Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-01-13
MAY IMPLICATE CARNOT
PANAMA SCANDAL GETTING
NEAR TO HIM.
If DE l.esseps would Tell All He
Knew The President of The
French Republic Might Have to
ExessGm-S0me Damninx Details.

RG0AXm-SO"G Damn1nx DetahAS.
PARIS, Ian. 12.-Today grave rumors
are af1oat in regard to President Carnot.
Several OF the deputies who have been
most earnest in pushing the Panama
investigation make no secret of declaring
that they will not rest until Carnot is
forced to resign. The strength of the case
against the President depends upon the
credibility of Baihaut, ex-Mininister of
Public Works. and Carnots friends
claim that no force whatever should be
is malignant against Carnot for not
| having protected him from prosecution. I.
and that he wishes to drag the President
down with him.
On the other hand. it is pointed out
| by the enemies of M. Carnot that Bal
hurts charges agree with the facts as
| known. and that Charles DeLesseps
| would probably corroborate Baihaut if
he were permitted to reveal all he
could tell. What DeLesseps has
already told is thus summarized
He was the first of the defendant direc-
tors examined last week. He made
a long statement first as to the organi-
zation of the Panama canal company.
His father. he ackno wledged, had sold
his founders shares in the canal, but not
for the purpose of withdrawing his
money from the enterprise.
The presiding Judge questioned M. de
Lesseps as to the bogus petitions pre-
sented to the Chamber, and the enor-
nous payments made by the company
to syndicates which assisted in floating
the loans. M. de Lesseps answered the
questions as they were put, and then
made this statement:
much as 1 regretted it, hard necessity
compelled us to resort to such means to
lions given to M. Obendoerffer (the
banker who received 100000 francs
tor giving the company the idea of a lot
terry, loan and putting the idea in prac-
tice) were in payment for his suggestion
OF a simple plan relative to the bonds
and constitution of the Societe Civile. II
behooved us to humor such a great
banker and 1 had great diff
| Guilty in limiting the sum as narrowly a:
] did. We always distributed money
when fresh issues were made so that WI
might avoid creating enemies on the
| Bourse.
In response to questions as to the re
lations between Baron de Reinach ant
the Panama Canal company, M. de Les
seps said:
Like all great bankers Baron de Rein
| SiSu was hSSh liz was S>
ceptional, however, in his willingness te
risk his capital for the purpose of real
izing the plan of the canal. He was th'
man who formed the first Societe Civil
with his own capital, assisted by tn
name of M. Bonaparte Wyse. When
lgave Baron de Reinach the money,
told him to take out of it whatever re
= muneration he chose"
This admission evoked loud murmur
of surprise and disapproval from tn
crowd in the court room. The presiding
Judge repeated in a loud tone:
"You gave Baron de Reinach the mon
ey, and told him to take out oft what
ever remuneration he chose?"
81 did"
You handed him millions with per
mission to put as much as he wishe'
in his own pocket ?"
Exactly. He first demanded II 600
600 francs. refused to grant these eS
cessive demands, and persisted i'll my re
fusal despite his nrpeated threats
"Did you know to what uses Baron d
Reinach expected to put that part of th
money which he did not retain as remur
Grafton ?"
81 knew only that the money wa
spent for the benefit of the canal"
when the lottery bill had been laid o
the table, M. Baibaut asked for 1000
900 francs, to be paid to him in install
ments between the introduction and th
adoption OF the bill. OF this sum 275
900 francs were paid to M. Baihau
Then the bill was withdrawn and notl
more was paid to him."
M. de Lesseps paused a moment aitt
giving this damning evidence ag;,ins
the ex-minister of public works. NJ
body spoke or stirred. He locke
tixedly at the Judges and added:
"Only when the knife was put to M
throat did l pay this money. l was iii
a man giving up his watch to hig
wayman."
In conclusion, M. de Lesseps said tn:
the Panama directors were aware how a
the sums of which he had spoken ha
been distributed.