Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-01-11

allotted to the audience was thronged with
distinguished people.
Proceurenr General Tanon conducted the
prosecution. The charges were then read,
followed by mention Of clauses Of the code
referring TO the case.
A medical certificate was submitted TO
President Perievier TO the effect that Nj.
Ferdinand DeLesseps was not in condl-
ton to be present. The President hrst De-
gan the examination of Charles DeLesseps.
In reply TO the Presidents questions,
Charles DeLesseps said it was against his
advice that his father had undertaken the
construction of the Panama Canal.
The President reproached Charles de
Lesseps for having misled the public by
amounting that Herzent and Couvreux had
undertaken to construct the canal for hye
hundred aud twelve million francs.
To this Charles de Lesseps replied that
the arrangement with Herzent and Couv-
reax was not exactly a contract OF that
kind. 1t was rather sought TO arrange
price per metre than TO fix the total OF
cubic metres 10 be excavated.
The name Of Count Ferdinand DeLes-
seps was called amid profound silence.
After short pause physicians certificate
that Count DeLesseps was physically un-
able 10 be present was submitted 70 the
nevertheless that judgment by default be
given and the Court granted this motion.
Charles De Lesseps was the first OF the
defendant directors examined. He was
pale but self possessed. and answered all
questions with sloY, painstaking precision.
He made long statement first as 10 the or
ganization of the Panama Company. His
father, he acknowledged. had sold his
founders shares in the canal, but not for
the purpose of Withdrawing his money
from the enterprise. In every case Count
De Lesseps had turned such shares into
money merely that he might sub
scribe for new issue On the
whole Count De Lesseps had invested much
more money in the Panama enterprise
than he had withdrawn, Charles DeLes-
seps added that his own founders shares
had been bought by his father for 100000
francs, which had been used by his father
in subscribing for q subsequent issue. The
prisoner was then questioned closely as 10
the relations Of the American Panama
Company to the Company. He said that
the 100000 francs had been placed at
the disposal of American committeeman.
aud had been used for the best interests Of
the Company. When asked IL this sum
was not rather large for the purpose,
for which it was applied. he replied:
- uGlI dSSiSlduCc was Ndluaulc ahh NOAAN
have warranted the expenditure Of still
larger amount"
The prosecuting counsel asked several
questions intended TO draw out admissions
that the feasibility OF the canal plan was
doubted by .he directors before the last
loans were applied for. Chas. DeLcssep
replied that NJ. Rousseau, competent en-
gineer who examined the works on the 18TH
mus in 1856, expressed the conviction after
his return TO France that the canal could
be completed. provided that certain modi-
fications Of the original plan was made.
But NM. Borand and lacquer, both COM
petent engineers declared that a canal
with locks would cost 1,20O,000,000 TO
1.SO0, 600, 600 franc" interpolated the pre-
siding Judge. "Was not the public de-
ceived by the withholding Of this esti-
mate"
"Our consulting committee OF works"
replied NJ DeLesseps, gave .9n estimate
of SOC. coo. coo francs for the completion of
the works, and these were consequently
the only figures that were published"
After NJ DeLesseps had explained at
some length the reason of the directors for
entrusting TO certain contractors the court
adjourned.
The new Cabinet re-organized by NJ.
Ribot Is as follows: NJ Ribot, Premier and
Minister OF the Interior; NJ. Deyelle, For
eign Affairs: NJ. Tirard. Finance. NJ. Bour-
geoise, Justice: Gen. Lozillon, War; NJ.
Burdeau, Colonies and Marine; NJ. Dupuy,
Instruction: NJ Viger, Agriculture; M.
Seigfried, Commerce; NJ. Viette, Public
Works.