New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-11
STILL A RIBOT MINISTRY
Continued from First Page.

opened In the First Chamber OF the Court OF Sassauoh
NJ. Periver presiding The space allotted 10 the
audience was thronged with distinguished people,
including many well known In French finance, ana
a number Of prominent persons from abroad were also
present Procureur-General Tanon conducted the
prosecution.
The charges were read setting forth that NJ. Fer
dinand Marie dc Lesseps Grand Cross OF the Legion
of Honor: NJ. Charles Aime Marie de LessepS. late
member OF the Soccte du Canal lnteroceanlqic de
Panama: VI. Marius Etcnne Fontane NJ. Henri Louis
Felix Cottu and NJ. Alexandra Gustave Ehcl were
accused Of having CONFORMITY and during less period
than three years before the last act OF prosecution
I'm Paris by employing fraudulent manoeuvres 10
induce belief in the existence OF chimencal event
and an imaginary credit dssipated sums derived from
issues Of loans which had been obtained for specl-
fed and employment, and Of having embezzlcd
the whole or part Of the fortune OF Others Then
followed the mention of the clauses Of the Code re-
fefring to the case.
1t Is owing to the fact that W. Ferdinand de Lesseps
IS high dgni,ary of the Legion Of Honor that this,
which Is really police Is being tried before the
Court of Appeal. The last occasion on which this
was called upon TO deal with correctional
case when MOnsignor GOuthe-S oulard, the Arch
bishop OF Ain was brought TO trial for his insulting
letter to the Minister of Public Worship.
Acknowledgement Rau Is assisting NJ. Tanon In the
prosecution. Maitrcs BaIboux. WaldeckHousseau ana
Marc Barbour acting for both Ferdinand and Charles
de Lcsseps.
The name OF Count Ferdinand de Lcsseps was called
amid profound silence. After a short pause physi-
clans certificate that Count de Lcsseps was physcy
unable 10 De present was submitted ~ the court The
lrOcurtur-Gcncla asked, nevertheless, that judgment
by default De given and the court granted this notion
Charles de Lesscps was the first Of the defendant d
rectors examined. lie pale, but self possessed,
and anwered all questions with slow, panstaking pre-
cisiOn. lie made long statement first Us to the
organization OF the Panama Canal Company. Ills
father he acknowledged had sold his founders shares
in the canal but not for for the purpose OF withdraw
ing his money from the enterprise. In every case
Count de Lcsseps had turned such shares into money
merely that he might subscribe for new issue. ON
the WHOLE Count de Lcsseps had invested much more
money in the Panama enterprise than he had with
drawn. Charles dc Lessep' added that his own
founders share, had been bought by his father for
subscribing for subsequent Issue.
II" said that it was AGAINST his advice that his
lanana Canal The PRESIDENT rrpr2Ichcd him with
na,ing missed Tue pioic ~ nhnouS 't mo email
TO hi, Chare, de Losseps replied that the arrngr
ment with iIorscnt and COuvIeuN WIZ not exactly
contract Of that kind 1t was rather SOUGHT TO ar,
range price by the metre than to fix the total OF
cubic metres 10 BE- eXcavated
The prisoner then questioned closely as to the
relations Of the American Panama Committee TO the
company. He said that I2O0)O)0 francs had been
placed ~ the disposal OF the American committeeman:
and had been used by them for the best interests OF
the company. When asked II this sum was not rather
largo for the purpose for which IL was applet Charles
de- Lc,seps replied
Their assistance was valuable and would have war
rancd the expenditure Of sill larger amount"
The prosecuting counsel asked several questions
Intended 10 draw ont admissions that the feasibility
O the canal plan doubted by the directors before
the last loans applied for. Charles de LeS'epS
replied that VI. Rousseau, competent engineer who
eyainnpd the works the ishmus In 1896. expressed
the conviction after his return To France that IN"
canal could be- completed. provided that certain mod
hcations 4 the original plan were made ....n,
engineers. declared that canal with locks would
cost from Loo 100000 10 1.-0o00o00 francs. said
the prc,iing judge. Wa, not the pubic deceived
~ m" Withholding II this estimate"
"Our consulting Committee Of Works" replied VI
d" Lo-Scps. gave estimate OF 600 OOD 90 francs
Tor the completion ~ the work. and thr>' wc4' cDn-
,epu"nY the Olly figures that We could puJHNh
Nfier ". de I"ssrp> had explained AT some length
the roaso 81 the director, for ntrusting thr work
~ certain contractors. The court was ADJOURNED.
The reports Of the parl im'n'arN Panama tomml.
tee, = I--G aud l~-7 have been presented h"iore
the Commission Of Inquiry. They show mat lr"Sdrne
Cannot refused support the Lottery hill. ana mat
" -arricn also dlscaIm"d all responsibility IN tho
asked for would not finish tn" canal. and when re-
preached by fellow Committeeman with being irlGhl.
cu,d Is the responsibility Which 'hr "oVcrluI,'l,,
wn:M incur. explained that the Government granted
merely permission. without assuming any guarantee
NJ Hhhlut. who introduced the bill In the tlam"'r'
expressed the opinion tha the Government iad ir'ohe
involved i'm III" matter through srndng VI. fnnSSeau
to The i-hmuS. lie believed tha ~" chhii cniid p'
completed ana he thought It would b" most repfrh'A'
,i5lc 10 rhwart plan 60 far advanced ,,,n,,,,
II T., reported this evening that The eNaInlm"!
magistrate" has decided. the ground az lhsuiicrlt
idrncc not To prosecute Deputlr, kouNler ho'mr'
A-r.u. iror,t ami Faucnnneri'. AMI senators 'rcVN'
TnIayrurf Dcv,,. Renault and Ieral. lToc",lln@'
'ir.. I'll nXco't IN" Innar,a directors. sans rrOy
anl Baihaut. It I, expected will be stopped.