The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-02-10
DE- LESSEPS is SENTENCED.
Five Years Imprisonment and a
Heavy Fine.
EIFFEL is SENT TO PRISON.
As Also Charles De Lesseps, Henry
COttu and Marius FOntaine.
The Prisoners Are MerciIessIy Scored by
the Judge in Pronouncing sem
tence-Einel VIII Appeal to
a Higher Court.

PARIS, Feb. 9.-The expectation that
sentences of the prisoners in the Panama
trial would be delivered this afternoon
brought eager crowds to the court of ap-
peals buildings and five minutes after the
doors were thrown open the room was
damned to suffocation. Presiding Judge
Pervier read the decision and after hav-
ing dismissed the prisoners plea that
they should benefit by the statute of Emi-
tations held that the charges of fraudu-
lent proceedings against Ferdinand De
Lesseps, Charles DeLesseps, Henry Cottu
and Marius Fontaine had been proved.
On this point the Judgment referred to
the company's methods in issuing loans,
mendaclous official bulletins and persis-
tent putting done by the press at the
instance of the directors. Ferdinand
DeLesseps aided and abetted by his son
Charles NJ. Cottu and Fontaine had per-
Slstently concealed operations of the canal
company IN order that shares might not
be affected unfavorably. The directors
dealt with underwriting syndicates which
so lar as utility was concerned were ficti-
t1ous and known to be vicious. Expenses
necessarily attendant upon the issue of
loans were grossly exaggerated by the d.
rectOrs. which also constituted a fraudu-
lent act
The plea of the defense, that despite the
fraudulent acts, the directors were
not amenable because the loans,
specially in question had not sue
ceeded, the decision pronounced
worthless in view of the evidence
that the directors had not scrupled to ex-
pose the capital of the company to risks
involved in a fresh issue and even reiter-
ated promises to complete the canal with
the proceeds of the loans. There was
fraudulent intent just the same whether
or not the purpose was carried. The in
tent proved the fact that sums paid Baron
De Reinach, Hugo OberndOffer and others
could not be regarded as having been sub
scribed Tor the purposes to which they
were put.
In dealing with Gustave Eiffel's breach
OF trust the decision said Eiffel received
120, 000, 900 francs for the construction of
ten locks and promised to complete them
by 1890. The evidence had shown that
he had not even purchased the specified
materials necessary in construction of the
locks. He had pretended, furthermore,
to fulfill the obligations he had under
taken, while in reality he simply misap-
Propriated the funds. In conclusion
Judge Perv1er read these sentences:
Ferdinand DeLesseps, five years. i'm
prisOnmenI and 3 COO francs fine.
! Charles DeLesseps, five years impri5-
onment and eco francs fine.
| NJ. Fontaine, two years. imprisonment
and 8 600 francs fine.
Henry Cottu, two years. imprisonment
and 900 francs fine.
Gustave Eiffell, two years. imprison-
ment and 2,000 francs fine.
Immediately after the reading of the
sentence Eiffel left the court room with
his counsel whom he instructed to appeal
TO the high court Of Cessation. Charles
i DeLesseps and Marins Fontaine remained
under arrest. Both looked haggard and
disheartened as they departed with Henry
Cottu for the Office of the public prose-
cutor.
The chamber OF indictments has pub
lished its reasons for throwing out the
true bill found by NJ. Franqueville against
NJ. Rouvier. While admitting that M.
Rouvier received a Panama check for
| sc, 600 francs in 1888 from NJ. Vlasto, the
chamber held no connection had been es-
tablished between the acceptance of the
money and NJ. Rouvier's vote on the lot
terry loan bill.