The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-02-10
FALL OF THE De LESSEPS
Sympathy for the Father, None
for the Son.
STILL A FEELING OF UNeAsrNess.

The Government win can for Vote OF
Confidence Tomorrow or Monday
The Greatest Excitement when the sent
euces OF the Directors Were Announced
PAms Feb. 1O.-The worst feature of
the situation to-day is that the senten-
cling of the DcLesseps, Cottu, E.fel and
Foutone has failed to dispel the suspic-
ious doubts Of the people as to the hon
estv Of the Governments intentions.
The contrast as between the treatment
accorded NJ Bouvier and that TO which
the directors have been subjected is the
subject of much bitter criticism
While the heavy sentences have vindi-
Gated the administration of Justice they
have failed TO restore confidence in the
political world. The immediate copse-
queuce of the trial is likely to be the ces-
sation Of investigation, while the panicky
feeling will continue.
Last evening the houses of the CON
victed directors were thronged with sym
pathizing visitors and journalists. Ac-
cording to the French law, NJ Eiffel and
NJ. Cottu need not surrender themselves
for several weeks.
The Government is expected to call for
a vote of confidence on Saturday or Mon
day The prevalent opinion is that the
RibOt Cabinet will be permitted to re-
main in Office until the budget shall have
been voted.
The excitement caused by the announce
ment of the sentences in the Parliamon-
tary Hobbies. on the streets, and in the
cafes surpassed anything Of the kind
since the opening of the Panama investi-
CATION
The newspaper booths were besieged by
crowds fighting for the successive special
editions
Newspapers sold like wildfre, and as
fast as read were thrown to the pavement
as the buyers hastened back to secure
copies containing later news.
The complete absence of sympathy
for Charles de Lesseps is especially note
worthy. The popular verdict seems to
be that he has paid the penalty for with
holding the names of Royaiist Deputies
who were implicated in the Panama
bribery.
Expectation that the sentences of the
prisoners in the Panama trial would be
delivered brought eager crowds to the
Court of Appeals building yesterday.
The approaches to the court were filled
to the last niche by noon and five min
utes after the doors were thrown open
the room was packed to suffocatiou.
Presiding Judge Perivier read the de-
csion after having dismissed the prison
ers' plea that they should benefit by the
statute of limitations. Although the
bases of the judgments were given in ex-
ceptionally minute detail, the audience
listened from first to last with oppressive
intensity Of interest.
The charge Of fraudulent proceeding
against Ferdinand de Lesseps, Charles de
Lesseps, Henry Cottu and Marius Fontane
was held to be proved. On this point
the Judgment referred to the company's
methods IN issuing loans, the mendacious
official bulletins, and the persistent puff
fng done by the press at the instance of
the directors These practices, the judg-
| ment says, when not directly originated
or endorsed by the directors, had been
connived at by them.
Ferdinand de Lesseps, aided and
abetted by his son, Charles NJ. Cottu,
and NJ Fontane, had persistently con
cealed the operations of the canal COM
pany, in order that the quotation of
shares might not be affected unfavorably.
The plea of the defense that, despite
these fraudulent acts, the directors were
not amenable because the loan especially
i'm question had not succeeded. the de
cisiou pronounced worthless, in view of
the evidence that the directors had not
SCRUBBED to expose the capital of the com
pany to the risks involved in the fresh is
sues, and even reiterated their promises
to complete the canal with the proceeds of
the loan.
In dealing with Gustavs Eifels breach
of trust. the decision said that NJ EiTel
had received 10000, 900 francs for the
construction Of ten locks and had prom
depce had shown that he had not even