The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-01-26
NJ. Barboux Resumes His Argument in
Defense of the De Lcsspps

| Defense of the De Lcsseps.
PARIS, Jan. 25.--The interest in the
| Panama trial increases as the end comes
near. The approaches to the court were
crowded as soon as the gates were
opened
When NJ. Charles De Lesseps, M,
| Marius Fontane and M. Cottu were
brought in they promptly asked leave to
confer with their counsel before the re-
sumption of proceedings.
While the consultation was in prog
ress M. Eiffel entered and shook hands
with his fellow-d defendants. He did not,
| however, join in the conference. NJ.
| Charles De Lesseps seemed to be earnest
| ly advising his counsel with frequent
and emphatic gestures,
Maitre BarbOux resumed his argument
| in behalf of his clients. He indicated
no new line of defense, but proceeded to
| justify the assurances which the direct
ors Of the Panama Canal company have
| given to the shareholders and the public
in relation to the Panama enterprise.
M. Barboux said that the payments
made to the press to obtain the approval
of the newspapers for the Panama en-
| terprise could not be held to constitute
| swindling. The original estimates of
all great undertakings were always ex-
| ceeded. The Manchester and the Cor
inth canals might be mentioned as in
stances Charles De Lesseps, continued
| NJ. Barboux, inherited the respect in
which his father had so long been held
| His arrest has caused feeling of stu
| pefcation at home and abroad. AS to
| any fault which might be found with
| the plans adopted for the canal, NJ. Bar
| boux pointed out the conflict between
| the opinions of engineers on the sub
| ject, some advocating a level canal and
others q lock canal. What could the
| company do, he asked, in face of these
| recommendations of equally eminent
engineers?
Ferdinand De Lesseps had never
played the double part attributed to
him. He had not concealed the mis-
take made in the original estimated cost
of the canal. In 1884 he had told a
general meeting of shareholders that
800, 900, 900 francs more will be required
to finish the canal. His statement had
been so explicit that those who per-
sisted in misunderstanding it had only
themselves to blame.
vnIo MURDERERS PROVIDED FOR.
To Be Given the Chair of Death, Where
by Wire They Will Shuttle or.
COLUMBUS, Jan. Ex-senator Frank
Spencer announces that he has about
completed bill providing for the killing
of criminals condemned to death by
electricity, instead of hanging, as here.
tofore. The bill is modelled, of course
upon the lines of the law now in force
in New York, and provides for the build
ing of an execution chamber at the peni
tentiary, together with authority to
purchase the necessary equipment for
the same. In other respects the law
will remain the same as it is at present,
except that the clause as to the limiting
of the number of witnesses will be made
more stringent. 1t may be that there
will be a change having for its purpose
the keeping secret the dates of execution
Of sentence.
This can be accomplished by com.
pelling judges to make it optional with
the warden when to carry out the sem
tence within certain prescribed period.
In other words, criminal could be sen.
fenced to die between the 1st and 10Th
of January, and it would be within the
scope of the warden's power to carry
out the sentence on any day between
the dates mentioned.
There has been pending for some days
a bill to repeal capital punishment, in.
troduced by Captain Reeve, of Ashta-
bula. 1t has not been accorded the
general favor that the author expec ted.
Those who have discussed the matter of
electric killing appear to indorse it, and
the bill has good chance of passing.
1t is not generally known that the first
bill to authorize electrocution was in
troduced in the Ohio legislature, the
author being Senator Rannells. The
Spencer bill will have many of the
features of that measure, which was toe
far in advance of public sentiment at
the time of its introduction, and there.
fore failed.