The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-09
PANAMA TRIAL BEGINS.
NOTED FRESCHMEN ARRATGTED
ON CHARGES OF CORRUPTION.
De Lesseps Attempts to Fix the WI ole
Blame Upon the French Government.
A scene In the Court room.

tor Beral, ex-Deputy Gobron and ".
Blondin. NJ. Charles &c Lesseps. Marius
Fohtane. ex-Minister Baihut and Sans
Leroy. on charges OF corruption in con-
nection with the Panama lottery bills.
Among the spectators were NJ. Clcmen-
ceau. Eugene Spuller aad NJ. Floquet. the
former president of the Chamber OF Dep
uties. as we'll as several members OF the
committee of inquiry Of the Chamber of
Deputies, delegated to watch the trial.
Sixty witnesses had been summoned.
Charles de Lesseps Marius FOntane and
Baihut, ex-minister Of public works had
been brought into court under guard.
Baihut looked worn and depressed, and
the others had an air of embarrassment
and distress.
The Indictment sets forth that note
had been found among the papers Of
Charles de Lesseps showing that NJ. Bal
hut asked for one million francs for in
PRODUCING the Panama bill In the cham
bers. The measure was laid on the table
IN the Chambe.' Of Deputies on June hth,
and on the same day Charles de Lesseps
issued two cash vouchers. the amount OF
which NJ Fonane received on the fol-
lowing day. ON reieving the money
Fontane Immediately handed 10000 francs
to Blondin, who took the money to Bal
hut at the Senate chamber.
on June 2lst Blondin paid Baihut a
further sum OF 12J,O0O francs. NJ Bal
hut. after at first denying these facts,
finally admitted them, and also admitted
that he had applied sums OF l2.VO and
500 francs 10 the purchase Of Italian
rentes.
The indictment concludes by detailing
the various charges against Fontane and
Charles De Lesseps who were accused
OF bribng Baihut and also OF having in
duced NJ. Arton and the late Baron Rel
mach 10 corrupt Senators and Deputies.
Baihut is accused of having received
money for performing an act I'm the eN-
ecution OF his duty, regarding which he
was not entitled 10 payment NJ. Blon-
din is charged with being a party TO the
corruption OF Baihut. NJ ArtOn. who
is not under arrest Is included I'm the
indictment, on the charge OF corrupting
legislators. and Deputy Sans Leroy is
charged like Baihut with having received
money to influence his action as a public
official.
Charles De Lesseps. in reply to ques-
tions Of Judge Desjardlns. recounted his
experience in endeavoring 10 induce the
Government 10 introduce in the chambers
a bill authorizing the issue OF lottery
bonds. Herr had made direct demands
for money, and De Lesseps had seen
evidence that Herr was too powerful TO
be denied.
1--WE could not make an enemy Of the
sleeping partner I'm La Justice. Clemen-
ceaus paper" said De Lesseps Expe-
rience In previous issues Of lottery bonds
had taught that. I'VE were obliged 70
protect ourselves. or be the victims Of
all sorts Of plotters. The subscriptions
came 10 nothing Then hnanciers showed
us how to resort TO those methods which
are now matters Of general knowledge.
They said: Unless you pay money 20 all
the banks under the influence Of Girardin,
you will have all the newspapers I'm Paris
against you We still held out against
such methods The newspapers attacked
us. and we were finally driven to pay
out enormous sums right and left. We
were forced 10 avail ourselves Of this
sort OF assistance. and this mode Of pro-
cedure was encouraged by the Govern
ment."
Leave the Government alone" called
Judge DesjaIdns sharply. Slight ap-
plause and a storm OF protests from the
audience greeted this admoniton. Judge
Desjardins tried to speak again. but was
interrupted with cries Of why not the
Governments" "Give us the TRUTH
shame upon such Justicoi
~
parations to clear the courtroom.
Demand was made on behalf Of Minis
ter Baihut by Blondin. and after one
million francs had been paid BlOndin,
Baihut introduced the bill. The story
OF Reinach's demands was like preced-
Ing ones, except that they had been re
sisted until NJ. De Freycinet mt for DE
Lesseps and advised that lie pacdte
Reinach. Flouquet and Clemenceau also
NJ. Tf4
with Relnach. They were very polite
about the matter" said De Lesseps.
they did not take me by the nape OF
the neck, but they all said about the same
Thing as 10 the necessity Of granting
Reinach's demands"
De Lesseps denied that he knew that
any OF the money paid out by him 10
Reinach was 20 be used in bril- Ing the
officials whose names were found on
the stubs Of the Proper checks. Rein
ach, he said. used the Panama money
TO pay his personal debts Questioned as
10 his relations with Arton, the lobbyist,
De Lesseps said:
II had no direct deaig with the man.
He came to me with Reinach as represen-
tatives Of NJ. Floquet. Both said that the
camI aign in the Nord against General
BoUlanger was very active ana that
could render NJ F1OQuet a great service
which he would indicate. / replied that
Floquet himself must make the request.
Next day Arton told me that Floquet
wished 10 see me | raet FlOquet an
hour later and he repeated 10 me less
hluntly what Arton had already said for
him. II could not make the sacrifice.
he said. his feelings toward the company
would not be changed, but ne was anX-
ious 10 have me help him In the matter
as far as ! could do so. | thought II
would not be prudent 10 refuse 10 90
such an honorable gentleman a service
Uaughter) When the time Tor settle
ment came Arton brought from Floquet
a request in reference TO payments 10
newspapers. AS / did not wish 70 give
more than the 800 900 francs. however. l
declined 10 do the business in such way
7 told Arton that | would send the bonds.
marked in the corner with the letter f,
and when the total should reach 10000
francs expenditures on this account must
cease" G.oud and prolonged laughter)
.Was all this before the voting y the
bill?" asked Judge Desjardins.
Certainly" replied De Lesseps.
De Lessons bearing on the stand to-
dav was remarkably different from his
bearing during the 'ecent trial Tn N lie
IMPRESSED the audience and the court as
having been 4 mere agent for his father
and having been overwei GIFTED with re-
sponslbilities beyond his ability. To-day
he was apparently frank and was pluclxy
even TO the point of insolence in his con-
duct toward the court. He showed that
he was wary and hard-headed. and often
turned of with remarkable skill points
made against him. He spoke In a fami-
liar tone, as II 10 impress the jury In his