The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-10
THE PANAMATH
DE Lesseps and His Confreres
Sentenced to Prison.
THE JUDGES SUMMING UP,
No Mitigating Circumstances Connected
with the Actions OF tho Directors
Duel Fought by Deputies.

PARIS, Feb. 9-The expectation that the
sentences Of prisoners in the Panama trial
would be delivered this afternoon brought
eager crowds to the court of appeals build
ing, and five minutes after the doors were
thrown open the room was packed to sut-
location. Presiding Judge Perivier read
the decision, after having dismissed the
prisoners plea that they should benefit by
the statute of limitations. The charge of
fraudulent proceeding against Ferdinand
de Lesseps. Charles de Lesseps, Henry
Cottu and Marine Fontane were held to be
proved. On this point the judgment re-
ierred to the companv's methods in issuing
loans, mendacious official bulletins and
the persistent putting done by the press at
the instance of the directors. Fer
dlnand de Lesseps, aided and abetted
by his son Charles, NJ. Cottu and
NJ. Fontane, persistentiy concealed the
operations of the canal company in order
that quotations of shares might not be
effected unfavora5ly. The directors dealt
with the understanding that the syndi-
Gates which, as far as their utility was
concerned, were fictitious and known to be
nctltlors. The expenses necessarily at
tendant upon the issue of loans were grossly
exaggerated by the directors. which also
constituted fraudulent act. The plea OF
the defense, that despite their fraudulent
act the directors were not amenable be-
cause the loan especially in question had
not succeeded. the decision pronounced
worthless in view of the evidence that the
directors had not scruplei to expose the
capital OF the company to the risk in
vowed IN fresh issue and even reiterated
the promises to complete the canal
with the proceeds of the loan. Their
fraudulent intent was the same whether
or not their purpose was carried out. In
tent was proved by the fact that the sums
paid Baron de Reinach, Oberndorfer and
others could not be regarded as having
been subscribed for the purpose to which
they were put.
In dealing with Gustav Eiffel's breach
OF trust. the decision said that Eiffel re-
ceived 12O 900 francs for the construc-
ton Of ten locks, and promised to COM
plete them by 1890. The evidence has
shown that he not even purchased the
specified materials necessary in the con-
struction of locks. He had pretended,
furthermore, to fulfill the obligations he
had undertaken. while in reality he had
simply misappropriated the funds.
In conclusion Judge Perivier read these
sentences:
ment and 1900 francs fne
Charles de Lesseps. five years. imprisonment
and 5000 francs fine.
NJ. Fontane. two years imprisonment and
1906 francs fine.
Henry Cottu, two years imprisonment and
5000 francs fine.
Gustav Eiffel, two years imprisonment and
1000 francs fine.
Immediately after the reading of the
sentence Eiffel left the court room with
his counsel, whom he instructed to appeal
to the high court of cessation. Charles de
Lesseps and Marius Fontane remained
under arrest. Both looked haggard and
disheartened as they departed, with Henry
Cottu, for the office of tha> public prose-
cutor.
The chamber of indictments has pub
lished its reasons for throwing out true
bill found by NJ. FranqueviIle against NJ.
Rouvier. While admitting that NJ. Rou-
vier received Panama check for SO, coo
francs in 1888 from NJ. Vlasto, the chamber
held that no connection was established
between the acceptance of the money and
NJ. Rouvier's vote on the lottery loan bill.
PARIS. Feb. "a duel was fought TODAY
between M. Norbert de Benoit. deputy
from Averyron, and NJ. Marie Emile,
deputy from st. Denis, in consequence of
remarks made by Goussot in the chamber
of deputies yesterday. Benoit proved
himself the better swordsman and sue
ceeded in wounding his opponent.
The sentencing of the prisoners in the
Panama trials caused the utmost conster.
nation. Charles de Lesseps was calm dur
ing the recital of the decision.
but burst into tears when he
heard sentence passed upon his father.
NJ. Fontane was Frustrated. Charles de
Lesseps telegraphed informing Mime. De
Lesseps Of the result of the trial. The
general belief is that sentence will never
be executed against Count de Lessons.
The fines imposed were the utmost legal
penalty. bat they will not pre-
vent actions AT law 10 recover the money
squandered. The only possible appeal
from the decision given today Is one 10 the
court of Cessation for revision of sentence.
The excitement caused BY the announce
ment of the sentences In the parliamentary
lo0bies, on the streets and IN the
cafes surpassed anything of the kind since
the op-ning of the Panama investigation.
The worst feature of the situation i that
tie sentences have failed 10 dlspel
the suspicion AMI doubts % the
people a. % the honesty OF
the governments intentions. The
coatra-i nef aeen tie treatment accorded
KoaFlsr and that O. shtrh tae directors
acre aHleciesl - a eel ictt ~ mach tslter
esflrlsW. Vale the hsavv --u'~ness
haze v.nltrsfs1 tl~ aasa.a. slrallaa af
Iasta1r sees taFr fa.et e. -rst3re rar--
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