The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-14


the Palais do Justice are thronged to-
day by excited crowds. There has not
been such excitement in Paris since the
beginning Of the Panama scandal.
The crowds are composed of all
classes, from the militant socialist to
the wealthy merchant and Hnancier, and
there was the ominous murmur OF
angry talk.
There was meuacipg frown on the
faces Of the lower classes IN the throng
that reminded one of the days preceding
the Commune.
The court room was thronged with as
many as could obtain admittance. The
prisoners seemed themselves revived by
the interest which their case had
awakened, and some thought that the
features Of De Lesseps bore look of
triumph, while even Baihut looked less
crushed than at any time previous since
his pitiful confession.
Goliard testified that he knew the
secretary OF Cottu. and it was at the
initiative of the secretary that he saw
Police Commissioner Nicolle, with
view OF efIecting an arrangement be-
tween the government and the Panama
| directors. This interview led to dis
cussions which took place between
Madame Cottu and Soinoury, chief of
the detective department. Witness said
that he acted entirely on his own re-
| sponsibility in bringing about tho inter
| view.
M. Bourgeois, late minister of Jus
tice, then took the stand amid murmurs
of excitement on the part of the audi
ence. Bourgeois spoke with frmness
and energy and showed disposition
not to reserve anything that could OK
| plain his position toward the Panama
| case and the defendants. He emrhat
ically repudiated all insinuations con
tanned III the evidence of Madame
Cottu. He denied having authorized
| anybody TO act in his behalf. He said
he had only permitted Madame Cottu
| to see her husband from motives of hu-
manity.
81 never heard anything" exclaimed
Bourgeois. ''of interviews between
Nine. Cottu and Soinoury until the
statements were made in court. Insin.
uations" cried Bourgeois earnestly,
ARE simply infamous falsehoods. 1
never gave any order calculated to in
duce officers of justice to shirk thor
duty or to DO anything contrary to law. "
| Bourgeois bold stand won loud ap.
plause. He said the whole affair was
the result of manmuvre, tho author of
which he did not know.
Madame Cottu WAS recalled and de-
clared that Goliard had told her he
would 60 and see Bourgeois in regard to
her. Goliard followed Nine Cottu on
the stand, and confirmed her statement
to the effect that no had told her he
would see Bourgeois, but, he added
Nobody authorized me to say So"
| bourgeois arose and exclaimed: "If
anyone knows that l acted contrary to
tho dictates of honor let him speak"
| At these words tho uproar in the audi .
ence was renewed. many taking part
with Bourgeois and others with his &C
cuscrs. Judge Desjardins concluded
that tho most effective way to allay the
o1citemen1 was to suspend the hearing
1t took some time, however, for the ex-
element to subside. When tho hearing
was resumed Soinoury was recalled He
made long statement TO the effect til a t
neither B purgeois nor any other miDis-
ter was in any way responsible for his
Interview with Mime. Cottu.
He himself had origina tod the idea Of
the conference with her and had ar
ranged the meeting without communi-
eating with his Supporters. For profess
ional reasons, he had deemed ir best to
keep the matter secret He believed
that he was only doing his duty in try
ing to get to tho centre OF the scandal.
The charges that he had threatened
Nine. Cottu or had promised her any
favor in return for information which
she might give him were utterly false.
The chamber OF deputies to-day by a
vote of 297 to 2:S has declared its con-
hdence in and voted to support the gov
ernment. The vote was taken after an
exciting debate in which Ribot, tho
premier, and Bourgeois, late minister
OF justice, took leading part as speak
ers in defence OF the course pursued by
tho government in reference to the
| prosecution Of tho Panama canal de-
| PENDANTS.
Shooting In Court.