St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-22
Close of the Second Series Of
Panama ConspiratorS'
Trials.
Charles de Lesseps Sentenced
to One More Years I'M
prisonment.
Raihut Gets Five Years and
Is Fined 100000
Francs.
Six Of the Present Defendants
Were Declared Not
Guilty.

PARIS, March 21.-lntereSt In the
Panama trials has waned considerably
during the week, and the assiZe court,
before which the defendants are being
tried, has not been as crowded during
the latter days of the trial as it was on
the opening days. For three or four
days past counsel for the defendants
have argued IN defense of their respect
i've clients, and today nj. Demange, who
appeared for Antonio Proust, presented
his reasons why Proust should not be
convicted under the indictment for cor
ruption in connection with the Panama
affairs found against him. Upon the
conclusion of M. Demange's address.
the cases were given to the jury, who
retired to consider their verdict.
After comparatively short absence
the jury returned to the court room,
which had in the meantime filled up
with crowd of persons, who learned
that the trials were approaching close,
and, after the usual legal preliminaries,
announced that Charles de Lesseps, ac-
cused of corruption Of eX-Minister of
Public Works Baihut to support the
Panama lottery bonds bill. had been
found guilty; that NJ. Baihut, who had
confessed his guilt in open court,
Had Also Been Found Guilty,
ard that M. Blondin, the go-between in
the bribery of M. Baihant, was also
guilty." The other defendants were de-
clared not guilty. These were Marius
Fontane, Panama canal director; NJ.
Sans Leroy, eX-deputy, who was ac-
cused of changing his vote in commit
tee on the Panama bill as the result Of
bribery; Senator Berat. accused of be-
Deputies Dugu du la Faunconnerie,
GobrOn and Antonio PrOust, who were
accused of corruption. The court,
after deliberation, sentenced M
Baihut to Imprisonment for FIVE years,
to pay fine of 100000 francs and to the
loss of civil rights. M. Blondin was
sentenced to Imprisonment for two
years, and Charles de LesSeps to i'm
priSOnment for one year. the year to run
currently with the hve years. sentence
already imposed on him. All three of
the convicted prisoners were condemned
to pay the costs and damages demanded
by the civil parties to the proceedings.
The sentences of Charles de Lesseps
and Blondin were made comparatively
light OIL the ground of eXtenuating cir
cumstances in their cares.
The court also ordered NJ. de Lesseps,
M. Blondin and M. Baihut to pay to
NJ. Monchicourt, liquidator of the Pana-
ma Canal company, 900 francs, the
amount taken from the treasury of the
company and paid to Nj. Baihaut for his !
influence III favor of the lottery loan
bill. Charles de LesSeps
Received His Sentence Calmly,
although the strain of the trial has rem
dered him exceedingly haggard and
nervous When he rose, before the retire
ment Of the jury, to reatfirm his inno-
cence, he spoke with difficulty, and oc-
casionally hesitated for almost minute
to compose his feelings. He told the
jury, with apparent earnestness, that
he had always tried to do his duty as a
director of the company, and that where
he had erred in his Judgment he had at
the time supposed that he was acting
for the best interests Of the
canal and the state. He repeated
briefly his charges of extortion
against NJ. Baihut and alluded with
genuine emotion to the troubles which
had oVertaken his father. LII his teStl-
mony he had told the truth and his
conscience was clear of self-reproach.
Although visibly shaken by his feelings
several times during his speech to the
jury, the calmness which he regained
toward the close lasted through the
reading of the verdict, the delivering of
his sentence and his return to his cell.
When his wife visited him i'll his cell
shortly afterwards he broke down and
wept like child.
NJ. Bahut talked for an hour in his
cell with his wife and two daughters.
Despite the hopelessness of his case, he
evidently was unprepared to bear the
full weight Of his sentence, for during
the interview with his family he sobbed
repeatedly and sObbed their forgiveness
for the disgrace that he had brought
upon them. NJ. BlondIn was hardly
less affected when he babe goodbye to
his son and daughter.