The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-27
AN ELOQUENT APPEAL
IN BEHALF Or FERDINAND AND
CHARLES DE LESSEPS
BY tho Great French Advocate Barbour
Causes n Sensation by an Attack
Upon NJ. Floquet.


PARIS. Jan. 2G.-Assurance that NJ.
Barbour would deliver his peroration to-
day attracted a greater throng than ever
to the courtroom. Among the audience
was an unusual number of the friends Of
Ferdinand and Charles De Lesseps. who
listened eagerly TO every word OF he
great advocate. Charles De Lesseps
looked weary and pale, and gave an I'M
prEsion Of yielding under the strain.
NJ. Barboux argued that Charles De
Lesseps was justified in the payments
which he made TO newspapers and finan-
cial companies possessing influence which
could be exercised in favor of the canal.
If Charles De Lesseps yielded TO numer-
Gus extortions by Intermediates 1t was be-
cause he was profoundly convinced that
the lottery scheme would secure the sue
cess of the entire enterprise.
Nearing his paroration Barbour became
inpassioned in his tone. In eloquent and
scathing language he denounced the black
mail and corruption which had been so
terribly and paIpably rife In connection
with the Panama enterprise. lie caused
a great sensation in court by an unsus-
pected and witherirg attack upon ex-
Minister Floquet why" exclaimed Bar
bouX, lis not the former minister who d.
rected the distribution of the press sub
sides not sitting alongside the pris-
oners?'
Here BardouX deliberately paused as II
10 let the shaft which he had aimed quiver
in the minds If his listeners and to watch
the effect. Then Barboux, resuming.
spoke in scathing language Of the men
who had chiefly prohted by the Panama
companys lavish expenditures. He re-
ferred to Baron Reinach's relations With
the highest society Of Paris; Of the init
macy of Cornelius Herr with leading per-
sonages of the official world. The respon-
sibility for the perturbation and sense Of
insecurity which caused such alarm
about the country did not rest with the
Panama company or its directors, but
on very different shoulders
NJ. Barbour then turned TO the character
Of his clients. He spoke Of the con-
scientiousness and probity of both Ferdi-
nand and Charles De Lesseps, which had
come forth unimpaired and unblemished
from the fire Of investigation. Spe lk-
ing Of the high reputation of Ferdinand
De Lesseps Barboux recalled the fact
that when Ferdinand De Lesseps visited
Berlin the Kaiser hastened to salute him
as a representative of French genius.
This position he still occupied at home
and abroad. and would continue TO &C.
cupy, notwithstanding the vain attempt
10 connect him with the guilty conduct
of others.
NJ Barbour closed with an eloquent
and touching appeal in behalf Of his
clients. When he resumed his seat mem
bers of the bar crowded around him and
heartily congratulated him on his brill
liant oratory.
NJ BarboJx was followed by NJ. Dubui.,
Who spoke in behalf of Marius Fontane.
He reviewed the career of his client, and
argued that the charges against him were
based wholly on cOnjectures that Fon-
tame had been present at the proceedings
in which he was in fact not concerned.
NJ. Dubuit demanded the acquittal of his
client.
The court then adjourned until Tues
day.
The Figaro states that NJ. Franqueville
the examining magistrate, has commenced
a fresh inquiry in relation to the Panama
scandal This inquiry is based on the
Arton documents. II is said that sum-
monses have been issued for the exami-
nation OF many persons eminent in pub
lie life.
NJ. Franqueville, examining magistrate
in the Panama canal case, has signed
his report and delivered Il 10 NJ. Bour-
geois, Minister of Justice. 1t eXcupates
Deputies Roche and Arene and Senator
TheVenet
Count Sprnzenstein Austrian
Ambassador to France. complained to-
day in an interview with NJ. Develle.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, of the un-
pleasant impression produced in Austria
by the calumnies upon himself in the
French press in connection with the eX-
pulsion of Szekedi the Austrian news
paper correspondent, recently expelled
from France because of certain dispatches
which he sent to his paper. in which an
attempt was made TO connect Baron de
Mohrenheim, the Russian Ambassador.
with the Panama scandal.
NJ. Develle in a courteous manner ex-
pressed his regret TO Count HoyOs-
Sprinzenstein for the annoyance to which
| he was subjected. and added that he had
instructed NJ. Decrais. the French Am
| bassador at Vienna, TO call the attention
| of Count Kalnoky, the Austro-Hungarian
| Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs,
| TO the offensive comments on President
| CarnOt and the French Republic, which
were being published in the newspapers
| in Austria and Hungary, and especially
| at Buda Pesth, in a journal called the
Fuggetten Hirlap. Count Hoyos-Sprin-
zenstein then retired, the interview closing
| with mutual assurances Of distinguished
| consideration.