Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-01
MILLIONS PAID JOURNALISTS.
Testimony OF Former Auditor Of the
Panama Canal Company.

Panama Canal Company.
The Panama canal investigating committee
continued its inquiry in PARIS yesterday. NJ.
Flory. auditor in bankruptcy. was called upon
to give testimony as to how the money Of the
company had been expended, but he refused to
give the committee the desired information. on
the ground that to do so would be a violation
of professional secrecy. The committee then
heard the evidence of NJ Rossignol, NJ. Florys
predecessor.
NJ. Rossignol confirmed the statement that
Baron de Reinach had received 1900. 900 francs
from the Panama Canal Company, Of which
amount 4,0O0. 900 francs had been described as
used for advertising. NJ. Rossignol also fur
nished the committee with details regarding the
sum paid to five journals. He declared that
the sums spent for advertising exceeded 2,000,-
600 francs, but said that he had not met with
the names OF any politicians in his examination
of the company's books.
NJ. Boudet, a former secretary Of the Panama
Canal Company, confirmed the statements of NJ
Rossignol
NJ. Thierree, manager Of a coulissier firm,
testified that Baron de Reinach had paid g. 900, :
900 francs into the firms accounts in the Bank
of France, and that on that security the firm had
issued twentv-seven checks The witness re-
fused to say, however, to whom the checks were
made payable.
he committee thereupon appointed three Of
Its members to accompany NJ. Thierree to the
couissier firms Office with instructions to ex-
anime the books and make a copy Of the num-
bers OF the checks in question and the amounts
for which they were drawn. Two of the checks
are said to be drawn for 900 900 francs each.
The committee afterward reported that when
they reached the firms Office NJ Thierree re-
fused TO show the checks.
The committee then requested NJ Ricard,
minister of justice. to have the checks seized.
NJ. Picard promised to send the request to the
public prosecutor.
Yesterdays session. especially In view Of the
evidence given by VI. Thierree. was regard ed
as the most important yet held by the commit
tee. The greatest excitement prevailed in the
lobbies and in the law courts during the pro-
ceedings. The public prosecutor has written
to NJ. Brisson, president of the committee, pro-
judicial matters. The magistrates are indig-
nant at the committees assumption of judicial
functions
general feeling of relief prevails among the
recipients of Panama canal cash. the cabinet
crisis postponing the evil day Of their exposure,
perhaps permanently. All kinds of difficulties
are hempering the Panama investigating COM
mittee. and the difficulties are likely to increase
IN number. The members of the committee are
frightened at the hatred they will engender on
all sides and Wholesale designations are talked
of. Still NJ. Brisson is determined to make a
full inquiry. The Reinach family has decided
not to oppose an autopsy in the case of Baron
Reinach.
NJ. Brisson has not yet succeeded in forming
cabinet. He had long conference today
with NJ. Bourgeois, the minister of public in
struction III NJ. Loubet's cabinet, and. it now
appears likely that NJ Bourgeois will be the
leading spirit of the new ministry. One report
has 1t that NJ. Bourgeois will be prime minister
with the cooperation OF NJ. Erisson. who is in
favor of appointing Gen. Ferron minister OF
war and excluding NJ. de Freycinet altogether