The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-12
The Government Charged by Madame Cottu
Compromising Papers We're Surrendered.
Paris in q Ferment Again Over This
New Phase of the Panama Scandal.
No Effort to Capture Briber Arton, though
His Whereabouts Are Well Known-Tories
Displeased with BalfOur's Leadership


Nine. Cottu Gives Testimony That Results
in the Resignation of NJ. Bourgeois.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
PARIS. March u.-There was another
sensation in the Panama trial to-day when
Nine. Cottu gave testimony that went to
show the government tried to suppress
papers in the possession of NJ. Cottu. As
consequence NJ. Bourgeois, Min
lister of Justice, rendered his resic-
nation. Exposures in the scandal
have now gone so far that further
sensations can hardly be expected before
the capture OF Arton or Aaron, the little
Frankfort jew who bought the Deputiee
for the Panama company. M. De Freycinet
and Nj. Flouquet have received knock
down blows in the last three days, for.
although finding plenty OF excuses for
their encouragemento of Charles de Lesseps's
methods of bribery. they have been unable
to shake the body of his charges against
them. Who will be the next TO hear their
political death sentence. only Arton knows
The ridiculous canard of the Debats thst
Arton had shot himself near Arad, In Hun
gary, has already been contradict.
ed by his music hall soubrette.
IEdUiciu Llll MeEb. WDO dltck
q three days absence from Vienna, has
returned to tell reporter that she had
been with ArtOn, and that he was well and
safe. If the French police wished to get
him they could undoubtedly do SO by pay
ing more attention TO the movements OF
the Mers girl, but the Paris detectives now
l0unging around Vienna evidently have in
structions not TO follow any suoh promls-
ing clew.
At the Panama trial to-day the sd.
dience was larger than on the previous
day. owing to the expectation OF new de.
velopments, and the deepest interest was
exhibited in the evidence given. A jury
man asked whether it W as possible TO trace
100000 francs. which Charles CO Lesseps al
legged he had given to NJ. FloQuet.
Charles de Lesseps replied that he could
not tell how 10 trace the money. IL have
been SO long In prison. said De Lesseps.
plaintiyely. that l am forgetting much
that knew
M. Ranc testified to having accompanied
M. Clemenceau To see De Frey cinet, about
the time testified to by Charles de Lesseps
as that at which de Frey oinet advised
Charles de Lesseps not to have Litigation
with Baron Reinach. NJ. Ranc said that
the government was then in the throes of
the conflict with Boulangism and lawsuit
between the Panama Canal Company and
Baron Reinach would have been hurtful TO
The republic. No question arose, so NJ. Rane
testified. in regard to bringing pressure to
. bear upon the Panama Canal Company.
PRICE OF BoULANGIsTs.
Deputy Leon Borie. Boulang gist, and
bitter enemy of opportunism. next testified.
He created decided sensation In court by
stating that man named Blanehet had
offered him 25. 900 francs for each Deputy
that he would induce to vote for the Pana-
ma lottery bonds bill.
Charles de Lesseps here spoke up and
protested that he never knew Blanchet
Presiding Judge Des Jardins decided
that he would summon several who were
members of the Chamber of Deputies at the
time the lottery bonds bill was proposed.
to confirm or deny the statement OF NJ.
Borie.
M. Andrieux. who is generally held re-
sponsible as the originator of the Panama
revelations, next took the stand. Owing
to cold, his voice was almost inaudible.
Andrieux testified that the list Of Reinach
tee on investigation, had been handed to
him by Cornelius Herr. in the same form a.
received by Herr from Reinach. Andrieux
admitted, In reply to questions. that he had
looked through Arton's papers in order to
serve q political purpose.
M. Andrieux testified further that he
wrote to Arton through Deechamps In reA
gard TO the bribery charges. bnt that Arton
declined to communicate with ham lest he
should compromise the Deputies. Arton
said he would not betray any persons who
had given him their condolences. and that
moreover he himself would be no longer Sc
cure If he once surrendered the list In his
possessIoD. There was q murmur of sur
prise in court al this hint OF hidden protec-
tion extended over Arton while he main.
tanned reserve in regard 60 implicated otfi-
Arton further informed him that he had re-
celved generous offers from other quarters
In connection with the evidence in his pos-
session and had been promised great
leniency In regard to his share In the dyna-
mite case.
do you believe the Reinach list to be .
true Oner NJ. Andrieux was asked.
II believe it TO be authentic" he replied.
that when NJ. Rouvier and Baron Reinach
came to see him on the evening of the night
of Reinaoh's death both men seemed TO be
beside themselves"
NJ. Thiebaud, in the course of his testi-
mony, created asensation by declaring that
he had always regarded Arton as secret
agent of the government.
NINE. CoTTU CAUSES A SENSATION.
Madame Cottu's evidence was the next
sensation in the court. She said that q
few days after the arrest of her husband
she learned that the government. annoyed
at the turn the prosecution was taking, de.
sired to suppress it. and sought an interme.
diary between themselves and the Panama
canal directors. A gentleman named Coy
srd visited her and offered to act In the
pacity OF intermediary. He informed her
that true bill would not be returned il
the directors bound themselves to silence.
She wanted. however, to deal with q bet
| ter authority than Nj. Goyard. She was.
| on Jan. 10, conducted to the Office of NJ.
Soinoury. chief of the detective department.
who asked her whether she possessed any
| compromising documents which might be
useful to the Ministry. nj. Soinoury did
| not make any proposals In precise terms.
| but she felt that the release of her husband
was being offered as a bribe for the SUR
render of the compromising papers. Tho
| conference at Soinourys office lasted for
| one hundred minutes. Soinoury offered TO
| allow her to visit her husband in order that
| she could induce her husband 10 warn
Charles de LesseDs. who had already
i spoken too much. Soinoury also asked per-
mission TO report the gist OF the converse
| tion to NJ. Loubet
The testimony of Madame Cottu caused Q
| deep stir In the court room. and every body
eagerly aitec the action of the presid-
| ing Judge regarding the revelations. Pre-
| aiding Judge Desjardins declined to sum-
mon Soinoury and others wanted as wit
nesses. and thus cut of this line of inquiry.
NJ. Deschamps who had been mentioned
| by Nj. Andrieux as having communicated
| with Arton IN his behalf. testified simply
| that ae had none of Arton's letters in HE
| possession.
NJ. Andrieux. being again called to tho