The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-11
AN EXCITING C0LL0QUY
BErWEEy DE LEssEPS AND FLO
QUIET DURING PANAMA TRIAL.
The Excitement Among the Spectators Be-
comes So Great That tho Presiding
Judge Orders the Room Cleared.

PARIS. March lO.-When the Panama
trials were resumed to-day NJ. Flory, the
Government accountant who had been
appointed to examine the accounts OF
the Panama Canal Company. repeated In
the main The figures and statements al
ready given in his published report. lie
estimated ti,at the Panama Canal Com
pany had expended one hupdred and iive
millions OF francs in payment for news
paper advertising and for favorable
notices IN the newspapers. and other ser
vices connected with the general pufflng
Of the enterprise. About five hundred
and fifty-eight millions of francs, being
less than half the total amount sub
scribed had been expended In the actual
operations on the canal. Disbursements
amounted to 200 100000 francs.
II. Stephane, clerk OF NJ. Proper, Baron
de Reinachs partner, testified concern
ing his experience with list Of more
than one hundred conspicuous men who
were compromised by the Panama scandal.
He had received the list from Reinach,
and after Reinach's death had delivered
II to NJ Clemenceau. The list was SINH
lar to the one held by VI. ApdrieuX. NJ.
Deschamps said that he had taken Artons
list OF compromised deputies TO Artons
mistress since the flight of the lobbyist.
Deschamps made O sensation while testl-
flying by rCmarlSing Incidentally that ne
had been i'm constant communication with
NJ AndrieuX.
Charles tlOquet, ex-premier and eN-
president Of the Chamber Of Deputies,
was the next witness. lie was nervous
and pale. Before examining him Judge
Desjardips had Charles de Lesseps re
peat his testimony as TO the contribution
Of 100000 francs made at NJ. FlOquet
request by the Panama Company TO the
fund for the campaign against Boulanger
in the department Of the Nord. In con-
Guiding his statement, VI. De Lesseps
said: II render all homage 10 the deli
cacy and loyalty which distinguished NJ.
Floquet's conduct, but declare positively
that he mad. to me the exact proposals
already made for him by Arton."
NJ. Floquet replied at once in a loud,
but unnatural tone: Il repeat the denial
already made by me before the examin-
ing magistrate The manner OF acting
and speaking attributed to me by NJ. De
Lesseps are entirely foreign TO my per-
sonaity AS NJ. De Lesseps puts the mat
ter. ii is much worse than II / had
brought pressure 10 bear upon him, as
he complains everybody else did. In his
testimony ne has forgotten, however.
that did not assume office until April
g. 1883. and that reelection took place on
April 18th, the voting on the Lottery Loan
bill on the 9th"
Nevertheless. we have proofs that
Baron de Reinach sent out the money
under your ministry in 1885, interpo-
lated Charles de Lesseps.
Il do not understand what you mean,
replied NJ Floquet. Loud protests came
from the body of the court. and several
persons shouted, Tell the truth" The
evoked more shouts, and his voice was
lost in the uproar, as he threatened TO
have the court cleared. Both NJ. De
Lesscps and NJ FlOquet tried TO make
statements, but neither could be heard
more than a few feet away. Each denied
fatty the truth OF what the other SAID
tut only the reporters caught their words.
As the din increased Judge Desjardins
ordered that the courtroom be cleared,
and AMID babel OF voices shouting re-
proaches and accusations at the judges,
the audience was driven out by the
ushers When order was restored NJ.
De Lesseps got the first word and said
clearly and positively:
Il repeat that NJ. Fioquet asked to see
me in regard TO the report that Baron
De Reinach intended TO sue the Panama
Canal Company. and that he advised
me to pay Baron DE Reinach the large
Government might not be annoyed by the
suit"
NJ. F1oquet after a short pause, ad-
mitted that he had talked with NJ. De
Lesseps concerning the Reinach suit. Il
knew neither Baron DE Reinach nor Cor
nelius Herr, however" he added, and l
am amazed that anybody should make
an incident out Of this trile. l would be
ready TO do again what | did then. Ii
a. - h4 a.
ton. and popular feeling was being eX-
cited by free distributions Of money.
When | found that the Panama Company
was setting aside large sums for adVer-
Using | naturally asked why such an
amount should 90 to FIJI the eXchequer
OF the enemies of the republic
"Did you know the lobbyist, Art0n!'
inquired NJ. Barbour.
Il saw him once or twice" replied NJ.
Floquet. but had no regular relations
with him.
NJ. Clenenceau. the next witness, denied
that Cornelius Herr had secured, as tes-
lifted by Charles de Lesseps, some 6J9Wp
francs for the favor Of La Justice toward
the canal company. La Justice had been
PLEDGED TO assist the Panama Company.
he said, long before the beginning OF the
scandal, and, therefore, il was not ne
cessary TO buy the support OF either
the journal or its editor. He then de-
scribad a visit made by him and NJ. Rhno,
editor If the Paris, To NJ De freycinet.
He and VI. Rano had spoken with NJ. DE
Freycinet as ii Reinach's threatened ac-
ton against the Panama people. because
they feared that the action might cause
the collapse Of The canal enterprise. and
that such collopse would be used TO I'M
settle the Republic
NJ. De Freycinct, looking tired and
hnrassed. followed NJ. Clemenceau on
the stand. II sent for Charles de Les
scps." he said, I'm the interest Of the
public. With the same spirit at heart. 1
advised him TO avoid a lawsuit with
Baron De Reiaach. When he tried to
enter into particulars. l stopped him by
saying that / was not called upon TO act
as judge in the matter"
Ask d 10 confirm or deny this state
ment, Charles de Lesseps said: Il do not
and have not disputed that VI. De Frey
cinet spoke to me in the interest Of the
public. Il was In the same interest that
| gave Keinach millions"
Il cannot b1ieve" added NJ. De Frey
cinet. that his conversation with me i'm
PEELED NJ. De Lesseps TO give way TO Baron
De Reinachs demands. What ! said ne
cessitated nothing whatever"
Iu Ike Desjardns has ordered NJ. Rano,
editor 81 the Paris. 10 attend the next
sitting Of the court.
Henri Brisson has resigned the presi-
dencY OF the parliamentary commission
of inquiry.
NJ. Clemenceau made a sensation by
turning upon NJ. Barbour and accusing
him Of having impaired TO the Figaro part
of the testimony before examining Mag