The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-17
PANAMA DIRECTORS IN JAIL.
CHARLES DE LEssEPs ONE OF THE
THREE PRISONERS.

THREE PRfSONERS.
Fourteen Wagon Loads or Documents Seized
Some of Them said to be or Nm Incrim,-
Mating Nature--No Warrant Yet for tho
Arrest OF Ferdinand dc I.esseps, tho Pro-
iector OF the Canal-Tho Investigating
Commission Decides Not to Resign.
PARIS, Dec. ION. Charles Aim6 de Lesseps.
son OF the protector OF the Panama Canal; VI.
Marius Etienns Fontane. and M. San. Leroy
hays been arrested by direction of tho Minis
fer OF Justice. N. Bourgeois. for their alle eyed
connection with the canal frauds. De Lesseps
and Fontane are directors OF tho Panama
Canal Company. When arraigned before Mag
istrate FranIuelle the prisoners protested
their innocence. They were committed to the
Mazas prison.
NJ. Henri Louis Felix Cottu for whose arrest
an order was also issued. has fed to Vienna.
81 san-Leroy is charged with having accepted
bribs AS member OF the Chamber Of Depu-
ties. The charges against tho officers OF the
company on which summonses were previ-
ously served. and on which they have now
been arrested. are that they have Jointly made
use of fraudulent imaginary credit: that they
have dissipated capital intrusted to them for
srecilc purpose; and that they have swindled
others out OF part or all OF their means OF liv-
ing on their fortunes. These offences come
within roach OF seven articles Of the penal
code. The penalties to which the heads OF the
Panama Company have made them selves
liable should tho theory OF tho prosecution be
established are thus laid down:
"whosoever by making use OF a false nnme
or quality. or resorting to fraudulent devices
to persuade another or others OF tho reality OF
I'm aginary enterprises. or OF power or credit.
or to give rise to the hope or fear OF q chimeri-
cal event or undertaking. attempts to obtain
money or any other property or receipts or
discharges is liable to one yenr's imprison-
mont at lenst and five years at most. and
fine from $40 to 5000. The convict may also
bs deprived OF civil rights from tho day on
which no leaves the prison for five years at
least, and ten years Mt most, and be. moreover.
forbidden to vote at Legislative. municipal. or
other elections. to carry arms. or to act as
guardian"
The sccomplics is liable to the same penal
ties It Is noteworthy that the accused per-
sons in this case are not to be tried for infrac
tons OF the laws regulating financial and in
dustrial companies. but under articles OF tho
common law. The theory. therefore. OF the
prosecution is that the Panama affair was
swindle from the beginning. Tho original
are sheltered by prescription.
Gated by documents and other evidence re-
Gently brought to light. He was not on the
Panama Board. Suspicion was always direct
cd to him OF account of his sudden change OF
front in the Lottery Committee OF the Chamber
Of Deputies. when tho lottery loan was being
voted on. At first he opposed tho loan. but at
the last moment voted In its favor. In the
hearing before the Panama Investigating
Committee. few days ago. he stated that he
changed his vote in Obedience to the wishes OF
his constituents. NJ Rondeleux. another for
msr Deputy. testified before tho Commission
that he drafted the first report OF tho Lottery
Committee of the Chamber against the Lot
terry bill. and was SO amazed when the COM
mittee rejected the report. owing to NJ. San
Leroy's change Of front. that he resigned the
Chairmanship OF the commi,tee. 1t Is under
stood that the Government has documentary
evidence showing the exact amount paid to
him for his change.
srrest Of NJ. Ferdinand do Lesseps It was
k Fl n r.. frms hSa
lister Of Justice. the Procureur-GeneraL and
psss hd fSe the sseas sa
m Srrets d.
tame. and San Leroy will be entirely distinct
Besides making the arrests. the police made
and other evidence fol. use in the prosecution
OF the Panama Canal directors and others ac-
%sat S
to transport them. At the RESIDENCES OF De Les
seps. Fontane. Cottu., and san-Leroy mass
Ii rhs en tho trsuds poltcs
visited the premises Of the Fanama Canal
The arm Of IT Thierree Co. Besides searching
bis partner. Il fTopper. who RIA join:d WITH
N in rAfI air
t tic ' about S the twenty-six checks ITO
Ssarer" which the company had given to
aS'O.455 francs drawn by the Panama com;
psny. The twenty-six checks were believed
ting
q NJ. Herr. who IS tesved to be deeply sniy I'M,
Tho news OF the arrests caused sensation
mont in the Hobbies, 1t IS reported that the
to authorize the prosecution of q number Of its
Ths Panama Inyestigo,ins com mr. II, met
and social IS the
s1cit tenn although rumor had it last night
that such action had BEEN ,determined upon.
The PAPERS contain l9 Of to
scandal. The moderate Republican papers
congratulate tho Government upon the energy
bate in the Chamber Of, Deputies. The con:
Serystve members claim that the result OF
Yesterdays vote discredits the Government;
They argue that tho Government had no real
majority. while at the Same time u mortal
wound was dealt to the Panama Invest igatinE
Committee by the Chambers refusing the
committee judicial powers.
The Presidents OF the four Republican
sroaps waited upon NJ Kibot TO-DAY and con-
Graduated HIM upon the decision OF the Coy
eminent, the 1rmness Of which Is generally
hpn,9Ved IN the Hobbies and tho Chamber
M,se lts Grmness has occurred for It de-
claed majority in tho Chamber. Only the
mem bers oft the Hight and some OF the Radi-
csis dlsaprroye OF the Government course.
Jules Picard. President of the Suez Cana!
evmpahy has written a letter to the President
sb 81 my faTls Agentsde Change saying that the
sin..,rs in the Suez Canal need not be
Asthe suez Canal Company is absolutely cer-
tSih 10 progress satisfactorily.
~ LONDON. Doc. 10 Paris correspondent
~ ~ she Times say,o yesterdays close vote on
iae PROPOSAL Of NJ. dc bosserin to invest the
n nana Investigating Comm ittss with judicial
S1S8NHers which was defeated by 27l votes to
o ae eSh shat tho CabInst win resign CLEAN
~ even the small majority for tho Govern