The sun., 1893-02-10
DE LESSEPS SENTENCED.
THE COUNT FINED AND CONDEMNED
TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON


Presiding Judge Perivior Comments on
the Iligh-handed Course OF the Prisoners
1t IL Thought In Paris that the Sentence
Upon Count de I.e-seps viii Not He Car
ricd Out-No Sympathy Felt for Charles.
PARIS. Feb o.-Expectation that the sentences
OF the prisoners In tho Panama trial would be
delivered this saftcrnoopbrouGhto onger crowds
to the Court Of Appeals building before IL
o'clock this morning. Tho approaches to the
court were filed to the last niche by noon. and
Ave minutes after the doors were thrown open
the room was packed to suffocation.
Presiding Judge Pervier read tho lecison
after having dismissed tho prisoners plea
that they should benefit by the statute of
limitation. Although tho bases Of tho judg-
ments were given in exceptionally minute de-
tail. the audience listened from first to Inst
with the greatest interest.
The charge OF fraudulent proceedings
against Ferdinand do Lesseps. Charles de
Lesscps. Henry Cottu. and Mnrius Fontano
was held to be proved. On this point the judg-
ment referred to the compnnys methods IN
issuing loans. the mendacious official bulletins.
and the persistcnt putting done by the press
at tho instance OF the directors. These prac-
tices, the Judgment said. whom not directly
oriC mated or endorsed by the directors. had
been connivcd at by them.
Ferdinand do Lessers. aided and abetted by
his son Charles. NJ. Cottu, and NJ. Fontane. had
persistently concealed the orerai ms OF the
canal comrnny. in order that tho quotation OF
shares might not be affected unfavorably.
Tho directors had dealt with underwriting
syndicntes. which. as far as their utility was
concerned. were fictitious md were known to
ss had nsen onS
risks. and yet they had received enormous
Sims from tie company The expenses nee
nnOn loans
had been grossly exaggerated by the directors.
and this eNaggeration also constituted u
The Plea ot the. defence, that. despite these
fraudulent acts. the directors were not amen
had G"tS not suessedea zee. the decision nron"nnced
worthless in Wow Of the evidence that the .di;
oi the company to the, risks involved in the
fresh Issue. and even reiterated their promises
n ac. he as % the s eode
breach of trust. it was not necessary that the
have the dr.
rsrtprs. in order that they be found guilty
Their fraudulent intent was the Same whether
or not their purpose was carried out. This In:
tent was proved by tho fact that the sums paid
to Baron de Reinach. Hugo Oberndoerfrer, and
others could not be regarded as having been
subscribed for the purposes to which thsy
were put. 49,
trust tta tho decision said that II Eiirel had re-
ceived l2O.O0O.0OC francs for the construction
sem sn by Ths had to &
no had not even purchased tho specified mate
ae I'M has hs bousht %
~ told butt 223 900 francs worth Of material M
legations he had undertaken. while. in reality.
he was simply misapprobriatine the funds.
In conclusion Judge Perivier read these sem
Ferdinand Dc Lesseps; flve years. imprison-
msnt and 5000 francs fine. observation-disclosures.
Marns Fontane. two years imprisonment
Msnry % catta; two Years. imprisonmcn. and
% SSs5sys S " Ei,Is two years imprisonment and
rsr hs the cosr ssadqs OF ;s thS
suas ~ s s" s2s I0 M
the High Court OF Cessation. Charles dc Les
the ONCE Of tho Public lrosccutor:
bill found b, II. ,FranGuevillt. against N.
rscaved f til. M Fanama % cherk for 10000 frsncs
in 1853. from NJ vlasto. the Chamber hold that
tho acceptance of the money and N. Nouvier's
vote on the Lottery Loan bill
phs o. IN the in the
The intense excitement Mt the PaIais. Justice
IN the morning was increased in the afternoon
by tho prolonged absence OF the Judges from
il was shortly after noon when the court as
Ermu ulrd. yet not until o'clock did the Judges
tako their places. rhs delay was said to he
due 70 Tho necessity o! a flnal consultation
day causcr to be postponed until IL o'clock
this morning.
citai OF the decision. but burst into tears when
he heard sentence passed upon his father, NJ.
Iontane also was prostrated. Charles de Los. IS.
Nine. de Leesseps OF the result Of the trial.
Nine. de Lessons probably will not commu-
pelcd by circumstances to do 10. The general
belief is that tho sentence will never be exc
The lines IMPOSED were tho utmost legal
pemaity. but thny will not Prevent action at
The only POSSIBLE appeal from the. decision
gwen to-day is one TO tho Court Of Cassation
ar ss ssn ySn a S ii S S & Such Il amy LEGAL
vii, undoubtedly hc taken in each cnse.
The cz,itement caused by the announce.
passed anytnng d n. Kind since the opening
The news.paper ."oths were besleged by
crowds iEntnG for the successive special edi-
the hnyers, hastencd back to secure copies
The complete absence of sympathy for Chas.
A. ds lGssens has ;, heen espesialiy noteworthy
laid tho penalty for withholding the names Of
Eoyalist Deputies who were implicated in the
The worst feature of the situation is that the
sentences have failed to dispel the suspicious
doubts o. tha people as 10 the honesty ot the
Governments intentions. The contrast be-
tween tween the Treatment accorded n. Ropyer and
jeeted is tho subject OF much bitter. criticism.
,,T Ths immediate consequence Of the trial IL
while the panicky feel ing will continue
This evening the houses OF the eonyieted
visitors and journalists. According to this
French law NJ Iiffel and NJ. Cottu need moi
surrender themselves for several weeks.
The Government is expected to call for q
vote OF confidence on Saturday or Monday
The prevalent opnion is that tho Rihot Cabi.
net viii be permitted to remain in Office unit
tho budget shall have been voted. The Ca
vaignac incident has been variously OK plaine,i
some say that 1t was due 10 a plan OF Car.
not. C9simir, ,Perrer and Cayaignac 10 render
superfiuous ClGmenceaus role ns Il wrecker o
Ministers. Others consider the speech tho log
ieal conss1uence OF Bourgeois's course In pro
tecting Floquet.
Wounded in a Duel.
PARIS. Feb. GA duel was fought to-day be-
tween NJ. Norbert do Benoit. Deputy from
hveyron and NJ Marie Emile Goussot Deput,