The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-20
NINE. DE LESsEPS SPEAKS
She Is Certain That Her Husband and
SoRs Are Guiltless of Wrong. Doing.
Evidences That Shows How the Panama Canal
Company Was Bled by Newspaper Leeches
--Baron De Reinach's Rapacity.

PARIS, Dec. 1a.-It is reported that should
Ferdinand de Lesseps be unable TO appear
before the court, which IS almost certain,
his case may be separated from that of the
other defendants. The Chateau de Ia
Chesnaye has received many visitors who
have remained faithful to him. HIS cour-
age0us wife represents him in oil business
matters. She said recently: Il am some
what Of % ~fatalist. like my husband. In
the most difficult moments of his life no
has always believed in success and
happiness and allowed events to take their
course. L practice his philosophy.
| believe this prosecution was inevitable.
and am not afraid of it. You tell me that
a change of opinion III nlsfav0r has taken
place during the past few days. and that
the public now sees that he was not whOl-
~ responsible for what has occurred. This
sentiment, am convinced, will increase
as the truth Is brought to light. You ask
who are the guilty persons7 al not able
to say. have always remained aloof from
the affairs of Panama. and all know of
it Is what | find in the pa
pers. am certaIn, however. of one thing.
the absolute probity of my husband and
his sons. Mistakes may have been made.
delusions INDUCED in, but they have never
committed a dishonest act. and all who
know N. De Lesseps think like myself. l
spend several hours every day IN replying
to the Letters and telegrsms of atfectIonate
admiration and respect which l receive
every morning from rich and Door alike.
Ibe trial may open and so-called revela-
ti0Ds continue, but | heed them not. All
nm onylana altnut 10 thar p,v a,ok hnahanH
shall continue to enjoy IN peace the affec-
tion OF his children aud myself"
NJ. Charles de Lesseps has been closely
questioned by the examining magistrate In
regard TO the statements made by NJ. DE La
Marselle regarding conversations with NJ.
Char es de Lesseps. La Marselle represents
Morhiban in the Chamber of Deputies. In
1880 lie endeavored TO bring on a discussion
III the Chamber relative TO the petitions
about the Panama loans. At that time La
Marselle had conversations with NJ. Charles
de Lesseps. The latter said that In the
case of the SueZ canal the expenses for
mail. 1t was different with the
Panama enterprise. Journalists crowded
TO the offices and had TO be PAID for ceaslng
attacks on the company. Little sheets
were started against the enterprise and
some of the opponents were satisfied to re-
ceive so or IS francs. Others were more ex-
acting. Then tnero were the guaranteeing
syndicates, composed of large and small
banking establishments. which had to be
paid Tor receiving subscriptions to the
loans. Again there were society people
who had to he paid Tor speaking we'll of the
company or from refraining from attacks
on 1t These persons Al. DE Lesseps found
more eXacting than the journalist. Nj. De
La Marseii!e also referred to Vi. De Lesseps's
statement about the contractors having en-
riched themselves. This. NJ. De Lesseps
said, was nothing extraordinary. The at
tention of NJ. De Lesseps has also been
called TO his former statement. when con-
fronted with NJ. DE Lunarv, to the effect:
IF / had to pay for what | have lone By q
years I'm prisonmenr, l should congratulate
myself on hight being thrown on this af-
fair
The examination of M. De Lesseps has
been quite as rigidiy conducted as that of
an ordinary criminal. hut he and his asso.
ciates have not been subjected TO the IN
dIgnities of personal measurement, etc., to
which persons aeeusedt0f similar crimes
are usually subjected. IT. is said that from
four To six hundred persons of various sta
lions III lie are known 10 have been impli-
Gated il the frauds aud Undertaking con-
nected wISa the canal enterprise, although
the government has not sufficient evidence
to con yicr any such number.
NJ. NoDchicourt, Iiquidat0r OF the Panama
Canal Com was before the parlia-
mentary investigating committee for the
second tine to-day. When examined two
weeks ago. NJ. Monchicourt excused his
reticenco on the ground OF professional
secrecy" To-day lie testified more freely,
although occasionally questions wer q re-
peated several times before he gave the
desired swe He was especially re-
luctant when the committee came to the
notorious efforts of Baron De Reinacb, in
1853, TO save" the company. then in ex-
tremity. In that year NJ. Monchlcourt said
Baron DE Reipach received from the com-
pany's treasury $500. COO. credited to him for
"ad vertising," and $500, 600, credited to him
on account of the Underwriting syndi-
cate" NJ. Monochrome, learning of these
enormous payments. asked Baron DE Rel
mach how the money was TO be used. The
Baron replied; You are very sim-
pie" BY inquiry among the direc-
tors of the Panama Canal Company
he learned that the 81. o00, eco was gwen to
the Baron as the price of his assistance in
securing the issue of the Panama Canal
! Lottery bonds. Not q small part of this
assistance consisted In pushing through
Parliament the bill authorizing the loan.
NJ. Monochrome had often heard directors
complain OF Baron De Reinach's rapaciOus
demands, and had witnessed violent scenes
st the canal company's office when these
demands were under discussion. He did
not know the names of the holders of the
ions an POrteur, representing 1,400,0 QUO
francs. although he believed that many of
them had been disbursed in connection
with the discour ting operations transacted
by NJ. Cornelius Herr. The of
IL, coo, 600 francs to the underwriting syn
dicate which took the lottery is-
sue, NJ. Monchicourt aald was
undoubtedly excessive. In continuing bis
testimony, NJ. Monchiconrt said that
several sums amounting to 10000, 600 francs
had been given To persons to induce to
boom the Panama loans. he had never
heard 10 expressly stated that deputies
were bought tor cash. Many checks. how
ever. were payable merely to bearer. NJ.
Oberfoerffer receIved 2,00I.0 600 francs for
merely suggesting the device of o lottery.
After NJ, Munchicourt left the room the
chairman read q letter from Nj. Castellon
To the effect that Senator Paul Deves had
cashed for a friend a check for 700 francs,
given by Baron De Reinacb to establish
the NouvelIe Press. an organ of the Panama
cnnal interest. VI. Hisrounus, cashier Of
the Panama Canal Company, testified that
Baron De Reinach had received some f.
0C0. COZ francs altogether for advertising
purposes" but he conld not remember who
drew them. The commission adjourned
until Wednesday, when NJ. Flouquet will
be examined.
The Prince OF Wales May Come.
LONDON, Dec. 19.-It.i s again rumored
that it is the intention of the Prince oil
Wales TO visit the Chicago Columbian Elk,
position. 1t is said that he will maxi
the trip across the Atlantic early mex,
snn,ine- In toe royal yacht Osborne, and
thar be will disembark either at Montreal
or Quebec. proceeding thence TO Chicago
The Osborne will be escorted by q
number OF British war sbipe. Though
il is impossible as yet to verify these
49, Ia- 49, -..A. -