The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-11
MILLIONS AS BRIDES.
MEN VINO RECEIrED MONEY FOR
AIDING TIE PANAMA CANAL.
The Partisan Press Almost Unanimously
Declare tho Sentences Of the Panama
Oniciais TO be Excessive.

Senator Berat, ex-Minister and Deputy
Antoine Proust Deputy Duge de la Eau
connerie, ex-Deputy Gebron. Charles de
Lesseps NJ. Marius Fontane, Henri Cottu
and NJ. Blondin have been arraigned In the
Palais de Justice on charges OF corruption
bonds bill.
The indictment on which they were ar
raigned sets forth tfat note had been
found among the papers OF Charles de
Lesseps showing that NJ. Baihaut asked
for 100000 francs for introducing the
Panama bill in the chambers. The mea-
sure was laid on the table in the Chamber
Of Deputies on June 18th. and on the same
dav Charles de Lesseps issued two cash
vouchers, the amount OF which VI. Fon-
tame received on the following day.
On receiving the money Fontane imme-
diately handed a quarter OF million
francs 10 NJ. Blondin who took the money
TO Baihaut at the Senate Chamber. On
June Dist NJ. Blondin paid Baihaut fur
ther sum of 125,"O francs.
NJ. Baihaut after first denying these
transactions finally admitted them and
also admitted that he had applied sums
OF 1900 and 5000 francs TO the purchase
of Italian rcntes.
The indictment concludes by detailing
the various charges against NJ. Fontane
and Charles de Lesseps, who are accused
of bribing Baihaut, and also OF having
induced NJ. Arton and the late Baron de
Reinach to corrupt senators and deputies.
Baihaut is accused Of having received
money for performing an act In the exc
cution Of his duty. regarding winch ne
was not entitled to payment. NJ Blondln
is charged with being party TO the cor
ruption Of Baihaut. Arton. who Is not
under arrest. is included in the indictment
on the charge OF corruptins legislators
and Deputy Sans-LerOy Is charged, ike
Baihaut, with having received money 10
influence his actions as a pubic onlclai'
The Figaro expresses the belief that the
trial will take place in the assize court
of the Seine In the early part OF March
.. AndneuX proposes 10 prosecute
Deputy Emmanuel Arene, he wcll-knO"h
journalist. on the charge of SANDER. Dep
uty Arcne represents Corsica in the
Chamber being native of that island
where he was born in 1856. He is no;ed
for his vigor In controversy, and has tax IN
rart in many duels, among them one win
NJ. Granet for an article published IN the
Nfatin. and one with NJ. Mayer, editor of
La Lanterne.
Public opinion is substantially unani-
nous to the effect that the ignominious
Judgment pass I'd upon Count Ferdinand De
Lesseps went beyond the requirements OF
justice.
The newspapers consider the sentences
very severe. and especially that of Fer
dinand De Lesseps. The Figaro demands
the pardon of the man who has been one
of the glories of France.
The Journal des Debats says: To i'm
agine striking down the creator Of the
Suez canal in his declining days to salve
the public conscience shows a great mis-
conception Of the opinion of the nation.
The Radical La Lanterne declares that
the country itself has sustained blow
from the sentence, which is useless In
fact and excessive in law.
The Republican Steele protests against
the sentence, and adds that glory is
thing SO rare and precious that the nati)n
cannot too carefully guard It.
The Royalist Gaulois deplores the de-
cision as working havoc with the nobl st
legends Of the French people.
The Independent Matin says that yes
tCrdays decree marks a degree of ingrat-
itude of history Of personages concerned
in the trial. Their names will be illu
light Of their deeds. and their suffering
will leave no appreciate stain, being
merely a judicial accident
The Radical La Justice, NJ. Clcmen-
ceau's paper, regards the judgment
passed upon NJ. Ferdinand De Lesseps
as severe. AS to the other sentences, La
Justice points out that the other contrac-
tors were exactly in the same position
with NJ Eiffel and the official liquidator
OF the Panama Canal Company ought TO
proceed against them all for the recovery
Of sums they unlawfully claimed and APP
propriated
NJ. Drumont writes to La Libre Parole,
the Extremist organ. which was largely
instrumental in making the prosecution e
the Panama directors inevitable, that in
the face OF the severe sentences there is
only room for one feeling. namely. pity
NJ. Henry Cottu ana NJ. Charles De
Lesseps will appeal frcm yesterdays jud-s-
ment.
The discomfort caused by the dismissal
in the chGmber of indictments OF the
true bills found for corruption against
Deputy Rouyicr and Senators Grew,
DeVes and Renauit has moved the Par
liamentary Commission OF inquiry to a
renewal Of is ACTIVITY.
The commission now proposes to sum-
mon 2nd examine all deputies who have
been accused OF cOrruptness. whether
acquitted or not. and 20 obtain the
Reinach list Of the l0i men who wcro
compromised by money transactions with
keinach. Arton or Herr The commission
purposes also TO apply to the chamber for
additional powers. which. if granted. will
Increase greatly the scope and thorough
ness Of the investigation. Should the
court of cessation reject the appeal OF
Ferdinand DE Lessons against the deci-
sion Of the court of appeals his name will
be stricken from the lists of the Institute
and the Legion of Honor.