Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-01-14

PARIS, January l3.-The evidence in the
Panama trial to-day justified the ADVICE
given TO the parliamentary commission OIL
fnuuirv oy ViscOunt VilleOois-Mareull,
that they should devote themselves to IN
vestigatlng the dishonest contracts made
by the canal company.
Through such contracts, he said, the
company had squandered sums compared
with which the corruption fund spent upon
the press was trifie. The testimony OF
Captain Frayse and Metienne Martin cor
ro6orated the viscount's statements. Cap
tain Frayse, after retiring from the navy,
was sent TO the Isthmus as Comptroller
General. He saw at once that success was
impossible and that money was being
sQuandered recklessly upon men whose aim
was to get as much as possible without 90
ing the work which they had agreed TO-
He became discouraged and returned 10
France soon after having arrived at the
lsthmus. Capt. Freyse gave his tesumo-
nv in monotone, which he did not vary
even when describing the hopelessness OF
the whole canal plans and the abomlnable
methods practiced by officials and con-
tractors on the lsthmus.
Charles De LeSseps was called TO TESTIFY
as TO the bonds payable 10 bearer issued oy
the Panama Canal Company. He was
white and haggard, his eyes were blood
shot and he spoke apparently Win olih-
Guilty as he hesitated repeatedly aud otten
sank his voice so that only persons within
a few yards could hear his testimony.
He explained that of some 100000
| francs in bons au porteur, $4,000 went TO
| Nj. Baihut, then Minister OF Public w orks,
/ and 900, coo francs to Cornelius Herr. The
rest Of the money was distributed IN small
amounts among many persons whose favor
was indispensable to the company.
NJ. Oberndoffer, the banker who sug-
gested the plan of lottery loan, testified
| that as a member OF the guarantee
syndicate he took shares TO the
nominal amount of 6,175, 600 francs, paying
| for them two francs and fifty centlmes
each.
His profits from this source were even
| tually go, 600 francs. For suggesting the
| lottery scheme he had received some two
million francs AS this had proved TO be
an excellent operation he had never con-
sidered himself as having been overpaid.
WAS there any correspondence as to
these matters" asked Judge PerVier.
"None, whatever"
at is very strange that such a plan
should not have been sanctioned by sim
gle written word"
1.-THE matter was treated in mutual good
faith"
Did you receive nothing for your work
on the bourse in the company's interestP'
"Not franc"
"Several shareholders gave evidence,
and Senator Guchard, President of the
Suez Canal Co, gave testimony eulogistic
of both Count Ferdinand DeLesseps and
his son, Charles.
Charles De Lesseps was recalled and ne
testified that the checks paid to Arthur
Never. editor of the GduIOiS, amounted TO
100, 600 francs At his request NJ. De Les
seps was allowed 10 make "A statement in
rebuttal of NJ. Etienne Martins testimony.
M. Martin knows me too well, " he said,
40 say that l ever did anything inimical
! to the interests Of the shareholders" II
NJ Martin declined, however, to modify
or withdraw any OF his testimony. The
evidence so far in the trial is regarded as
assuring conviction.
The public are already beginning to dis
cuss the sentences that will be passed upon
| the DeLesseps and their associates IN the
event of conviction.
It's believed that President Perievier
will pronounce a severe penalty, as from
the first he has exhibited considerable IN
dignation toward the accused.
Perievier has the reputation Of being 8
perfectly honest man, incapable OF being
swayed by outside influences.