which he replied that he
could not attack his bTOtherin-aw BE added in con
clusiOn that he learned what were the real
facts, ne left Lima ana came 10 Pars Tor lne express
purpose OF handing over 10 the sequesraor the sum OF
$1,000 francs which he had received aud winch Cen
Fremont wished him 10 retain The Judge observed that
the Court would not fail 70 take that restitution into
consideration.