The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-17
yENALITY In HIGH PLACES.
The Sole Topic in rarIs Il tho Psnam,
scnndisi.


PARIS. Dec. 1g.--tharlss Dslesseps,
Marius Fontans. and IA. Sanlcroy, have
baon arrested by direction Of Minister OF
Justice Bourgeois for alleged connection
with the Panama canal frauds. Henri Cot.
ter. for whose arrest an order Was also ia-
sued, fed 10 Vienna. Sanleroy is charged
with having accepted bribe as member Of
the chamber of deputies. The charges
against the officers of the company are that
they jointly made use of fraudulent imaRi-
nary credit; that they dissipated capital
entrusted to them for specific purpose.
and swindlod others out of their means of
living. These offences come within the
reach Of seven articles OF the penal code.
The penalties to which the heads of the
Panama company made themselves liable,
should the theory of the prosecution be
established, are thus laid down. Whose
ever, by making use of a false name, or
quality. or resortng to fraudulent
devices to persuade another or 9th
enterprises, or Of power or
credit. or TO give rise to hope or fear OF a
chimericAl event or undertaking, attempts
to obtain money or any other property or
receipts or diacharges IL liable to one to
five years imprisonment and fine OF E2 to
his civil rights for five to ten years and be
forbidden to vote at legislative. municipal
or other elections, to carry arms or to act
ns guardian. An accompltce is liable to
the same penalties.
1t is noteworthy that the accused parties
in this Case will not be tried for infrsction
of the laws regulating financial and indus
trial companies. but under the articles of
common law. The theory, therefore, Of the
prosecution is that the Panama affair was q
swindls from the beginning. The original
| concessionaires are sheltered BY prescrip-
tion. Sanleroy is said to bo badly impli-
Gated by documents and other evidence
brought to light. He was not on the Pam
anna board. Suspicion always attached to
him on account of his sudden change of
front in the lottery loan, which was being
voted on. At first he opposed the loan, but
turned the scale at the last moment by
voting in its favor. In q hear
committee few days ago Sanleroy stated
that he changed his vote in obedience to the
wishes of his constituents. It ia understood
that the governments has documentary evil
dence showing the exact amount paid San
| leroy for his change of front.
| Besides making arrests the authorities
searched the residence of Delesseps, Fon-
tame, Cotter and Sanletoy. seizing II mass
of documents throwing new and impo SAINT
light on the Panama frauds and corrup-
tion. The only topic of conversation in
political and social circles is the Panama
scandal, and the arrests to-day caused the
greatest excitement, although rumor had il
last night that such action had been de-
termined upon. What the outcome will be
no one is able to predict. but it can be
said that those who have the best interests
of the republic at heart are deeply erisved
at the veniality and selfishness displayed
by mon in high positions. Smany of whom
had sworn to preserve the honor Of France.
| The arrested Panama canal directors,
when arraigned before Magistrate Fran.
qvelle, protested their Innocence. They
were committed to Maza prison. Jules
Picard. president of the Suez Canal COM
pany, has written letter saying the share
holders in the Suez canal need mot bs
alarmed over the arrest of Charles Deles-
ssps as the Suez Canal company is abso-
lutely certain that progress is satisfactory.