St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-11-26
Formal Opening Of the Case
Against the Panama Ca
nal Officials.
The Real Trial Of the Case
Will Begin the 10Th Of
January.
First Session Of the Commit
tee to Inquire Into De
Lahaye's Charges.
Minister Phelps Makes a Bad
Break in His Thanksgiv-
ing Talk.

PARIS, Nov. 25.-Count Ferdinand de
Lesseps was not present at the begin
ming of the criminal prosecution today
OF himself and his associates in the
Panama canal enterprise. The court
room was thronged by spectators. in
Guiding many from the better class,
anxious to see the defendants, and
suppoSing that possibly the great
de Lesseps might be there. Count
Ferdinand de Lesseps presidenD
NJ. Charles De Lesseps, vice president;
M. Marius Fontane and Baron Cottu,
directors; and Nj. Eiffel, engineer. are
included in the prosecution. The others
were present. 1t was a purely formal
opening. President E. p. Perivier fixed
the trial of the case for the 10th of Jan
uary. NJ. Ricard, minister Of justice, who
has been the relentless advocate of the
prosecution of the Panama officials,
caused a sensation today at the session
of the legislative committee of inquiry
by admitting that. although the late
Baron Reinach had really been under
prosecution at the time of his death. no
seals had been placed upon his papers
to preserve them as evidence in regard
to Panama transactions.
Premier LOubel, who was also preSe nt
agreed with M. Ricard in stating that
the government was opposed to the
proposition of Deputy Pourquery de
B0iSSery to beStOw special powers upon
the commission. Nj. Ricard added that
the prOcureur general had ordered
supply OF all documents intended for
use at the trial of the accused Panama
canal officials.
DE Laliaye Testifies.
Deputy Jules de Lahaye. who made
the sensational charges which created
scene in the chamber OF deputies. was
examined by the committee. Deputy
Pelletan, editor-in-chef of Justice,
informed the correspondent of The
international Telegram company that
DeLahaye had utterly failed to sustain
his charges, and that his accusations
were utterly lacking in material proof.
DeLahaye had been asked whether he
was able to supply moral proofs of
his charges against officials and depu-
ties. He refused to do SO, but at the
close OF his examination rendered the
names of several banks, where, he said.
proofs could be found. Pelican stated
that there was a consensus of opinion
in the committee that M. DeLahaye's
evidence was bus repetition of his
speech in the chamber of deputies.
nj. Paplliaud, reporter for the Libre
Parole. examined in regard to the accu
sation that Deputy Proust had been
guilty of corruption. nj. Pappillaud
said that NJ. Dumont, editor of Libre
Parole, was the only man able to give
the facts i'll regard to Proust. Proust,
who was present at the hearing,
insisted that Drumont be made to tes-
tify. Proust vehemently asserted his
Innocence, and asked the commission to
telegraph to all the bankers and brokers
of Mort, which Proust represents, to
ascertain and prove that he had never
received check through any of them.
The commission decided. after consulta-
ton, to hear what Nj. Drumont, of Libre
Parole, had to say.