Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-01-20
There Appears to be a Plot
for the Presidents
Downfall.
The Friends of Ex-Minister
Balhaut Seem to be at
Work.
Much Important Testimony
Given Ill the Panama
Canal Trial.

PARIS, Jan. 13.-To-day the gravest
rumors are afioat in regard to Presi-
dent Carnot. Several of the deputies
who have been most earnest in push
ing the Panama investigation make no
secret of declaring that they will not
rest until Carnot is forced to resign
The strength of the President de-
ponds upon the cred;bility of Baihaut,
the ex-Mlnister of Public Works, and
Carnot's friends claim that no faith
whatever should be attached to Bal
haut's disclosures; that he is malig-
nant against Carnot for not having
protected him from prosecution and
that he wishes to drag the President
down with him.
On the other hand it is pointed out
by the enemies of M. Carnot that Bal
haut's charges agree with the facts as
known and that Charles de Lesseps
would probably corroborate Baihaut
he could reveal. These enemies of
Carnot argue that the trial of Charles
and Ferdinand de Lesseps has been
fastened in order to bring them with
in the grasp of M. Carnot and keep
them silent as to any connection of
the head of the State with the Panama
affair ~a---,,e
They argue also that NJ. Bourgeois has
not been as earnest as he might have
been in bringing the truth to light,
and that the opposition of NJ. Bour-
geois to the arrest of Baihaut was
really based upon his fear that Baihaut
might accuse his former fellow minis
ter, Carnot. Meantime President Car
not preserves a serene temper and
seems Indifferent to the assaults upon
him
Testemsny in the Panama rr.u
The trial of the alleged corT,lnt of
hcllls OF the Panama Canal Company
was continued to-day.
Etlenne Martin, chief secretary of
the canal company described his OK
pcrlence while in the office and the
Scoln he felt for the methods of the di
rectors. Unrivalcd corruptness of the
contract system he said, often rendered
Nv
board at meetings against the scandal
Gus abuses with which the whole canal
work was honey combed. Everybody
Ill the management of the conlDany
knew that crooked work was being
done, also that Baron de Reinch and
other financial agents were getting
enormous commissions.
the company was questioned at length
by President Perivcr in regard to the
bonuses, but his answers were evasiye
and he insisted that he knew nothing
Of the company's operations.
NJ. Reyelner, the Canal company's
cashier, made an Il don't know testi-
mOny.
M. Doudard, entrusted with a part
Of the press fund used by the company,
also had lapse of memory.
NJ. Oberndorffer, banker testified as
member guarantee syndicate, that he
took shares to the amount of 617OOO
francs, paying for them two francs
and fifty confines each. His profits
from that source were eventually !, 300
coo francs. For suggesting the lottery
scheme he received some 100000
francs. AS this proved to be an excel
lent operation he never considered him
self over paid. He said he received
nothing for his work on the boursc III
the cOmpany's interest
NJ. Flory testified: Charles De Les
sepS told me he gave Oberndorffer
large sums to reward him for suggest
ing the lottery plan and prevent him
from specializing on the bourse against
the interest of the canal company
Engineer Pich, of the Commentry Iron
Works, said the canal company was con-
stantly struggling against most outra-
geous demands of contractors, and
usually yielded to the demands.
M. Jolly, q Panama canal shareholder
said that newspaper attacks upon the
Canal company decided him, in 1886
to sell his shares. He consulted with
Count Ferdinand De Lesepps who dis
suaded him from doing so, declaring the
attacks emanated from an English
source which was not worthy of
credence.
SSAeLCoA 0uJ SIfilut plColOShI VI tllS {
Suez Canal company, gave testimony
eulogistic both Of Count De Lesseps and
his son Charles.
Charles De Lesseps was recalled and
testified that the check paid to Arthur
Meyer, editor Of the Gaulois amounted
to 100000 francs.
The report Of NJ. Flory, government
accountant, contends that the response I
bility for the Panama frauds and de-
ception rests upon the whole board Of
Panama directors, because, having
share of the capital they
the real situation by false
in order to obtain sub
and protect the owners in
terests.