The record-union., 1893-03-14
Special to the REcoRp-Ux1ox.

! ''PS'idi 70 lile 1lECORD-t MON.
PARIS, March 13.-A tremendous crowd
gathered at the Chamber of Deputies to-
day anticipating a Cabinet crisis. The
Boulangist and Royalist attack upon the
Government was delayed until the re-
turn OF y. Bourgeois, ex-Minister of
Justice, from the court AS soon as he
appeared Armand Despres, Republican
Deputy for the Seine, made and interpret
Iatlon, OF which he had already given no.
tlce concerning the Governments
knowledge of the Soinoury interview
with Madame Cottu. Godfrey Caivag-
nae, Republican, also spoke in support of
the Interpolation.
Then M. Bourgeois, pale, although self.
possessed. walked to the Speakers tri-
bune. He began huskily, but quickly
clearing his thloat, shouted: "Those
charges are absolutely false. 1 have been
before the court and answered every
thing. l now have the right to hold up
my head. There is nobody to gainsay
L." After the applause and cheers sub
sided, Bourgeois repeated the statement
| he made in court.
! NJ. Ribot said Bourgeois had vindi-
Gated his honor. He himself would now
vindicate the honor of the Government.
If the story told by Madame Cottu were
not false it was distorted. Loubet had
told the Premier that Soinoury had been
requested by an intermediary to grant an
interview to Madame Cottu ''Soinoury
understood that Madame Cottu wished
merely to ask that she might be allowed
TO see her husband. Loubet authorized
Soinoury to receive her, supposing she
had no other business than arranging to
visit Cottu. Recently Madame Cottu re-
| quested that she be allowed to have an
interview with the Prefect of Police. Was
| this another subterfuge? Did this
woman wish to lay trap for the Prefect
aIso?"
The storm of protestations OF "Shame''
and "Falsehood" from Boulangists and
Royalists rendered inaudible the Premi-
er's next words. Boulangist Deputy
Millevoye, shaking his fist at Ribot, ex-
claimed, ''Is that French honor? [ re-
fuse to listen to such calumuies against
woman. Your language is a disgrace to
the French tribune. Shame on YOUR
self"
Ribot waited patiently until the dis
order passed, and then said he felt satis-
fed that the Government was remiss in
no duty. After Il lengthy and heated de-
bate Gustav Hiyet, Republican, moved
that the Chamber, in its determination to
| let justice take its course and bring the
irwin to light, approve the declaration of
the Ministry. This motion was accepted
| by Ribot, and passed-2g7 to 22S.
PANAMA TRIAL.
| PANS Anrcb 4 - a.
Palais de Justice were thronged to-day
by excited crowds. There has not been
such excitement since the beginning of
the Panama scandal. The crowds were
composed Of all classes, from the militant
socialist to the wealthy merchant and
financier. The ominous murmur, angry
talk and menacing frown on the faces of
the lower classes in the throng reminded
one OF the days preceding the commune,
The courtroom was thronged with as
many as could obtain admittance The
prisoners seemed to be themselves re-
vived by the new interest which their
case has awakened.
Some thought that the features of
Charles do Lesseps bore look of tri-
umph, while even Baihut looked less
crushed than at any time since his pitiful
confession.
AS soon as the court opened Presiding
Judge Desjardins ordered that Bourgeois,
the late Minister ofJustice, be summoned
to testify some time during the day.
NJ. Goliard testified to-day that he
knew the Secretary of Henri Cottu, and
it was at the initiative of the Secretary
that ne saw Police Commissioners Nicou
with view eltecting the arrangement be-
tween the Government and the Panama
| Directory. This interview led to the dis
cussion which took place between
| Madame Cottu and NJ. Souinry, Chief
| Detective of the department. Witness
said he acted entirely on his own respon-
| sibility in bringing about the interviews.
| NJ. Bourgeois, late Minister of Justice,
next took the stand. He spoke with
| tirmness and energy, and showed a dis
/ position not to receive anything that
could explain his position toward the
Panama case and defendants. He en-
/ phatically repudiated all insinuations
contained in the evidence of madame
Cottu. lie denied having authorized
anybody to act in his behalf. lie said he
only permitted Madame Cottu to see her
/
! There was a brief passage between
Bourgeois and NJ. Barboux. which ended
with the latter saying: Nobody hero
doubted the sincerity of Madame Cottu's
evidence"
/ Charles De Lesseps here arose, and in
/ bold manner, in tones that rang through
the room, said: M. Bourgeois attacked
me a little while ago. Well, Monsieur,
here l am face to face with you. What
/ have you to say to me?"
/ DE Lesseps folded his arms and looked
defantIy at Bourgeois, while the violent
uproar of the audience greeted this sud-
den ebullition on the part of the leading
defendant, whose conduct up to this time
had been at least within the rules of
orderly procedure. Judge Desjardins
indignantly spoke up. 81 can not" he
said, ''allow these dialogues. The law
must be recognized by all"
The audience Gained down, and Bour-
geous proceeded to reply in deliberate
/ language to Barboux. He said the affair
! is the result OF maneuver, the authors
| of which he does not know.
! With this NJ. Bourgeois retired from
| the witness stand, and Madame Cottu
was recalled. She declared that Goliard
told her he would go and see Bourgeois
in regard to her.