Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-13
ThE FRENCH SCANDAL.
Trial OF the Panama Defendants Re-
sumed-DIore Interesting Testimony.


GBy Anglo-American cable to the Dispatch.I
PARIS, January 12.-The courtroom was
thronged again to-day at the resumption
of the trial OF the Panama defendants. Nj.
Rossignot, accountant for the Panama
company, was expected as a witness,
President PereivIer relnarklng that the
accounts must have been subjected 70 a re-
casting before being submitted to expert
examination.
NJ. Mouchicourt. liquidator for the
Panama Canal Company, deposed that
Ferdinand de Lesseps had disregarded all
Mornings and insisted on proceeding with
the Panama enterprise regardless OF cost.
The expenses. VI. Monchicourt stated,
were excessive throughout.
MonchicOurt added that Baron de
Reinach and Levy and Cremios were
deputed 10 pay for certain support to be
given TO the company in It's schemes, but
IT was certain that Reinach retained the
greater part of the funds entrusted TO him
for this purpose.
President Pereivier turned to Charles de
Lesseps and reproached HIM severely Tor
having permitted this.
Engineer ROssedux next describes his
method of inspecting the canal, on which
he had based the famous report which was
in part suppressed. He also stated that
Ferdinand de Lesseps had blind faith IN
his own good fortune and had supreme in
huence and direction in the management
of the work on the canal in all Its
branches.
THE JUDGE SUSPICIOUS.
Judge Periuer received with evident
suspicion some of NJ. Rossignot's state
ments. When RosslgnOt said that NJ.
Eifel's books were we'll kept Judge Peri
vier interposed. But Eifers accounts
were manipulated. Certain items were
transferred to the working column with
view TO minimize the total profits"
NJ. ROssignot began TO explain his state
ment, but Judge Perivier cut him short
with the admonltlon: "Contne yourself
TO o plain statement of facts instead OF
arguing the matter
The presiding Judge was still more Sc
we're IN his treatment of Charles de Les
seps. NJ. Monchicourt had stated that
Baron de Reinach sucked the blood of the
company by obtaining enormous sums
with which 10 bribe senators and deputies
and other influential men. You had no
confidence in his morality?" asked Judge
Perivier. No, but he was very clever"
replied Monchicourt.
THE JUDGE SEVERE.
Turning to Charles de Lesseps. Judge
Perivier inquired sharply:
And how did you understand that
Baron Reinach used these enormous
sums?" :,
De Lesseps. land, without doubt, sena-
tors. deputies. and MINISTERS. A number
of persons, however. offered assistance to
Baron de Reinach and NJ. Cremieux. who
were first charged with the distribution Of
the money"
That is, you gave them the dirty job
which you preferred not to do yourself:
but provided them with the the means OF
DOING
Charles de Lesseps WINGED and looked
down, but made no reply.
FIRST WORD FoR DE LEssEPs.
The first word spoken at the trial in his
favor came from Sir John Stokes, Great
Britain's representative in the Suez Canal
RoaTd. who testified later. Sir John said
he regarded Charles de Lesseps a.
loyal and upright and incapable of dis
honest act.
Engineer Dingler estimated that the
cutting of the Panama canal could no
have been done for less than 100000
francs, or in fewer than fifteen or twenty
years.
Search was made this afternoon in th.
Office of NJ. Proper, formerly partner q
Baron Reinach, and 1t is reported tina;
papers concerning the lobbying done b.
the notorious intermediary, NJ. Arton, wen
seized there.
THE GOVERNMENT sUsr AIMED.
In the Chamber of Deputies to-day N
Hubbard, Radical deputy for Seine-ei
Oise. offered an Interpolation. asking tts |
government 20 fix date for the next ele- |
tions and requesting that steps be takei !
to bring the elections about as soon as po'
sible.
NJ. Rlbot firmly and positively declinel
10 tx any date for the elections and de
manded the simple order OF the day.
The government was sustained, and n,
order of the day adopted by vote OF 81 |
10 20j.
THE CABINET COMPLETE.
PARIS, January i2.-yice-Admiral Reinlf \
has accepted the Office OF Minister OF Nj,
rine. This completes the Cabinet. D.
Reinier has been in command at Toulon.
SOME PANAMA FIGURES.
LONDON, January 12.-The Times corr.
spopdent in Paris says; NJ. Flory, at Wee
nesday's examination, estimated the ~
mama Canal Company's receipts st I ,iS4s
0O0. 600 francs. of which 900 wea
swallowed up by expenses of the manag. |
ment, 249.O00. 900 by interest on the coz
pons. and go. .ooo.o 600 BY canal opssaaoni !