Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-03-22
MUST co TO PRISON
Three More Panama S~indlers
Convicted and Sentenced.
De LEssEPs BADLY SCoTCnED
The jury Found Him. Biondin and
Baihaut Gails The Other. Es-
cxnr--Ihe Sentences.

PARIS. March 2l.--lnterest in the Pan
anna trials has waned considerable dur
ing the week. and the assize court. be
fore which the defendants are being
tried. has not been as crowded during
the latter days a. IL was on the opening
days. For three or four days past coun-
sci for the defendants have argued Ia
defense of their respective clients. and
today VI. Demange. who appeared for
Antonin Proust. presented his reasons
why Proust should not be convicted
under the indictment FOR corruption in
connection with the Panama affairs
found against him. He made an able
presentation of his case. endeayoring 10
show the jury that Proust's actions
showed no guilt on his part. Upon the
conclusion Of NJ. Demange's address. the
cases were given to the jury. who retired
10 consider their verdict.
Verdict or the Jury.
After comparatively short absence.
the jury returned 10 the court room.
which had in the meantime filed up
with crowd Of persons who learned
that the trials were approaching close,
and after the usual legal preliminaries.
announced that Charles deLesseps.
accused Of corrupting Minister of
Public Works Baihaut TO sup
port the Panama lottery bonds
bill. had been found guilty; that
NJ. Baihauf. who had confessed his guilt
in open court. had also been found
guilty and that NJ. Blondin. the go-be
tween in the bribery of NJ. Baihaut. was
also guilty. The other defendants were
declared not guilty. These were Marius
Fontaine. Panama canal director. Nj.
Franz Leroy. ex-deputy. who was ac-
cused OF changing his vote in the com
miftce on the Panama bill as the result
Of bribery; Senator Beral. accused Of
being bribed 10y Baron Reinach. and
Deputies Dugunde la Fauconnerie.
Gobron and Antonin Proust. who were
accused Of corruption.
Sentenced by the Court
The ecourt. after deliberation. sentenced
NJ. Baihaut to imprisonment for five
years. To pay fine Of 1900 francs and
TO the loss Of civil rights.
Nj. Blondin was sentenced TO impris-
onment for two years and DE Lesseps 10
imprisonment FOR one year, the year 10
run currently with the five years
sentence already imposed on him. All
three OF the convicted prisoners were
condemned 10 pay the costs and dam
ages demanded by the civil parties to
the proceedings.
The sentences of De Leeseps and
Blondin were made comparatively light
on the ground of extcnuating circum-
stances i'm their cases.
PARIS. March 2l.-The court also or
dered NJ deI.esseps. NJ. Blondin. and NJ.
Baihaut 10 pay To NJ. Monchicourt,
liauidator Of the Panama company.
:s75. 600 francs. the amount taken from
the treasury of the company and paid
10 NJ. Baihaut for his influence ~ the
lottery loan bill.
Charles deIesseps received his sen
tencc calmly, although the strain of
the trial has rendered him exceedingly
haggard and nervous. When he rose
before the retirement ~ the judge 81 re-
affirm his innocence. he spoke with
difficulty and occasionally hcsitated for
almost minute Ia compose his
feelings When his wife visited him
in his cell. shortly afterward.
he broke down and wept like child.
NJ. Baihaut talked for an hour in his
cell with his wife and two daughters.
Despite the hopelessness 81 his case he
evidently was unprepared 10 bear the
full weight ~ his sentence. for during
the interview with his family he sobbed
repeatedly and begged their forgiveness
for the Disgrace he had brought upon
them. NJ Hlondin was hardly less AZ
fected when he bade goodhy TO his son
and daughicr.