New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-10
PANAMA THAI BEGINS TO-DA Y
NM. c. DE LESSEPs. FONTANE. COTTU AND
EIFFEL TIE DEFENDANTS.
MANY WITNESSES CALLED FOR THE PROsECU-
TIoN-LIEUTENANT wySE's ATTTUDE-M
COTTU PROTESTS HIS INNOCENCE-uOw
VI ARToN BOUGHT A PICTURE.

TIoN-LIEUTENANT wYsE's ATT:TUDE-M.
CoTTU PROTESTS HIS INNOCENCE-uow
VI. ARToN BOUGHT PICTURE
Paris, Jan. 9.-The new Procurcur- General NJ
Tancn. has summoned thirty one witnesses for the
great Panama trial. which begins tomorrow. The
persons TO be put trial tomorrow are NJ Charles
de Lcsscps, director OF the Panama Caral Company
NJ Marus Fontane. secretary general Of the company
NJ. Oottu. OF the firm OF Ronach Kohn 4 Co.. and
NJ. Gusave Eiicl, the distinguished engineer Clare,
de Lesseps has caused three English dir oS Of the
suez Canal Company to be summoned as Witnesses
| In his behalf.
The indictment against the accused men charges
NM. Charles de Lesseps. Fonane and Cot with hav.
ing employed fraudulent means to persuade people to
believe in the existence of faacious enterprises and
Imaginary influence credit. thus causing various
persons to remit subscriptions that would not other
wise have been given. for an issue OF Panama Canal
bonds. made June 60 1885. the defendants by the
fraudulent means thus alleged cheating and dciraud-
Ing others out of part all their money thus sub
scribed The second section OF the indictment
lates to the Panama Canal loan Of December L. 1888.
Tho accused persons charged with having tried to
obtain subscriptions to this leon false preences.
their attempted swndling being frustrated only by
circumstances Independent OF their Intentions. Thirdly.
1t is alleged that the persons accused had misappro-
priated expended, with u view TO prejudicng the
interests OF the bondholders effects and money given
into their charge trust deposits for specific purposes
NJ. Gusiave Eiffel Is indicted as an accomphcc In
the alleged swindling operations and Is accused OF
having wllfuly and knowingly received share of the
sums OF money unlawfully procured from the public
and with having wlf,illy knowingly shared In the
profits Of the fraud. NJ. Eiie is also accused OF
having misappropriated funds entrusted TO him for
the mandatory purpose Of expenditure for salaried
labor Nothing is said In this Indictment as 10 the
bribery corruption OF public officials.
one OF the witnesses summoned Is said 10 be NJ.
Lucicn Napoleon Bonapsrte Wyse, who claims the
credit OF having been the first to conceive the idea
OF a canal between the Atlantic and the Pacific. 1t
was be, who, In his character engineer obtained
from the Colombian Government the concession 10
cayTy out the Panama Canal In the works OF which
he was engaged up to the final collapse He Is said
TO know q great many secrets In relation to the
scandals.
"Of what avail would 1t be-" he said recently.
TO depart from the reserve which have hitherto
maintained The scandal Is great enough at pres
cut, and can only be pre,udclal to the completion
Of the canal which has been the fond dream Hf my
life. Perhaps ] am the only person who has not
dabbled in the mire. Those who have received
bribes are numerous But how Is II that nobdy has
set pronounced the names Of the principal cul-
prits OF the high pcrsonages who have pockoted
enormous sums7 / cannot name them myself until
am called before regularly constituted author
,ry As regards VI. de Relnach. knew him we'll
lie was extremely active and intelligent. and had
Le was not in good odor With the Panama Company.
hut when difficulties began TO rise his help WAS Gag
erly solicited for he on intimate terms with
all men OF mark, political as well ms financial
NJ Cottu It Is said, persists in asserting his In
nocence He declares that Baron de Relnach mover
placed in the Golfers OF the bank the sums he was ac
cused Of having received from the Panama Company
for distribution. Baron de Reinach had an account
at the bank: it varied between two and 100000
francs but Just at the moment the distribution OF
money was alleged TO have been made was dimhisheu
by 600 900 francs. Except his banking business
none Of Baron de Rcnach's private affairs were Known
at the bank In the two issues Of Pnnamn lottery
honds the firm had earned brokerage amounting TO
100000 francs for the first and 100000 for the
second In 1855. but the commission for that last
issue was paid III lottery bonds, and as Their market
nrice had fallen heavily the profit reduced to al
most nothing
Anecdotes are rife Of the ways in which leading
men in the Parliament and In the press were bought
over NJ Arton. the chief dispenser Of the douceurs.
called on a parsonage whose support was deemed to
be essential He discharged his delicate duty with
exquisite tact, but net with stern and rather
angry negative lie retiring, rather creStfaiich
at his failure, when he noticed IN The antero9m some
pictures painted by the wife OF the incorrupbe one
:" Yes" said the nccruptible one, my VIE Is an an
artist, you know We are not nhonalreS, nna St,
Ii is hardly necessary 20 say that thH woman if dia
na Ser t% h ncs bor forty lines It's real
value.
The trial TO be opened to-day must not be con
founded with that which Will come later In the
Court Of Asszes NM. De Lesseps. FOntanc. Cotu
and Efel will be arrag ned before the Correctional
Tribunal only on the charge OF false pretcnccs and
swindline The court viii to the accused men
You must account for 800 900 900 francs and only
COO 100000 francs appear on your books as repre-
senting the work alleged 10 have been done In the
cutting OF the canal You claim that GO O0o francs
iuHu al n N SIC
and among Ministers. senators and Deputies II
remains for yon to account for SAC. 600 francs
such is probably the line OF argument which VIII be
adhered to at the Correctional Tribunal and the more
important riol for corruption Of pabc fnnctionaics
will come before the Court Of Asszes. AS to
the persons charged with having received brbes me
o W ronures II they have been Ministers. that they
should be tried by the senate sitting high court
he course followed In the case OF General BOulangr
and his accompce.