The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-14
To Hear the Testimony in the Case
Of the Panama Bood-
lerS.
Tho Prisoners In Better Spirits
Thinking They Had Involved
the Cabinet.
But the Members Come Through til,
Ordeal With Clean skirts-sensa-
tional Scenes in Court.

| IARts' Mafch la-Ihe approaches to
palais do justice were thronged to-day by
excited crowds. There has not been suoh
excitement since tho beginning of the
Panama scandal. The crowds are com.
posed of all GLASSES, from the militant
socialist to the wealthy merchant and finnn-
cler. There were ominous murmu,s. angry
tnik and menacinR frowns on the faces of
the lower classes in the throng that re-.
minded one of the days of tho commune.
The court room was thronged with as many
as could obtain admittnnce. The prisoners
themselves seemed revived by the new in
terest which their case had awakened.
Some thought the features of Charles De-
llesseps bore look Of triumph. while even
Bnihut looked less crushed than at any
time previous since his pitiful confession.
As soon as court opened the presiding
judge, Judge Des Jardins. ordered Bour-
geois. the late minister of justice. to be
summoned to testify at some time during
the day. Deputy Fernand Meee. of Puy dc
Dome. who belongs, according to his own
statement, to the party of "appeal to the
people," testified to the accuracy OF the
statement that Yves Guyot was the source
of the report that M. Constans had COM
municated to President Cannot. in council
at Elysee. a list of deputies implicated in
the alleged Panama briberies. Count
Caferolli, tho monarohisb deputy for Aise.
gave similar Testimony, which was co1rob-
Grated by the radical deputy. La Baroushs.
Advocate La Grasse demanded that Con-
| stRns be summoned. This was objected to-
Derutv Sainte Martin. the union conserv-
! ative, who has been member Of the COM
mittee on application of the Panama Canal
company for leave to issue lottery bonds,
testified that he did not see san-Leroy, one
OF the defendants accused of changing his
vote in the committee rs the result Of a
bribs, leave the committee room Just be-
fore the critical division on the bill. Sainte
Mnrtin said he had been told that San
Leroy went out to SOC Arton and afterwards
San-Leroy's opposition to the bill ceased.
Market, member of that committee. testi-
fad that he did not see San Leroy leav. the
room on the occasion in question. Tho
witness remembered that there was an
alteration over tho vote which Sen-Leroy
gave in support OF the bill. and that San
Leroy told the committee he was bound to
| comply with the wish OF his constituents.
M. Goliard testified to- day that he knew
the secretary of Henri Cottu, and il was at
the initiative of the secretary that he saw
Police Commissary Nicoll with view to
etfecting an arrangement between the gov
eAhtnehs anu IahatHa directors. Inls IN
teryiew led to the discussions which took
nlace between Madame Cottu and M.
Soinoury. chief detective of the depart
ment. Witness said he acted entirely on
his own responsibility in bringing nbout
the interviews.
M. Bourgeois, late minister Of Justice,
next took the stand. Ho spoke with firm
not to reserve anything that could explain
his position toward the Panama case and
defendants. He emphatioally repudiated
all lnsinuations contained in the evidence
Of Madame Cottu. He denied having au-
thorized anybody to act i'll his behalf. He
said he only permitted Madame Cottu to
see her husband from motives of humanity.
There wes brief passage between Burgeois
and M. Barbour, which ended with the lat
ter saying nobody here doubted the sinoer-
lty of Madame Cottu's evidence.
Charles Detlssseps here arose and in a
bold manner. in tones that rang through
the coutt room. said: IN. Bourgeois at.
tackled me little while ago. Well, mon
hieur, here am face TO fhoe with you.
What havo you to say to me?' DeLesseps
folded his arms and looked dehantly at
Bourgeois With violent uproar tho au-
dience greeted this sudden ebulition on
the part of the leading defendant whose
within the rules OF orderly procedure.
Judge DesJardins indignatly spoke up:
II cannot allow these dialogues. Tho law
mus. be recognized by all." The audience
calmed down and Bourgeois proceeded to
reply in deliberate language to M. Barboux
lIo said the affair il the result of tho
maueuv;es the authors of which he does
not know. With this NJ. Bourgeois retired
from the witness stand and Madame Cottu
was recalled. Sho declared that Goliard
told her he would go and SEQ Bourgeois in
regard to he:. NJ. Go!iard followed
Madame Cottu on the stand md
confirmed her statement to the effect
thas he had told her he
would see Bourgeois, but added: Nobody
authorized .ue to say ao." M. Bourgeois
nroso and exclaimed: "If any one knows
that | acted contrary to the dictates OF
honor let him speak," At these words the
uproar in the audience was renewed. many
taking part with Bourgeois and others with
his aCcuaets.
When the hearing was resumed Soinoury
was recalled. He made II long statement
to the effect that neither Bourgeois nor any
other minister was in any way responsible
for his interview with Madame Cottu. He
himself originated tho idea Of n confe gence
with her. The charges that he threatened
Madame Cottu or promised her any favog
in return for infot nation she might give
wete utterly false.
UPROAR IN THE DEPUTIES.
I{ut In the End Tho GoycrnmcnN Il Sus.