The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-12
PANAMA CANAL TRIAL.
MARIUs FONTAyE TELLsABOUT THE
BRIBERY OF NEWSPAPERS.
He Furnishes Much Valuable Information
on the Subjeet-Further Reformation
of the French Ministry.

| -----~----------
PARIS, Jan. 1.-THE trial Of Charles
De Lesseps, MarIus Fontane. Baron Cot
tu and NJ. Eiffel. accused Of completely
In the Panama canal frauds, was con-
tinued In the court Of appeals to-day.
Long before the hour for the opening OF
the court the room was filed to its ut
most capacity, with a crowd Of interested
spectators, with most Of whom the prls-
oners are we'll known. President PEREZ
vier at once proceeded 20 examine Fon-
tame. He said that shortly after the for
nation OF the Panama Canal Company
he was placed In charge of the company's
business with the press. He detailed at
/ length what his duties Were, and gave
much valuable information reg ding the
/ bribery OF newspapers TO prevent hostile
attacks uponf the company. and also TO
prevent The publication of matter that
would have shown the true condition Of
affairs on the Isthmus Of Panama. Fon-
tame stated that he had held his position
as manager Of the company's press affairs
until 1855, when the exactions of the news
! papers became SO heavy that he was COM
PEELED to abandon the post. Since that
time he had been mostly the private Sec
retary of De Lesseps.
In Difference to the overwhelming pub
lie demand for further reconstruction Of
the Ministry. NJ. Ribot had a long con-
versation with Admiral Gervais, chief Of
the Department of Marine and Colonies,
i'm regard TO accepting the ministry Of
marine and colonies. in place Of NJ. Bur
deaux. Admiral Gervais hesitates about
accepting the place under the circum-
stances. but will give an answer to-day
In the course Of his examination NJ.
Fontane stated that ne had distributed TO
the press only 60,000 francs in drafts pay
able TO bearer.
Upon the conclusion of Fontane's
examination Baron COttu was called upon
by President Perieyier to explain. Cottu
declared that his duties as a director of
the Panma company were merely tech
nical He dealt exclusively with the in
ternai administrative work Of the com
pany. Interest in the to-day's proceed
ings was ccntered in the examination OF
! Eiffei, the contractor. The questions put
TO him by the court resulted I'm lively
fencing between the President and Elf
/ feis lawyers, who raised objection after
objection to the Interrogation. The legal
sparring occupied cor siderable time and
afforded amusement TO the audience.
| Finally Effel admitted that he had
cashed checks fer twelve million francs
which had ostensibiy been drawn to pay
for machinery, while he had actually ex-
perded one million and five hundred thou
sand francs for that purpose.
EiNel said that he had given two mil
lion francs TO Hebrard 10 secure the con-
/ tracts with the company and two million
! TO Baron de Renach in order TO secure
! the latter's influence in his faVor win the
Government.
NJ Florick the Government accountant,
who recently examined the accounts Of
the Canal conn any, testified that Eiifel
| had been paid sixty-nine million francs
on his contract and that he made profit
OF thirty-three million francs on IT.
At this point the court adjourned.
NJ Martin, according to his own state
ment, acted for the Panama Company
In much the same capacity as the late
Baron de Reinach though the sums placed
| at his disposal for the purpose Of bribery
were not so large. He declared that Nj.
| Rurdeaux, minister Of marine, and NJ.
| Baihaut and Garnet had constantly re-
ceiyed money from the Panama Company.
His authority for this statement, he SAID,
was NJ. Marius Fontane, one OF the prose-
cuted directors.
with regard to this statement it must
be said that NJ. Burdeaux Baihaut and
Granet absolutely denied that they had
been the recipients of bribes and demand
ed to be heard By the committee in order
to repel these accusations.
These denials appear TO have been ac-
cepted as satisfactory and the TACT that
no further evidence appears TO nave de-
veloped against NJ. Burdeaux has been
regarded as establishing the falsity OF
the charges.
Nevertheless the view is generally ex-
messed that IL would be better to have
- MAJ N "a VninSt whom
no charge whatever had been made. The
public demand is strongly for thorough
/ investigations without any hamperlnS
! influences. and for a ministry free from
the breath of scandal. IL NJ ldbot shouid
/ fail 10 explain 70 the satisfaction OF the
| Chamber the reasons for the change wh!ch
have been made In the ministry the Roy
alists will interpolate him on the subject
THE leaders of the Royalist party In the
Chamber of Deputies came TO THIS decls-
ion AT a meeting held last evening. Ihey
win also take occasion to ask why the
reconstruction of the ministry was NOT
more thorough.
The royalists have shown greatly IN
| creased activity within the past twenty
| four hours. and the authorities appear 10
! be I'm possession of some new ana import
| ant information as TO their designs, lhere
| has been considerable telegraphinS De
| tween Madrid anu the hiiih'FS ~
| affairs, and, while the oo)ect Oh tnese
communications Is kept secret, enough IS
knovn 10 make IL certain that the French
| legation In Spain Is keeping a most care
ful watch on Royalist intrigues beyond
/ the Pyrenes, and that an equally carelui
watch is being maintained on Royallst
plotting in Paris. Co.
The ourcement that Geaeral Saus-
sier was to remain on the active nst az
! military governor OF Paris after passing
the age OF retirement Is construed as an
! indication that the Government means 20
be prepared for any emergency Generai
| Saussier Is considered the most TeiIdo,e
| man in the army and would be lnVaiuapie
| I'm the event OF public disturbance ,
While he stands aloof from poItical
| asitation he stands ready ia do soidier
duty In the support OF existing authoIi1y
and would crush disorder at any cos.:
| There is no doubt that the assurance oi
| General Saussler's continuance IN CUM
| mand has had a dampening euect upot,
| those who would Ike TO see the capi'ai
thrown in panic. whiie II mas ndu ar' m
aging influence upon the supporters
| of constituted authority. - =,
| rhe Debats to-day conSratuiates NJ
| Ribot on breaking the bonds which nave
| attached the ministry to the radicals
and advises NJ. Ribot TO break other ponds
which are rot conducive TO good admins
| tration.
THE moderate Republican organs accept
,ha new ministry with good Will, while the
radical are dissatisfied and urge an ap-
neal TO the country The Monarchists, In
| accord with their policy OF stimulating
| a.z.s.fon,fo oesarf that the new cdDl-