Los Angeles herald., 1893-01-11

questions intended to draw ont the ad.
MISSIONS that the feasibility of the
canal plan was doubted by the directors
before the last loans were applied for.
DE Lesseps replied that NJ. Roueseau a
competent engineer who was examiner
OF the works on the isthmus in 1884.
expressed the conviction that the canal
could be completed, provided certain
notifications Of the original plan " ere
| made.
"But Boyer and Jacquet, both compe-
tent engineers, declared that a canal
with locks would cost from l 200. 600 600
to l 300, ,0O0, 900 francs" !" interpolated the
presiding judge.
Our counseling committee of works."
replied M. de Leeeeps, "gave an esti-
mate of 600,000,0 900 francs for the COM
pletion of the work, and these were con.
sequently the only figures we could pub
lieh."
The court then adjourned.
HOW THE BANKERS WERE BRIBED.
After recess the presiding judge ques-
toned De Lesseps as to the bogus petit
tions presented to the chamber and the
enormous payments made by the COM
pany to the syndicstes which assisted
in floating the loans. De Lesseps an
Hwered:
"Much as l regretted it, hard neces-
sity compelled US to resort to euch
means to ensure the success OF our
plans. Millions were given to Oben-
doeffer, the banker, who received
1000. 600 francs for giving the company
the idea OF the lottery loan in pay
ment for his suggestion of SIM
MI nj hol
humor such great banker and
1 even had difficulty in limiting the
sum as narrowly as l did. Like all
great bankers Baron de Reinach was
keen after profit. He was exceptional,
however, in his Willingness to risk his
capital for the purpose of realizing the
plan OF the canal. He was the man
who formed the first Societe Civile with
his own capital, assisted by the name of
M. Bonaparte Wyse. When l gave
Baron de Reinach money l told him to
take out of it whatever remuneration he
chose"
This admission evoked loud murmurs
of surprise and disapproval, and the
presiding judge said: "You handed
him millions, with permission to put as
much as he wanted in his own pocket ?''
Exactly; he first demanded 15 O0O,-
600, then $4,000 900 francs. I refused
to grant bis excessive demands and per-
sisted in my refusal, deepite his re-
peated threats"
BAIHUT's BRIBE.
De Lesseps was asked to explain what
became of the 275 900 francs in bonds.
payable to bearer, which were not &C.
counted for in the company's books.
He evaded the question by referring to
the bonds au porteur as the company's
secret service funds.
When pressed by council he referred
to the payment of some 800, 900 francs to
Cornelius Herr, with whom the company
could not possibly afford to fall out.
After third question as to the recipi-
ent of the 275,000 francs, he said, after
a painful silence: when the lottery
bill was laid on the table, BAihut asked
for 1,000,0 900 francs, to be paid him in
installments between the introduction
and the adoption OF the bill. OF this
sum 275,00O francs was paid to Baihut.
Then the bill was Withdrawn and moth
ing more was paid him.
De LesseHs paused moment after
giving this damaging evidence against
the ex minister of public works. No
OONy oPOEo AtpA ntAAiCA. l4C fOOhCQ LA
edly at the judges and added: s'Only
when the .knife was put TO my throat,
did pay this money. was like man
giving up his watch to highwayman."
At the end OF his testimony, the
court adjourned and the prisoners were
removed to the conciergerie.
PROSECUTIONS TO BE STOPPED.
1t is reported this evening that the
examining magistrate has decided, on
the ground of insufficient evidence, not
to prosecute Deputies Rouvier, Roache,
Arene, Proust and Duque de la Fancon-
merle and Senators Gevy, Thevenet,
Deves, Renault and Reral. The pro-
ceedings against all except the Panama
directors Sans LIE Roy and Baihut, it ia
expected, will be stopped
In the senate today, Chairman Thery
made violent attack upon the religious
policy of the government. His speech
aroused vigorous protests from the gov
erDment supporters. NJ. Leroyer was
reelected president of the senate.
GOOD nTDTNGS TT TRUE