The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-03-11
STILL THE PANAMA STORY.
Tremendous Sums Expended for
Putting the Canal Scheme.
SCENE IN THE COURT ROOM.
A Controversy Between FlOquet and
Charles De Lesseps.
The Audience Shouts, .sTen the Truth. -
The Diseord Becomes So Great
That the Court Is Compelled
to Clear the Room.

PARIS, March 1O.-The public appear to
have concluded that the most sensational
part OF the Panama story has been told,
and when the trial opened today the at
tendance was comparatively small.
Charles De Lesseps, Baihut and fellow de-
fendants wore a tired, harassed express
sion, as if they wished the ordeal over.
Balhut was looking especially distressed
and anxious for the end.
Flory, government accountant. who
has been appointed to examine the ac-
counts of the Panama Canal company,
was called upon to testify. He repeated
in the main the figures and statements
already given in published reports, and he
established the fact that the Panama
Canal company had expended los, OOO, OCO
francs IN payment for newspaper adver-
Using and favorable notices in neWspa-
pers and other service connected with the
general putting of the enterprise.
Five hundred and hfty-eight million
francs, being less than half the total
amount subscribed, had been expended
IN actual operations on the canal. The
present assets amounted to 2OO, 900. GOO
francs.
Ex-Deputy Chantagrel testified that
Souligon, civil engineer, came to him with
an offer of 80, 900 francs for his vote on the
lottery loan bill When he declined the
BRIDE Souligon added that Charles De
LesSeps had authorized him to offer any
sum up to 3OO,OOO francs for Chantagrel's
vote. Chantagrel refused to accept 300,-
COO.
Charles Floquet, ex-premier and ex-
president OF the chamber of deputies, was
the next witness. He was nervous and
pale. Before examining him Judge De
Jardin had Charles De LeSseDs repeated his
testimony as to the contribution of 3d.
600 francs made at Floquet's request by
the Panama company to the fund for
campaign against Boulanger in the de-
partment of Nord. Floquet replied:
~ repeat the denial already made by
me before the examining magistrate. De
Lesseps in his testimony has not forgotten
that L did not assume Office until April
q, 1888, and the election took place on
April Is, voting on the lottery loan bill
on the 9th. -
Nevertheless we have proofs that De
Relnach sent out money under your min
istry in 1888, - interpellated Charles De
Lesseps.
81 do not understand what you mean -
replied Floquet.
Loud protests came from the body Of the
court and several persons shouted, sfFeH
the truthi'' The presiding JUDGES call
Tor order only evoked more shouts, and
IN the uproer he threatened to have the
court cleared. Both De Isesseps and Flo 7
quet tried to make statements, but neither
could be heard, and as the din increased,
Judge De Jardin ordered the courtroom
cleared, and amid babel the audience
was driven out By ushers. When order was
restored DeLessepps reiterated clearly and
positively his testimony that Floquet adj
nlitted he talked with De Lesseps con-
corning Reinach's suit. 81 know neither
De Renach nor Cornelius Herr, how
ever" he added, ''and l am amazed that
anybody should Ike an incident out of
this trife. l would be ready again to do
as then did. When / found the Panama
Canal company setting aside large sums
for advertising, naturally asked why
such aims should 60 to fill the exchequer
of the republic.''
Ibid you know Lobbyist Arton?''
~ saw him once or twice. replied
Floquet, FBut had no regular relations
with him. +"
Ciemencau was the next witness and
denied the statement that Cornelius Herr
secured, as testified by De Lesseps, soma
800, GOO francs for the favor of La Justice
toward the canal company. DeFreycinet
and l sent for Charles De Lesseps ne said,
in the interest of the public. With the
same interest at heart / advised him to
avoid a lawsuit with De Reinach.
Asked to confirm or deny the statement
De Lesseps said: 81 don't now, and have
not disputed that DeFreycinet spoke in
the interest OF the public. 1t was in the
same interest that I gave Reinach mil
Iions.D
Henry Brisson has resigned the presi-
dency of the parliamentary commission of
inquiry.
Stephane, clerk for Proper, De Rein
ach s partner, testified confirming his ex-
perience with a list of conspicuous men
Compromised by the Panama scandal. He
received the list from De Relnach, and az
ter De Reinach's death delivered it to
Clemencau.
Deschamps, another witness, made a
sensation while testifying by remarking
incidentally that he had been in constant
communication with Andrieux.
In proof of his statement he supported
/ the Panama canal enterprise from the
beginning. Clemenceau declared that
w hen Ferdinand and Charles De LeSseps
visited him in 1885 they came, not IN the
name of Herr, as Charles De Lesseps now
| contended, but in the name of M. Carnot,
/ who advised them to persuade the depu
ties to back the undertaking. In
this interview Clemenceau promised
unreservedly to support the company.
M. Clemenceau quoted in confederation
OF this the same statement several let
ters written subsequently by Charles De
Lesseps, by NJ. Carnos and others con-
corning NJ. Clemencau's promise to help
the company.
! ssWhat kind of business man would De
Lesseps have then been?' exclaimed Glenn
enceau, s'to go months afterwards as he
says and pay Herr large sum to secure
favor When NJ. De Lesseps was dis
counting bills for NJ. Herr, the latter did
/ not own a single share in La Justice. -
! M. Clemenceau next made a sensation by
turning upon Barbour and accusing him
of having impaired TO Figaro part Of the
/ testimony given before Examining Magis-
trate Franqueville. The lawyers looked
petrifed as Clemenceau shouted this
charge, and they were too much aston
ished to say a word. Judge Des Jardines
demanded an answer to Clemenceau at
once.
che then said tamely: 81 will answer
/ in time; do not care now to come to
blows with witness.
/ Clemenceau while on the stand turned
savagely upon Charles De Lesseps and
challenged him to contradict the state
ments he was making. De Lesseps re-
manned silent, however, except when
I Clemenceau was attacking Barbour,
when he nodded assent. NJ. De Freycinet
charged that De Lesseps was contradicted
several times, although in the main he
admitted the truth of De Lesseps' accu-
Stations.
Emperor Francis Joseph TO Abdicate.
PARIS, March 1O.-Figaro states that it
has received grave news from Buda Pesth.
Tt is in effect that Emperor Francis
- I.