Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-02-16
DE LEss GPS G0Es no PRISON.
The Aged Engineer Receives II Sentence
ul rive Years--M. Ethel to Keep Hin
CnmnnnN.


Company.
PARIS, Feb. 9.--Expectation that the
sentences OF the prisoners in the Panama
trial would be delivered this afternoon
brought eager crowds to the court of ap-
rcals building before II o'clock this morn
Ing. The approaches to the court were
filled to the last niche by noon, and tive
minutes after tile doors were thrown open
the room was packed to suitocatiun.
Presiding Judge Perivier read the deci-
sion after having dismissed the prisoners
plea that they should benefit by the statute
OF limitations. Although the basis of the
judgments were given in exceptionally
minute detail, the audience listened from
llrat p last with oppressive intensity OF in
terest
The charge Of fraudulent proceedings
against Ferdinand de l.csscps Charles de
Icssrps, Henri Loltu and Marils fontane
was held to be proved. ON this point the
judgment referred 10 the cOtupany's
methods in issuing loans, the mendacipas
official bulletins and the persistent patilng
done by the press at the instance Of the
directors.
These practices, the Judgment stated
when mt directly originated or endorsed
BY the directors had been cOnniyed at by
them Ferdinand dc l.esSeps aided and
allotted by his son Charles, NJ CuttlI and
= '4llAlANt llhlA I'N.AElobFlAatN NllNthltI NV
operations IF the canal company IN order
tliat the quotations Of the shares might
not De Affected lAiaEOrably, The directors
hai dealt with underwriting synilCates
whlChas far as their utility was concerned,
were iirtiCIOus, and were known to be ic-
tiCiOUs. In underwriting loans these syudi-
cafes had taken upon themselves no risks,
and yet they had received enormous Sums
from the company, The expenses nCces.
LATtiE uffpnI4Iu kn Iszlp tt fhH
loans had been grossly exaggerated by the
directors and this t&aGgcrutlon also con
| stitutcd q fraudulent act.
| In dealing with Gustaye Eiffel's breach
| Of trust the decision said that NJ Fife
| hal received l2Otuu,U'O francs for thf
4 construction Of 10 locks, and had PROMISE
to complete them by 1850. The evidence
| had shown that he had not even pur
| chased the specified materials necessary III
the construction Of these locks; in fact, hC
| had bought in France, all told, bu
/ !, 223,lUt francs worth Of materials. HI
had pretended, furthermore. 10 sG!Hi tht
obligations he bad undertaken, while, il
reality, he was SIMPLY InisappropriatinJ
the funds. In conclusion, Judge Periye
read these sentences
Ferdinand dc l.csseps, five years i'm
prisuument and 1890 francs fine,
Charles dc LeSseps. live years imprisUn
meEt and 5000 francs line.
Marius Fontane, two years imprison
ment and 5000 francs fine.
Henry Cottu, two years Imprisonment
and $500 francs tine.
Gnstaye hiitel, two years imprisonmen
and 10000 francs fine.
Immediately after the reading of tn
sentences NJ Eiifel lett the court rOuI
with hi. counsel, whom he has iustruttc
tIappell IT, tAr nigh eeurt Of cessation
Charles lie Lessrps and Marius FOntane r,
manned under arrest Both looked hagt,aT
atla di,Acarteued AS they departed Vii
Henry Gotta for the Office OF the publ
prosecutor.